The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1884-01-03


taken up Just after the first CLEAN OF
light showed itselfin the east. Ear.
Tvs old division composed Of two
North Carolina bfigades and one from
Virginia, took the front under Briga-
dier-generai Walker. Fighting was
expected. The Confederate sharp
shooter, which always composed the
sklrmlsh line, had scarcely passed the
court house, which is but q small VII
lage when they came In contact with
Federal pickets. A lively fusillade
ensued. The line Of battle was quick
~ formed under the eye Of General
Gordon. The battle soon became fu-
rious. The FIRST line Of the Federal
troops was broken and driven back
with loss. ! was sitting upon q bank
BY the roadside, noting events In my
diary. when at 80 O'Clock, two bat
teFies captured Of Federal artillery
(eight guns) were driven BY me, GO
ing TO the rear. In a few moments
the IRE IN front ceased, aud could
discover our troops falling back and
taking up new positions by brigades
10 the rear.
At the same time q white flag, borne
by a couple Of Federal officers at full
speed, came out from the court house,
and went to the rear and met General
Lee, where our baggage were packed
at the commencement Of the action.
In few minutes another white flag.
borne by couple Of Confederate Of
hcerH, was dispatched to the court
house. The road was quickly cleared
OF every obstruction, and guards
placed along Il to keep every body out
oft, that the flag bearers might pass
NmnWH nrwfma 20 mHwHLrl- a al
speed. At this period the excitement
among the Confederate troops became
intense, as Il was well understood the
Confederate army was on the point Of
being surrendered.
Many seemed anxious 10 be led for
ward to conquer or die on the field.
Desperation seemed 10 take hold on
the men, or else men were overcome
by desperation. / quickly resolved
that / would not be included in the
surrender, land formed q plan with q
choice spirit 10 escape from the field
and take care Of myself One O'Clock
p. m was the hour at which was to
strike for liberty or safety. Unwill-
ing % act cOvertly IN the matter, at
u o'clock, noon, went 10 my brigade
commander and told him the plan /
had formed, and asked him n he
thought such a step on my part would
compromise my honor in the brigade
He replied Considering the rela-
ton you sustain 10 your regiment, /
think you would better MAINTAIN your
honor by abiding its fate" His an
sWer Bubdued me and at once / aban-
doned my plan Of escape.
But numbers did escape, and In no
case did I hear Of q failure on the part
Of any one who made the attempt
The hFst flag from General Grant TO
General Lee came ct s 80 o'clock a m
by my watch. These flags continued
TO pass and repass until D. m. His
tory often represents things strangely.
History gives General Grants first
note on this day TO General Lee at
y 80 p, m, when I have no doubt
General Lee received General Grants
first note at s 80 q. m. Will some one
better skilled In history than / am
give Us q solution Of this difficulty ?
The morning had been bright and
fair. BY noon, dark and gloomy
clouds had gathered over the whole
face OF the sky. All nature around US
seemed to harmonic with our feel
ings. Sadness and gloom was i'm
pressed upon all the things, both an
anu AnAIAAnMNEa AAEA were
growing desperate; officers were
breaking their swords in pieces 10
avoid the dishonOT Of Eurrendering
them. Major-General q. w. Pickett,
who had led the stOrming column on
the third day at Gettysburg tore up
bis flag and wore Il around his shout
ders. Men have feelings. They can
not control these feelings at all times
and under all circumstances. Ny
brigade surgeon came to me and
urged me to preach a discourse to the
troops. I, too, had feelings, and de
ollned what ! could only regard as a
duty. Ny weight of feeling was too
powerful 10 undertake Il.
At 80 o. m. the Second army
corps was formed in close column 10
hear the terms Of surrender. We
were addressed by General Gordon,
who sat upon his horse in front, with
his hat I'm his hand, in the most NOV
ing and Impressive speech 10 which ]
have ever listened Circumstances
gave it force and character. During
It's delivery men could be seen weep
ing on every side. Men who had
faced death on many battle fields, aud |
had fought with manly firmness from
Bull Run to AppOmatOX were break |
ing down under the force Of that ter
rible word surrender. Bus the brave |
can weep as well as fight for their |
country. Upon going 10 the division |
ordinance wagons 1 found the lieuten- |
ant commander weeping like a child. |
Addressing me he said: II have |
fought the Yankees from the BEGIN |
ming until now, and 70 surrender TO |
them IL more than I can bear. It
seems like It will break my heart. " |
Hope was dead. The grave was |
ready. Its funeral sOlemnities were |
too Weighty for the brave.
Night came on. But what q night /! /
Such stealing as took place I never |
heard or read Of before. II seemed /
like everything that could be stolen |
was stolen. Just before the sun went /
down q subaltern Of the quartermas-
teris denartment, whose condition be- /
smoke an excess Of whisky, stepped IN /
70 me and with much earnestness
said II tell you, Mr.. P, the cOnfed- /
eraey has gone up. Now, JEFF Davis |
owes YOU and me q pretty good sum /
Of money. Suppose that as soon as Il /
Rets dark we 20 10 the wagons, get a
horse a piece, and strike out for
homer II we don't do that we will i
never get q cent" I had to decline
the offer Of my would be friend.
On the next day I bOughta horse
for 81, bride for S. and a saddle for
$50 Ny 81 steed would have borne,
with the exception Of his eyes, some
resemblance to the ehager rode by
the knight Of La Mancha. On the
afternoon Of Tuesday, the l2th, our
parole papers were announced as
ready and were duly signed, and by
the terms Of surrender we were per-
mitted 10 20 home. On Wednesday
morning the Confederate army was
10 stack arms. At sunrise the second
army corps was paraded for the last
time. Early's division, led by Gener-
81 Walker, took the front. He rode
one Of the finest hOrses / saw In the
whole army, and placed himself Ia
the march at the head Of the division.
Nv place was IA the rear OF my brig
ade with surgeons. But we were now
t'passing under the yoke,m and I be
came infected with the decentralization
50 prevalent. / fell in Just behind
General Walker upon my 81 horse, no
man saying yea or nay. The march
was IS solemn a. funeral procession.
Not q man spoke a word. The Fed
eral army, az least "a portion Of Il. was
drawn up between our camp and the
courthouse on our len, about forty
.sor,r fr,r,t fhs. rrtuH and sfonH ~ rr- !