Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-01-06

S8AVTLE !
l8ES sgasggDga-
~ oesesSoeA ~ CAapoaln 0avas .
ahe Confederate Army.
From tho Asthedist Protestant
The eventful day. Sunday, April 8
100, davned upon us A nights re-
had greatly refreshed the var worn Con
feoeeateo- The iue Of march vas takel
Showed itself in tho east. Early's oil
division, composed Of two North Caro-
lima bfiRadee and ono from Virginia
took the front under BriQadisr 0eoer.
walker. Fighting was expected. Tn,
Coofsderate sharpshootefs, Who alvav,
composed the skifmish fine. had scarce
~ passed tho Court House, which 10 bu
. small village, when t,.ey camo In con
tact With the Federal p:ckets. A lively
fuailade onsuod. The line of battle "a,
quickly formed under the eye Of Gen
Gordon. The battle soon became 70
riooa. The 6rss lime of the Fedora
troops Was soon broken and driven baeI
With los. l vas sitting upon . bank BY
the road side noting events in nv diary
when, at 81 o'clock, two captured bat
tories Of Federal artillery (eiQht guns
were driven by me, going 70 the rear
In feW moments the fire in the front
csased, and could discover our troops
falling back and taking up new poe
iti0ns By briQades 70 the rear.
At the sAme time white haQ. borne
By couple Of Federal officers at full
speech, came out Rrom the Court house
and vent 70 the rear and mot Gen. Lee,
whore oar baggage wagons were packed
as the commencement Of the action. In
q few minutes another white nag, borne
BY couple Of Confederate officers, vas
dispatched TO the Court house. The
road vas quickly cleared Of every OBJ
struetion, and guards placed along il to
keep everybody out Of il. that the fac
bearers might pass from one point TO
the other At full speed. At this period
the excitement among the Confederate
troops became intense, ~ il was we'll
understood the Confederate army was
on the point Of being surrendered.
Many seemed anxious to BE- led for
ward 70 conquer or die on the field.
Desperation seemed to take hold on the
mon, or else men were overcome By des-
perati0n. l quickly resolved that
would not bs included in the surrender.
and formed plan With . choice spirit
To- escape from the held and take care
Of myself. One o'clock, p. m, was che
'hoar at which was TO strike for liberty
or safety. Unwilling to act oovertly in
the matter, at II o'clock, n, vent to
my brigade commander, told him the
plan had formed, and asked him if he
thous ut such step on my part would
compromise my honor in the brigade.
He replied: Considering the relation
you sustain to your regiment, think
you would better maintain your honor
by abiding its fate" His answer sub.
dued me, and at once I abandoned my
plan OF escape.
l3ut numbers did escape, and in no
case did hear of = failure on the part
Of any who made the ATTEMPT. The
first flag from Gen. Grant to Gen. Lse
came at $50 =. ~, by my watch. These
flags continued TO pass and repaas until
I p. N. History often represents things
strangely. History gives Gen. Grants
nrst note on this day TO Gen. Lee at
1880 p. m, when I have no doubt Gen.
Leo received Gen. Grants frat note at
$50 q. m.
The morning had been bright and
far. By noon dark and gloomy clouds
had gathered over tho whole face of the
sky. All nature around rs seemed to
harm0nixe With our feelings. Sadness
and Rleom was impressed upon all
things both animate and inanlmate,
Men were growing desperate: officers
were breaking their swords in pieces TO
avoid the distonor of surrenderino
them. Major Gen. G.. W. Picket. Who
had led the storminQ column on the
third day at Gettysburg, tore up his
nag and wore is around his shoulders.
Men have feelings. They cannot cen-
troll these feelings at all tunes and uu-
der ell circumstance. Nv bSjoade sur.
geon came to me to preach discoursa
to the tro0ps. I, too, had feelings and
declined what / could only regard a. q
duty. Ny weight of feeling was too
powerful 70 undertake it.
Al 40 p. M, the Second Armv Corps
was formed in close column 70 hear the
Terms Of surrender. We were addressed |
BY Gen. Gordon, Who cat upon his horse
II front with bis hat In his hand, In the
most moving aad impressive speech TO
which ] have ever listened. Circum-
stances gave u force and character,
During IL delivery men could be seen
weeping on every side. Men Who had |
laced death )on many bAttlenelds, and |
Who had fought with manly hrmneee
From Bull Rua 70 Appomattox. were
breaking down under the force OF that
IsrFible word, surrender. But the brave
~ weep ~ veil - fight for their ooun-
ny. Upon going te the division ord
nance wagons, found the Lieutenant |
Commander weeping like . child. Ad-
dro9ing me. he said: have fought
Iho Yankees from the beginning until
uow, and 70 surisnaee 70 them q more
han I ea1 bear. u seems like u win
break my heart" Hope vas dead. The
grave was ready. Its funeral solemni-
tie were TOO weiRhty for the brave.
Night came on. But what . night!
Such stealing - took place never heard
pf read Of bsfore. Il seemed a. II ev-
srvthine that could - stolen vas sto-
len. Just before tho sun won't down Q
Dubaltern Of the Quartermaster's De-
partment, whose condition beepoke an
Dxoem Of whisky, stepped up 70 me, and
With much earnestnscs ssid: 81 tell you
The Confederacy 10 gone up. Nov, JET
Davis owes YOU and me . pretty good
sum Of money. Suppose that, a. oooE
10 il gets dark, we 20 70 the wagons, get
. horse apiece and strike out for home?