The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-03-16
LAST VIEW or THE CONFEDERACY.
New York Sun.


tainly that of the soldiers; for we knew
that it was only question of time, and
a very short time, too, when there would
he general collapse. And so when we
started homeward. in April. 1865. we
knew that we were going there to stay.
that the end had come at last Although
many of the men had secured horses still
the large majority were on foot, like my
self, and ! trudged back on about The
same route by which had come to Vir-
ginia four years before.
What eventful years! And what q
difference in the country through which
| had travelled. hoy of 16, in a fast
train filed with nv young comrades,
cheering and singing improvised war
songs, greeted everywhere along the
road with overao wing hospitality, speed
ing day and night through land TEEN.
ing with abundance, and now! More
than half OF my young comrades had
found shallow graves here and there,
from Malvern Hill to Appomattox, and
| was tramping back alone,, through q
desolate. war-stricken country, with a
thousand miles between me and home.
Danville was the first town ! reached
after the surrender, and rumors had al
ready reached there OF that event There
we're few who were loud in their asser
tions that the Government could hold
out sill, but there was one sure sign
that those in authority there had no
hope-the men were breaking into the
commissarv stores and Government,
warehouses, and no effort was made to
stop them Seeing train oftwo coaches
and baggage car at the depot, headed
south, thought It would he a good
opportunity to get ride. A number Of
kegs about the siz, OF beer kegs, and
strongly hooped, stood on the platform
and four men were with much effort
loading the n in the car.
"What is that ?" I asked one OF the
men.
"Specie," be replied.
1t was the Confederate treasury and
he contents Of the Richmond Bank
vaults.
Stepping on the platform of one Of
the coaches, a colored porter met me at
the door with whispered, "Mr. Davis
is in dar."
"Wbo?'
"Mr. Davisr'
Not onlv did that train contain the
Confederate treasury. but the whole gov.
ernment-President, Cabinet, archives,
everything.
So I started southwark and home
ward atoot. The railroad was now lined
with men, all moving in the same direct.
ion, and no one could have told from
any word or act OF theirs that they we're
soldiers of defeated army and lost
cause, for while there was no exultation.
there was no detection; the one domi-
nanl thought and feeling was, ''The war
is ended, we are going home." which
many had left four years before, and had
not even heard from in three years.
caught freight train on the road and
rode into Greensboro, N G, at about
midnight, on top of box car, whence
could he seen on all sides around and in
the town inuumerahle camp fires oi
stragglers. paroled men, and deserters,
and beyond these in the woods, was
Johnson's dissolving army. His men
we're leaving by hundreds.
Getting into q Car Of train on side
track to Sleep. found it loaded with
blankets, and the sun was high up before
I awoke The FIRST thing that greeted
my sleepy eyes next morning was this :
In the shallow dry ditch not FIVE yards
away stood Gen. Beauregard, speaking
in low voice to an officer seated on ar
empty box. He held cup of coffee ir
one hand, and gssticulated slowly and
earnestly with the other. Two or three
officers were breakfasting off pine box
while negro was baking hot cakes at {
Flit,le fire on which steamed pot Of ccf
fee. recognized no one except Beau
regard.
Some fiitv yards beyond this group
on low hill, stood very small one
story house. 1t was Johnston's head
quarters. On the opposite side OF tht
train we're a number o: small fires, al
which men were cooking, eating, Of
sleeping. Some genius discovered thsl
part OF the tram VAS loaded with pow
der, and in q short time barrels were
rolled or thrown out, the heads knocked
in, and canteens and bottles were filled
to carry home. Out of mere wanton.
ess, barrels of cannon powder we're up
set, and lav in heaps near the 6res. Re-
monstrance and warning we're received
with jeers and ridiculc; 80 got out OF
nv car on the other side ami cautioned
one of Gen. Beauregard's staff had
scarcely got to the end OF the train
when pile OF the loose powder wen,
ed. and fortunately, onlv one pile. The
only damage was the literal skinning o.
three or four men.
This 6rst serious evidence Of turbu
lence occurred within q few yards o.
headquarters. aud the reckless spiri,
seemed to increase as the town became
more crowded with new arrivals, and
WuCU tuO tuCu
There was immense quantities of army
supplies stored here, and many Of the
soldiers seemed desirinus of helping
themselves. A company OF cavalry
broke in:o house where some fine uni
form cloth vas stored The guard gave
the alarm an infantry force was double
qnicked 10 the spot, coming up just. as
The cavalry were riding awav. Their,
was qnck command to halt. saucy
reply, single shot. volley. yells. shots
aying horsemen, some dead men lying
in the street, shd the danger OF anarchy
was over.
And then two men came riding slow
lly down the street, one in civilian
clothes, the other in full generals uni
form.
They we're ]. fferson Davis and Jo
seph E johnston.
The latter person seemed calm anf
unmoved, but shall never forget th'
agony of grief expressed in Mr.. Davis
face. He seemed as If he was about tc
weep as he looked at the fallen men =
This event repressed the turbulent spiri
that seemed increasing with every nev
arrival. The liquor was se'zed and de
stroyed, rations given to all, cloth dolst