The National tribune., 1889-10-17

ing evacuated. 80 he1urued and marched 10
miles up the Appomattox to bridge, eros ed
and moved forward until he met his wagon
train, which had escaped from Sheridan the
day before The men get something to eat
and then marched until late at night. Next
day, the Cd, they had to guard the army train
from Petersburg, which was eight or ten miles
long. They followed il up as rear guard, and
the cavalry kept on the TANKS. Al Deep Creek
they were attacked by the Federal cavalry,
aud five miles farther on they built breast
work of fallen trees and formed line. The
Federal cavalry charged part OF the line in the
afternoon, and after night Pickett built big
fires and decamped towards Amelia Cosrthouse.
The soldiers hardly knew whore they were
going but they had TO obey orders, although
they felt that tho end was near They reached
the Danvlle Railroad about three miles below
Amelia just after dawn on the 9Th. and waited
TO allow the troops, with the cortege of ladies,
children and attendants from Richmond, in
every conceivable kind of vehicle, to pass on.
They then went through Amelia Courthouse.
passing many wagon-trains destroyed by the
Federal cavalry, who dashed at them OCCASION
ally and captured some of the wagons.
THEY MARCHED ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT OF
THE 5rH
in a severe rain storm. aud after daylight on
the 9th rested an hour to warm and cook lit
tie coffee or parched corn. They then moved
on to Sailors Creek aud halted while the wagons
were passing. Tho Federal cavalry dashed at
the wagon. train, and captured some artillery
which was moving in line with it, They turned
the guns on the skirmish-lne and then Pick
etts Division was ordered into action recapt-
uring two of the guns. The Federals then
brought up infantry, so Gems. Lee and Ander-
sons Confederate Division came forward, and a
general battle ensued, in which the Federals
broke through tho lines, got in the rear and dis
I'LL. had
gone on TO the High Bridge and many of the
men followed, scattered along the road, sleeping
in fence corners, old wagons. or anything that
afforded shelter, and without anything to eat.
On the morning of the 9TH they reached Farm
Vile, and there found carloads of bacon and
-four which had been dispatched from Lynch
burg. The wagons were being loaded with
provisions and sent on. but Picketts remnant
charged the Commssary store and went off re-
iOicing in full haversacks of BAN and bread.
That day Louis's party was dispersed by Federal
cavalry and he struck across country for home,
arriving on the 18th of Apri, 1865, being the only
man of his company who escaped being killed,
wounded captured in the Sailors Creek
and Five Forks fights Five Forks was lucky
for Daniel Brown, who lives five miles below
here and served in Louis's company IL, 7thVa.)
Daniel Brown had struck an officer and was
court.martiaicd and sentenced to- be shot on
April /, 1865 He was taken along with the
general prisoners Of Pickctt's Division, aud was
released during the fight at Five Forks on the
day set for his execution. After that they had
no time to fool about executing court-martal
sentences.
a few days after the return of Louis, my son
David, who was In the 4th Va. Cav, Wick
hams Brigade, came home He was with the
cavalry which escaped from the Federals just
before the Appomattox surrender. under the
direction Of Fitzhugh Lee. In addition To his
own horse David brought an old nag. which he
had picked up on the route. Thus neither of
my sons were paroed, and in fact | know of
but very few Confederate soldiers who were.
and thus the figures given OF the number of
Confederate soldiers in service mt the surrender
is grossly incorrcct. | read ia one book that
there were Ia. 2.t3 surrendered under arms or
paroled afterwards, belonging to the Confeder-
crate army. This cannot be more than fifth
Of what were in service when the war closed,
aud il neighborhOods in the South were ali
like my own. it would notshow a tenth / have
asked my II nearest neIghbors who were in
service ut the close of the rebellion. and not
one OF them was either paroled or surrendered.
Aud now that the war WAS over. the OK. Con-
fedeTates reached home one by one, aud my
boys stood by me at the gate aud chatted aud
talked with the Federal soldiers AS they march,
cd past OH their way back 10 Washington. Part
OF Shermau's men camped on my place one
night, and they had with them almost every
kind Of memento Of their march--diminutivc
jackasses, pony teams aud spotted horses. TO
say nothing of remarkable variety of dogs.
Some eitixeBs from the mountains who knew
little of wRr. were in Stevensburg. aud heard
that Shormau's men had horses and mules for
sale. In fact these citizens had come down from
their roosts 10 purchase stock, thinking they
would get IL cheap from tie soldiers.
Well, sherman's men suited them. They
sold each of them pair of mules for so pair,
and the old citizens paid for them mostly in
silver, which they had boarded up for years.
Just as they were about 10 depart with their
purchases. however. some other soldiers came
up aud stopped them asking them what the
---- they were doing with the mules of the
Generals team They said they bought them.
The soldiers threatened To arrest them. and
took the mules from them telling them 10
only find the soldiers who sold the mules and
they would put them through. But how the
old cilizens could find the soldiers amongst
10000 men was the joke, rs the loss of their
$3.50 was not, and 80 they returned 10 the
mountains little wiser in soldiers ways.
while the hummers" marched on to Wash ing
ton, aud no doubt had good time on the silver.
/ often think over those past days now. Oc-
casioualiy | wander up on the Sand Spring
Ridge and look al the crumhlinR stone ehimneys
which stood at the cabins Of my Federal ac-
qnaintances aud / wonder who is alive aud
who has passed away. look out over the
country. now in cultivated fields or grown up
with young trees, aud try To picture to myself
how il looked all covered with camps. / have
never heard but from one Of my Union army
acquaintance since the war. He was poor,
sickly young man, who was safeguard over my
daughters house. lie desired an affidavit as
TO his condition when here. aud | cheer:ully
made IL for him, hoping that IL might do him
good. We also heard that Gen. Davies was in
New York city, rs also DIR. C. +. iaekley, oil
Kilpatrick's staff, aud 10 pleased us all to hear
that they were doing we'll. And so | close my
"reminiscences, extending welcoming hand Ia
any Union soldier who may chance this way
(Tie snd)
Comrades: If you wish for profitable bust,
ness, we refer you 10 the advertisement on