Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-05
GEN. LEES RETREAT.
tbs LAST DAYS OF THE ARMY OF
NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
from the Evacuation Of Petersburg to the
Surrender tkppomattOx Graphically
Narrated hyan Eys-witne,s
lBy the late James P. cowsrdie.l

- ~ NV WathNeF
tBy the late James p. Cowsrdie.l
The following interesting narrative
vas written Immediately after the war,
nearly twenty-five years ago, by the late
James =. Cowardin, who was sergeant
major Of the corps Of engineers under
Colonel 4. NJ. Il. Talcott. II is now
published for the first time
The period had elapsed between the
Isl and 9tn days Of April, 1865. The re-
treat OF the Army Of Northern Virginia
will long he remembered. The events
and Incidents which then transpired
will remain indehbly impressed upon the
memories Of tbe people OF Virginia, and
more especially OF the army of General
lee To future generations will be told
TIE tale Of the sufierings Of that gallant
hand on that memorable and disastrous
retreat. There are few beyond the HIM
its of the quondam Confedorscy who
have the least idea or appreciation Of the
priyations and trials through which those
heroes passed daring that oyer-to-be-re-
membcrcd week.
ENDURING FoRTTUDE.
Coald the men OF the North who are
thoroughly blinded IN their preiudices
sgains those "vilo rebels have looked
With impartial eyes upon the enduring
fortitide with which General Ices fol-
lovers struggled against hunger, fatigue,
and an the priyations attendant upon a
soldiers life could they have known
AMI appreciated the spirit which urged
them 10 the struggle ; could they have
trusted in the mGgnauimity with which
thev accepted and acknowledged, though
with breaking hearts, "A most CALLING de
feat. they would with slacrity and zeal
assist 10 remove every obstacle In the
way Of restoring peace and harmony to
our distracted country.
The writer Of this narrative was par
ticipant in the scenes Of the retreat as
he had been IN some Of the severest bat
ties and in the hard service in the
trenches in front Of Richmond. His OBJ
ject Is to give truthful narrative OF the
principal incidents attendant upon the
retreat Should he indulge IN something
like enthusiasm in speaking of some
prominent officers of the "rebel army "
bee bers 70 assure the reader that he lays
aside all party feeling in his admiration
for true merit and gallsntry.
THR BBGINNISG or THE END.
On the night Of the 1st Of April those
az rs who were stationed in front OF
Petersburg retired as usual, little think
jig what stirring events would trsnspire
on the coming morrow. We had re-
, ~.r,t,f g 1s,.n
end were lcd 20 believe that the lighting
80 Five Forks had resulted in our favor
The men, as usual. visited each other 3
quarters while the officers discussed the
probable movements Of the coming, or,
rather, already opened campaign. There
were none of us vino would agree that
General Lee would eyacuate. Oh, no !
thought we, we have held these lines
against overwhelming numbers too long
g. think of giving them mp. We little
knew Whist difficulties our "Ori2zly
Chieftain had already contended with
or what now obstacles were every day
rising before him.
Is TERRIBLE STRAITS.
We little knew that he had but 50. 00O
men 90 defend against four times that
number % line extending from Stony
Greek ID the banks Of the Chickahominy,
s. distance Of at loast fifty miles. We
little knew how that mere handful was
daiv growing less by the base action of
40 raauv-thev cannot be called men
who were DESERVING such q commander,
{, say nothing Of their standard OF their
cause. M the hour of ms greatest need.
We little knew that the country behind
u- was 60 nearly exhausted that the
people had contributed their all and
could feed us bat little while longer /;
tLar the only railroad upon which We
Ceuended Was strained 10 its utmost
iu VAN. All these, with 90 many other
unknown truths, were things that SOL
dior should not know. We only knew
tIat the embankment behind which we
laj been fighting for SO many months
Utst be held until so were ordered TO
leave it,
q MEMORABLE SUNDAY.
We had not slept many hours before
wee were awakened 10y the most terrible
nuonading We had heard since Gcttys-
burg or Mechanicsvile. IL seemed TO
A., ranng from one end of the lines 10
tso other. There was no sleep to be had
while all this was going on, so No took
our seats 10y our campfire 30 smoke and
Will. away the anxious moments which
would olapse before We could hear some
news. Presently IL terrific musketry fire
commenced apparently ID the direction
Of the Crater. and continued for some
time. Towards clock he next morn
inc the firing from the right seemed To
Get more towards our rear than we had
ever heard II. and shortly afterwards a
messenger brought us the news that our
lines had been broken and that tue
enemy had reached the Cox road. This
was bad news and We began to have
..lOus misgiyings However, We made
our preparations for church. and had
..arceiv done 50 before We were ordered
o. yet ready 81 move ut a moments no.
lce Simultaneous ly the news came
tHat Fort Malone had been captured.
We were ordered 20 see that the men
cooked their ratious as quickly as posi-
h.e and that everything Of value was
ge4jy to De pat III the wagons.
DEATH or GENERAL A. 2. hill.
During the day the Intelligence ar
Tf.i OF the ucatO OF bcutIal y. l. bAlb
tsether with the report that our lines,
i.c.uding Fort Malone, had been re-
i.,u. aud could still be held. We were
..-r much Cheercd by this rather un-
" story, though the death Of General
I threw gloom over Us all How
Soil We remember that gallant man as
le led ms Light Division across the
lnrtahommy how well We remember
h, flashing eyes Gs he brought them IN
action Il Antlotam and won for himself
the name OF "tho Butcher of Sharps-
burg. From Manassas we read OF
Colonel Hill and his gallant old Thir
teenth Virginia from Williamsburg,
OF Bugadler-Gcncral Hill with Long
rAr..a-. LII L..--.- , - -. .oIl,or