Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-26
WELDON'SWAR STORY
AN Aoneess BY J. NJ. MULLEN BEFORE
TneA p. HILL CAMP.
so.n.. a,oua weldon Mt tho Evacuation
A Command which Did Not near
of Lees Surrender.

c..na which Did Not Hear
Of Lees Surrender.
,corr..,ondonce Of the Richmond Dispa'cnl
prrrrsBURo, Va, Nov. %, lSvo.
lanes NJ. Mullen, Esq, the Common
vealtb's attorney for this city, was the
snoolor before the A. p. Hill Camp oil
Confederate Veterans at their meeting
tonight. His subject was; "a Com-
rados Fxperience with General Bakers
Command at Weldon, n. O.. During the
Ten Days Preceding the Surrender oil
General ,Johnston's Army" MIR. Null
len briefly but eloquentIy prefaced his
address, by expressing the regret that
being assigned TO another neiu
~ duty he could not share
the imperishable laurels won on 50 many
bsrd-fougbt fields by that incomTaraple
body OF men---the Army OF Nor'heIh
Virginia-whose fame will last through
ont all time. and increase the brightness
with the increasing years. Nh. Mullen
smoke of the great Importance OF Weldon
90 q military point, both as base for the
collection and distribution OF supplies
and for It's facilities Of transportation.
EVACUATION SCENES.
He recorded also the scenes in and
around Weldon preparatory to the eyac-
nation of the town. and the scenes that
followed TO the time OF the surrender OF
the little command which had so long
held il Weldon was the headquarters
of the Second military district oil North
Carolina. with Bngsdier- General IL.
8. Baker in command. The troops
in charge scarcely numbered over
5O0-infantrv, cavalry, and artillery
the last being composed Of Company A.
Thirteenth battalion, North Carolina ar
tillerv. Captain f. H. Webb. In Ian
guage aptly descriptive the speaker
when he had gotten down to the subject
matter of his address, detailed the con-
tinusl state of suspense. anxiety, and ex-
element, to soy nothing OF the constant
activity of the command, during the few
DAYS previous to the evacuation OF the
town.
ON THE MOVE.
They were almost constantly on the
move the attention of tho General being
occupied in watching the advance OF the
enemy from Goldsboro' and Kinston
towards Raleigh, as well as the move
ments from the direction Of the lower
Roanoke, the Chowan, and Blackwater
rivers. Being without the advantage Of
reliable news, without seeing a news
paper for week at time, depending
in large measure upon Dame Rumor Tor
the information obtained it WAS not to be
doubted that the camp was always Kept
in state of anxiety. 1t was four days
after the evacuation OF Petersburg and
Richmond Before the news reached
them. On the 9Th day of April Colonel
Whitford's regiment of infantry and
Captain Webb's artillery went down to
Boykin's, on the Seaboard road, on trip
of observation.
SAW A BODY OF MEN.
On their return they found the track
had been partially destroyed by Federal
cavalry. Colonel Whitford, who was
riding on the engine, saw a body of men
ahead and had the train stopped Just IN
time 10 prevent accident and capture.
The train was backed, the troops de-
barked, and the enemy were pursued to
Jackson. And so, day after day and night
after night in response to alarms,
founded upon rumor, the little com
mand was sent out, now in one direc-
ton and now in another, continually
by oil sorts of stories and
threatened disasters On the evening
of the Eth of April telegram was re-
ceiyed from General Johnston ordering
all trains north of the Roanoke river to
be recalled at once to the Southside, all
heavy guns to be also removed or de-
stroyed, and the railroad bridge to be
burned.
ORDERS EXECUTED.
BY hard work all night the orders as
to the removal of trains, guns, and sup
plies was executed, and combustibles
were placed at each end OF the bridge.
Everything was in a state OF excitement,
citizens of the counties crowded into the
town-bringing all their portable pro
perty-women and children In fearful
distress at leaving their homes. and Old
men with their white heads bow
ed in sorrow. The whole scene
was heartrendering. On the Sth,
9th. and 10th everything possible
was moved away on the Raleigh and
CASTOR railroad On the 18th the troops
reached out towards Raleigh with the
object of joining General Johnston. 1t
was not until the 18th that the first
vague rumors of General Lees surrender
reached the command, and then only
through stragglers that were met on the
road. These rumors were not at first
believed, but as the stragglers increased
on the next day they could no longer be
doubted. Still the command kept on
until on the 1ith, at Warrenton, they
met General Matt. Ransom, who confirm
cd the report OF Lees surrender.
on PAROLE.
General Ransom was consulted as TO
the best course to be pursued. Since
reports had already come to hand that
General Sherman was in Raleigh, Cen
eral Ransom having been put upon his
parole of honor. said he could give no
advice, but snd his brother, General
Robert Ransom, was sick at home some
four miles away, and he might be con
suited. The latter was consulted and
gave his advice, adding that he did not
see how any good could result by further
holding out When Captain Webb.
who at the time was in command, re-
turned from his consultation with Gen
eral Ransom he found his men de-
moralized and discouraged.
OPINIONS DIFFERED.
He appealed TO them by the honor
able record they had made to stand by
and follow him and he would endeavoI
to lead them to General Johnston. The
men obeyed and agreed to follow him.
After this there were many consultations
among the officers ss to the policy to he
pursued. Opinions differed-some
were for going forward, some in favor OF
sending a flag of truce to General Sner-
man, Offering to surrender on the terms
granted General Lees army. Others
were for disbanding and quietly return