The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-03
STORY OF A CANNONEER.
Continued from LIST page.l

mo; but we are still soldiers-captors and
prisoners. Soldiers do not persecute each other:
But after we disband aud go bone, then whatf
"why, simply 60 10 work and do your best
% repair damages"
This conversation fairly represents the
Oh lights and spprehensiOns OF the soldiers anu
gubatcrn officers of the Confederate army ~
APPROXIMATION. The things they most feared
were the negro problem and the confiscation OF
property. Some who lived in the mountain
regions where there had always been large
Dnionist element appreheDded persecution
from their loyal neighbors. As rule, the
determination between them and us, about
which SO many rhapsodies have been written,
was pretty cool and formal. They were couT-
teous when we visited their biyouacs but that
was all, and they did not visit rs much in re-
turn.
As fast as the formalities OF paroling them
were got through with aud they could he sup
piled with a few days rations 10 start them on
their journey, they slipped sway, sadly ana
silently, 10 seek, in most cases, desolated homes
which they would have 10 rebuild from the
ground up Iconfess that even at Appomattox,
with the fumes Of their powder fresh III my
nose, j could find no feeling in my heart
toward them except pity-wlth some admira-
ton. The Eirgiuians and North Carolinians
got away first, because they were, most OF them,
within three or four days march OF their homes.
But the Cotton States men were inclined to
wait for transportation. where they could get
any. Some of the Texans, MississiPpians aud
IOuisianians were provided with lransporta-
tiOn by sea. The Danville Road carried many
IS far as il was in running order.
The troops of our army at once began TO
leave the ground My recollection IS that at
least one division of cavalry started TO join
Sherman before daylight on the 10th. The m
fantry moved of 10 Petersburg and Richmond,
except the Sixth Corps, which went off towards
Danyille and did not return for two or three
weeks.
The small detachment Of staff officers and
clerks who remained at AppOmattoE after the
troops bad lett. to wind up the business affairs
Of Lees army, soon completed their work. IL
was not difficult task, because there was not
much left, aud what little there was had no
great valne except as relics. However, every
thing was enumerated, carefully listed in du-
plicdte or triplicate, and few days after the
surrender we started tor Richmond. Arriving
In Richmond after the Fifth Corps had left Tor
Washington, i found myself Rdrift. ! MAS
truly q very much detached yOlunteeT-so
much so that j hardly knew what command
really belonged to.
had been detached from my volunteer regi-
ment into he battery. Then | had been de-
tached from the battery for mounted Orderly
duty at headquarters. Then / had been de-
tsched from Griffins headquarters for clerical
duty under Adj't-Cen. Williams. Aud now,
arriving in Richmond, ] was directed 10 report
SO Gen. Weitzel's headquarters. / reported 10
Gen. Meitzel in person, told him how had
been recently employed, etc, aud asked him
what ] should do de inquired if ] desired TO
rejOin my old volunteer regiment, saying rs /
had been permanently detached from the bat
terry by Gen. Griffin, there was no occasion for
my going back 10 it. / told him did not want
70 20 back 10 the old regiment.
Gen. Weitzel said he presumed. from the duty
j had been doing, that was competent clerk,
and he thought his Acknowledgement could find
use for me temporarily. So / Was employed a
few days as clerk at the
HEADQUARTERS OF THE TWENTY-FIVE CORPS
and was properly reported as detached for hat
purpose. At this times Of course Richmond was
under martial law, aud Gen. WeitZel had COM
plete control OF the place, though Gen. Shepley,
who had been Provost Marshal General at Fort
Monroe was known a. Military Governor"
lily duties were temporarily IA connection with
the posting of Safeguards over the houses
and property Of the inhabitants and keeping a
record OF the men so detailed, and 10 note any
complaints that might be made as 70 the man
Der in which they discharged their duties. But
i do not recollect many complaints.
At this time Gen. Lee had returned TO
Richmond. and was living ~ his residence,
Oh Franklin street. ] had great desire 10
See Gen. Lee and pay him MY respects, as had
q great admiration for his talents a. q General
and his character as a soldier. i had con-
sidered the whole contest SO far as ! was eon-
cerned, as a matter 81 professional business, aud
my sole thought had been 10 whip the fight
which presume was a common feeling among
the Regulars.
And a. we had now not only whipped the
rebel army, but had totally destroyed It. felt 40
amnesty. but Father ptied the fallen enemy,
and sincerely admired the courage Of their SOL
= a e.. Il Ff.,TsI. a.
! had desire 70 shake hands with Gen. Lee
and express 10 him my sentiments Of admra-
tou aud respect personally. IL was known
that the Generals health was not good. aud as
our troops all wanted 70 see him the same AS /
DID. d. became necessary 70 issue stringent
orders ioTbiddiHg them 10 intrude upon him at
his house. This WAS necessary. because Gen
Lee did not want 20 refuse any person access 10
him, sud j think waE really DESTROYS 10 meet
and shake hands with as many OF our troops AS
possible. But this would have necessitaIed All
almost constant reception" Of Yankee soldiers
who were passing. through Richmond al the
time, which be was not physically equal to,
and 80 our ueu bad 10 be ordered not 10 visit
hiIn. But day 0T two alter / reported 10 Gen.
Meitzei he bad occasion 10 send a note TO Gen
Lees bOuSe, and ] selected 10 carry IL.
After the surrender there WAS a great deal If
delicate consideration shown by our Regular
Army officers toward rebel officers who had
been CON raGes with them m the Old Army.
] remember that immed lately after the sur
render al App0nattox Quartermasier- Gen
eFal Rufus Ingalls, took the rebel Gen Harry
Icth 10 stay with hiIn his guest. and after
entertaining him for two DAYS or so, seut
him home 30 his farm, about 50 miles from
AppomatiOx. ia I'll mbuance, with supplies"
enough 10 last biaB a month. Tic same sort Of
cOnTiesies were shown by our Gems. Griffin,
GIbbOn, Humphreys Wright, Ord, Sheridan,
Meitzel and others 10 their old West Point
classmates such A. the rebel Gems L0Bgstreet
Field, Pickett, Anderson, Eweli, Fitz Lee aud
many OtBers j presume that j, considering
myse!f a iuil iedsed Regular At that time.
Shared the feelings 81 iny chiefs
The message ! carried was directed 10 Gen.
Fitzaugh Ice, and ben J delivered IT Gen.
Ro5et T. Lee WIS not ia the fo0fD. But think
iHp tis.t mi, BIZ never have 50 good an onaor-
tUuity again, j said 10 Gen. Fitz lee: "tjcu-
eTal. 81 uOt inc0ngeuieHt 10 bin, would like
a. pay my refpects 90 your iiiustrious relative"
tbs was In the hallway u tic house, Inch WAS
quite brad aud spacious, aud seemed 60 10 used
q ball and reception room both. The IafIors
were Oh the TisAt and the folding doors were
open.
'Gen. Lee is not well 10 day" replied Gen.
Fliz Lee " and was reclining few moments
ago when LEFT him" Then hesitatiug n mo.
ment and noticing the letter aud number
OF my cap he said. q ! see You are a Regular
ID; that IL Gibbons battery, il IL Boty 1 re-
member il in the Utah expedition Of 1857"
" Yes Sit. but we generally call ID SttEyart's