Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-12-13

shells and other explosive ammunition, looking much like an outdoor cellar The grass over this and all about the cannon was green and beautiful, and a few feet ln front wero the waters of the bay.
 The Confederates had retreated up tho Mobile and Alabama rivers, and up the former stream the 18th Corps was at once ordered, following for time the Mobile & Ohio railroad. In passing about Mobile the great strength of its defenses was rs~ marked even by our common soldiers, and had the Confederates had suficent men to have manned the works they would have been almost impregnable against direct assault.
 One of the ablest engineers in the Con- federate army said Mobile was the pest fortified place in the South.
 At Whistler, little station on the Mobile 6 Ohio railroad, a few miles from Mobile, quite a lively skirmish was had with the enemy's cavalrr. This was the last engagement the 18th Corps partici- pated in, and is further claimed to have been the last battle of the war.
 Rumors now began to be circulated that Lee had been defeated and Richmond capt ured. But these were not confirmed.
 Meantime the army moved up the coun- try some forty or fifty miles north of Mo- bile. The march was for the most part through a thinly-populated region with only now and then farm house.
 One day the march led over heavy roads, and all day long through a cold, drizzling rain. Towards night the command halted, and the writer, with some companions, found comfortable quarters before the fro of rude negro cabin, and ate with much relish the corn 'hoe-cGbe'' prepared at its hearth by Q colored Aunty.
 An, youthful comrade of that day, now grown to mature middle age, and, may be, fh.,. rNF ,,N1N p,ol haps, the favored one of a choice circle ot friendsl Dosmarble steps leading through wide door way and stately hall to spacious rooms with velvet carpets, richly-uphol- stercd furniture and frescoed ceiling, per vaded throughout-even in mid-winter- with summer temperature, seem half q , inviting as did that rude thre3hol and | rough little low door through which you that | day could not entec without lowing your | head?
 Or does luxurious fool, prepared with | special aim to tempt an1 tickle the palate | and eaten from in.iHst china up )n the l finest and whitc3t tAJlo liaen, g.ve you half tho pleasure you that day had fr" m Aunty's hOe-ea:e, c;:t,!,l upon the plain board | table beside her si pie hearth2 About a week after leaving Mobile the command received ofilci Ii notiS'e of the fa'i | of Richmond an surrender Of Leo. All were of course r joced, knowing the war would soon end.
 For two or threo days the army campcd | near the residence of Mrs. Goibow, the mother of Mt1 General Earl | Van Dorm; it was a plaln two-story frame house, painted white. G h. | erul Van Dorn had been conspicuous in | the ConIe lerate service, but during the second year of the war had q personal diff | culty with Doctor Pctcrs, of Tennessee, by 1 whom he was killed. His wifo was lvi' g in the quiet lone ra zion, retired fir 'Ll the | worl l, apparently vita no compan.4n save her mother. While encampeI at this place | the news of Lincoln's assassinGtP Il w;.a i received. It was terrible news to the sol
 dicrs, and tho first impulse of every man | seemed desire to in some way avengc the | Presidents death. An1 had the enemy | been in our imme Hate front in battle array | there is no question but at this p Hriod the
 Union soldiers would have fought w. tn un
 usual determination; but the Confe >,erGcy
 was crumbling to pieces, and shooting | enemies of the Government was soon to (
 thing of the pIst.
 Tho command finally went into camp i'm
 mediately on tho'b i4iS of Tomb gbae river
 at place called M.LclSinto h Buff Here {
 tall flag pole eighty fe3t Il. irh was erected
 and all seemed to have fr0o1 time. The
 war was substantially over, 6rd no more
 hard campaigns being in prospect, there
 seemed noth ng to do but wait until su,
 time as the Government should sec fit tt
 muster us out.
 A few of the better-disposed people
 seemed willing to renew their allegiance
 to the Govornment, anu over such the arm.