The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-01
rHr Nr1N FAvORARLE.

fD arm the slaves was received with caAnlesS
that must have surprised the politicians. IRE
DOW these OvcrWorn veterans had learned 10
dc-pise no aid I'm the task that grew daily 10
wear the hue of hopeless effort. Pride OF
opinion and the prejudice born OF habit were
ready now % Doe sacrificed upon the altar oi
necessity: and though these Conicderatc PM
lo,luher- had never heard of Miles OReilly,
nf "a hundred camp-fres one might hear ex-
messed bv some muk vidette the sensible
i.r. that the Irish poet had conveyed IN easy
4Lyne to the Army of the Potomac
Every day IN the yegr boys
Ida.lieye Samho hc shot as me-
Every hour ID the day
But Csmho WAS destined 10 escape the pre-
carious and ucarious honor.
SUMMONED To GENERAL LIE
On thc 22d Of March 1868, the writer. then
"a staff officer in A. i. Hills corps was seated
iu front of log cabin ON the Bermuda
front. intent upon the dcit Ingenuity WIN
which Captain Ludlow. of the Sixth Virginia.
was converting un army blanket into the
recognizable likeness of pair OF breecheS
The progress of the motamorpho,is was OK
citing much critical meumeut. when courier
approached. and delivered u one of the party
al order which elcciually terminated hls IN
terest IN the pautaloou business
OFFICE ADJUTASr AND lNspECrOR-GFNFRAL,l
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF N0IeIERN. Va,
March 22d 1865. }
Unless something special iseong on in your
front. you viii. upon receipt of tins. report
promptly al these headquarters. General Lee
desires 10 see You. Yours respectfully,
II. f. PHToN. Colonel and a. 1. q.
Hero was food enough for speculation 10 an
insignificant subaltern What simplciuu 10
young officer u.s. THIS bret more brought
with IL an alienation of exaggerated fears.
and no less foolish hopes, that made the ilde
II five miles seem Co occupy but 49, many NM
utes. To be known TO General Lee WAS in
those DAYS priceless honor, 70 be- wanted ~
lim was sufficient pfOvOcalOn % "a Nouthl4i
mind for indulgence IN q series OF feVefIeh
unticipatious which ranged aii the way nom
instant and unparalleled disgrace for some
heiuous but unconscious shOrtconlnS, 10 da1-
zing promotion for some deed OF merit OF
which tho author was equally ignorant ana
innocent. This confession need not. however,
Doe made III detail. a. mOstmen VINO nave borne
3. small part in stirring events have had some
such experience. though few are honest
enough To expose their weakness aiterwafd
That there WAS no occasion for 1911 tn- per
turbation of spirit, the reader VIII have a
ready OWNED yet after tins lapse OF iime
can realize the mingled satisfaction and anA-
Sety with which ! entered tle presence ot the
great Confederate chic'tiu. the soldier io
whom defeat brought no loss of fame. the
kindly man from whom misfortune could take
no real attribute Oi gIe4tu.-@
oBuCr Oh IHE SUMMONS.
T'shered. after q few ha-ty words OF eXpia-
nation from Colonel Pcvt.u. into The room ot
tLc 1urnbuH House which the Commando
lu-Chief occupied. / WAS received with
grave courtesy tlat set AN aWkw1rdue-9 at
r.-t But there Wa, NOT % moment lost from
tle business u hand Immediately upon the
greeting followed question.
"Do you know. sin, for what wished osee
.Not fully. General
.Nl. r."-and whsle speaking, his eyes
vt .a.rl o. thr western hills visible from i.e
window. and be seemed to he absent in
u.n. though fully present lu mind. ] laNc
p-. ulered since 81 he W"le not lonclL~
,..H t.e % break loose from the euflu~ir~
bitches around Richmond and Peters
and 10 Doe away over those
- where bOldness of strategy and
a.. l's of manuuIe, might hnd play. Inc
tia. l.., come when To- meet these people We
unjust lay hold ON every element Of strength
within our grasp. Congress has finally
authorized the enlistment of cOlored soldiers;
w. need this reinforcement DOW. and the
work of raising It must fall upon you Young
-..u. who are not afruid az little trouble and
Lave no precOncclkcd notions 10 overcome
GtNElAL LElS Plan.
General Ieeth went ON tonufold. the plan.
dwelling up0n bis conviction that the cOl1frd
rrYple in Virginia had proved hv thor com
QUOT throughout the war Their atUlchmenl 20
o., South and could readily be induced hF
and their immediate families 20 take mp arms
4u benah of the cause of their mats
fs he trusted also confidently Z"
r- patriotism Of the slHNc-uWnefS
make sacrifices Of their property "' freely
O. t.ey had Of their own nosh ana Dlooo aud
t....I ited the easy collection OF a large
l..uIuug fund with which negroes w DO were
nu 10 enter the service might Doe pul-
"a from masters unwilling To part with
t-n otherwise Finally bee sad thHi had
l... mentioned 90 him as proper person 10
o. entrusted with the partial cNhin'l
q fhi. experiment aud euQUtcd
whether / could go into d. WITH a spit
of -ynpathv with the movement. On pehg
answered boa the Affirmative lie ashed what
thought of the disposition OF the oHecfs To
mmand such troops. rephea ny "iu1lhg
u tle field for promotion which Womb bc
opened up. and added that | was sure every
Je.ment I'M the army contained many Young
men uf energy and talent. who believed that
ANY body of men could be disciplined INTO SOL
C.crs and who would eagerly spring 20 any OPP
l.ftuuity of more efficiently serving lc '"'s
AL oi gaining distinction. Inc EeneiM
smiled n his grave way. as he remarked
80. Sin. YOU Will have no objection to TINS
business"
RECRUITING OFFICE OPENED.
Il was then settled that | should open an
Office in Petersburg. with proper authority
tui facilities and after an hours converse,
t.'A was dismissed VIII Il SiaViv"'' -. 5,
expect 10 hear good accounts from you, 81,
Leaving the room. before / had reached tne
door General Lee had already wheeled aSain
= the window: bat ] distinctly heard ms
voice again turned. thinking that he al
dressed me, and caught the closing words Oh
s muitered sentence: IF it's not too late.
Passing through the yard 10 regain my horse
Was told of the arrival Of Sheridan at the
White House, on his way 10 Petersburg.
BEIFP FxPRKENcE.
The end was very pear. General Grant had
already written the order for the movements
that closed the war. But the next day the
Necessary papers were issued, and, ia com,
Pany with Sergeant S. W, Ijritton, who had
been assigned 10 duty with me, entered up
an al experience which was destined 70 DC