The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-22
LAST EPISODE OF THE WAR.

\
Cav, stationed at Port Hudson. La. wheI
l. the news came of the surrender of thu
Confederate army. This was accom-
panied with a dispatch from Gen. Candy, com
msnding Department of the Gulf, for a detail
of 8 battalion Of cavalry ts accompany corps
of 80 mechanics and two telegraph operators
with eQuipSge trains, sent out to rebuild the
telegraph line between Port Hudson and
0syka, Miss, which would open direct com
| munication with Washington. l was chosen
as the officer TO command this expedition, with
full instructions from Gen. Candy to avoid. as
far as possible any conflict with migratory
bands of Cenfederatcs who infested the country
| to be traversed; in any event, TO precipitate no
attack. j was well aware that the country
| back of Port Hudson the rendezvous OF
| SCOTS guerrillas and Gen. Mabry's BUSH
| whackers, and selected my detail of negro cav
| airy accordingly. | knew the Johnnies ex-
pected to take prisoners alive. and so selected
400 men. Sergeants. Corporals and privates, but
| no white officers but myself
The morning of april u, 1865, we started
out setting new poles where needed and splic-
| ing aud connecting tho wires as we moved
along. The distance to Osyka was about 200
miles. bat we moved forward rapidly, as most
| of the poles were standing, aud found only &C.
casionai breaks in the wire | posted notices
| along the way notifying the Inhabitants that
| they would be held responsible in person and
\
! line in the vicinity where they lived. Such
warning from force Of negro cavalry was sufii-
| cient, as they expected 10 lenicncy from such
| a source. During the entire trip we were I'M
| moiested, except by occasional shots from
| struggling bushwhackers along the wayside
! hills, who fed to the woods Oh return fire and
| pursuit. Fortunately none of my men were
| killed and but few slightly wounded.
On arriving at Osyka. with only half mile
| Of telegraph line to repair before making the
| eventful connection, at o'clock p m. OF April
| IL ! moved my whole force and wagon-train
into camp on Undiscovered hill overlooking
the town, meantime keeping a detail OF work
men busy on the line. We were by this time
in the midst of country never visited by
Union soldiers and still in the possession OF
hands of Ccnfederates who were not aware of
Lees surrender. In this situation | formed
my troops in echelon by patoons, with wagon
train we'll covered that in the event of an at
tack we could stand our ground or retreat with
safety. Every fourth man was detailed TO pre-
pare supper, with the rest standing to their
brides ready for service. This hill, 100 or more
feet high, thicklv covered with trees. was
good natural ratification.
The workmen, by o'clock were just enter
ing town. and looking over the prospect with
my feid-glass, great clouds of dust revealed
the suspected foe coming i'll vast numbers but
q few rods away. IN moment moro the town
of Osy1a was full of Confederate cavalry.
ordered my bugler to sound to horse" at once,
and mounted my own horse, took the bugler
and two Orderlies, called in the workmen, and
prepared for whatever stirring work we were
to have on hand. There were only few mo-
meBts of uneasy suspense, when 10 our surprise
a white handkerchief was waved from the
Confederates in town. / at once rode forward
with one of the operators and my negro Order
lies, and vas met bali way by two Confederate
officers.
Exchanging sslutations. asked: "Who have
the honor TO meet?"
My name is Mabry. Gen. Mabry; this is nay
Adjntant, Major -" giving his NAME which
/ don't remember now.
told him my name, and explained the mis-
sion / was performing. He stated that he had
heard il rumored that day for the first time
that Lee had surrendered, but did not believe
it. | told him my orders TO avoid conflict if
possible, and proposed truce until we con-
nected the wires and tested the result.
Gen. Mabry replied: Il am hero TO fight,
but we are all tired of war, and / will stay
with you till morning. If definite news comes
of Lees surrender, we'll celebrate the event
right here"
Then, General, let's repair to the corner
grocery, if there is one, and have social frolic
till the wires are in operation" l responded
Meantime, invite in your officers and drink
and smoke at any expense"
Gen. Mabry ordered his men, about 1000, to |
go into camp. | sent my Orderlies back to the
hill with my horse trusting myself to the |
honor of a brave enemy. interviewing the |
grocer. found he had q barrel of old whisky |
and plenty of cigars, and told him / would /
stand treats that night.
About shutdown Gen. Mabry and 20 or so Of
his officers crowded the grocery. / addressed |
them stating my business and the war situation, |
and invited them to drink and smoke with me |
pending expected news of peace between the |
North and South. The grocer mustered all |
the tin cups, glasses clippers, gourds, teacups, |
etc, he could find, and night of revelry COM |
menced. The room was soon filed with smoke, |
and many were the rolickiHg jokes. stories of |
battles sand narrow escapes told many old songs |
sung and sad tales related till near the hour of |
midnight None of us were. to say, drunk, |
bat all Jolly enough To keep our tongues |
wagging all at once. when in rushed the opeT- |
ator, Tor another drink, we supposed, but he |
had a handful of intercepted dispatches be- |
tween New Orleans and Washington.
Midst cigar smoke and the cIatter of tongues |
i called the noisy crowd TO order and ell was |
silence. read the dispatches, and every head
was bowed. 4 dumb silence followed for |
moment when Gen. Mabry arose, trembling
from head to foot. With quiverng lips and |
some effort he spoke 10 the crowd. Others of |
his command had come in, TIL every foot of |
standing room was occupied. Several ladies, |
aware Vi WHAT was expected appeared In the |
back end of the store. He spoke substantially |
as follows:
COMRADES OF THE CosFEDERAcY: Our |
cause is lost! The blood shed on many fields
was shed in vain. 1t is dreadful to think Of |
the desolation this war has wrought; cities and /
villages 10 ashes, homes laid waste and thou |
sands of widows and orphans doomed to want |
and suffering. Tongue cannot tell nor pen |
write the horrors of this long war. From |
wealth and plenty we are reduced TO poverty |
aud want. Our wives and children are worse |
than beggars aud their husbands and fathers |
are In rags, are pennless, or dead. Comrades, |
the picture is more hideous than / can paint it, |
We have fought for Southern independence |
against powerful adversary; fought through |
hunger. withstood every agony of war. took |
courage st every disaster, and are fated to /
defeat. We have fought the United States il |
was our great mistake TO fight the only flag of |
liberty under the sun. Ny heart clogs my
throat as say il; we should have claimed our
rights under the Stars and Stripes and the Con-
etitution. j, for one, will return to what / |
honored and cherished in youth-the old flag,
baptized in the blood of our fathers the old !
Stars and Stripes the Constitution, and laws of
the American Union. We have only one choice
Comrades, / ask you TO 20 with me back to the
homes made deselats by war, TO our furnishing
families, for We are completely undone. 1t is
more hesrtrending to face them than the en-
envy We have fought, but / surrender in peace
to Zoe not unworthy of the conquest"
And with tears the brave commander broke
|