The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-26
STORY OF A BATTERY.
How the News of Lees Surrender
Was Received.
STORY OF ONE OF THE VETERANS
Ready for Any Duty the Battery Was
Ordered Out. and After Waiting About
Five Hours IL Was Ordered to Fire a
Salute In Honor OF the Great Event.

ION the night OF April Z. 1865" SAYS a
veteran Of Bittery II. X. /. Light Ar
tillery, 1--WE were encamped on Farms
vile Heights. At s O'Clock on the morn
ing Of April sth, we broke camp at
Farmsville Heights, the order came To
advance and we proceeded along the mar
row road leading towards Appomattox
marching a lew miles, going into camp
for he night at the little village OF Pros.
pect. About @ o'clock on the morning of
April 9th, 1865, we broke camp at the
village OF Prospect, the order being 10
advance IN pursuit OF Lees Ietreating
army. Marching a few miles towards
Appomattox we could hear the sound Of
cannon both on our right and left and We
knew that the surging fight of the last
seven days was not ended, but probably
not one OF us anticipated that this was TO
be our last fight and that the brilliant
aud daring Lee whom we had beeu pur-
suing Tor so long a time would surrender
before sunset.
On every side were evidences of the dis
aDled condition of the confede rate forces.
and 1t seemed to US that some sort Of a
truce must soon he declared. Hundreds OF
soldiers IRON. the retreating army had
dropped ana were lying by the road
side completely exhausted. HalG-staryed
horses and of cannon and AIN. |
munltlon wagons were scattered around |
in great confusion. Their horses were too
weak To haul the cannon and had been
cut loose The ammunition had been
scattered around and spoiled, the guns
had been spiked and some buried so AS TO
render hem useless 10 our army.
A about III O'Clock Gen. Grant and
stan despatched with mud came gallop.
Ing along, and passing us with the GUS
ton OF Appomatox. What this meant
none OF us knew bat we were ready for
whatever order might be given aud every
man was at ms post prepared TO do his
duty, whatever 1t might be. At about 10
A. Nj. Company II aud about 5000 in
fantry aud calvary OF the 9th Corps were
ordered To file into an open field OH our
halt and await further orders.
The hiring on both sides suddenly stopped
ana the commanding officers were ordered
To headquarters which was about half "A
mile away, and it as evident thai some
thing unusual was about to transpire.
The Thought mat Lee would surrender
ana that he war was over aid not enter
our minds FOR "A Instant though there
something strange ia the whole
I'VE remained in this position until
lbout 3 o'clock In the afternoon, when
pen. Frank Wheaton of Rhode Island,
WHO commanded our brigade, came gal
.oplng down the road accompanied by mis-
staff, halted before our co npany and
Capt. Allen. Gen. Lee has sur
rendered; get FOUR battery out on yonder {
lill and lire IA salute OF 100 guns Capt.
Allen turned TO his company and gave
he order: Battery Ii, attention, COM ]
'any Boys, Gen. l. e has surrendered f;
10 more hghting; we are going TO let you
20 home we have orders TO fire a salute
II 100 Guus in honor of Lees surrender. s
aud cannoneers mount; forward /
trot out No words can describe
lie effect OF such news up n us. The |
nen Shouted aud nugged each other, c
up their Eats, threw down their /
.uns and Lurrahed. so wild were they
lth excitement. Oar battery WAS the 1
OF toe brigade to receive the ne VS. 5
M nred the hrst sa.ute Co celebrate the \
rand hnlie OF the war. The news spread
Ike electricity and the Infantry on our i
and also the boys ia. gray soon \
card the welcome story and acted like L
razy men. il
"lC was the supreme moment of orr 4
YES. The cruel war was over, no more
ghting, long marches, or hardships.
!, e felt Shat we had done our best to full
III the Obligation taken in Providence,
y L., on the 18th day OF October, 1862 to .
efend the gra ID Old flag OF our country
nd sustain the principles upon which
'st the best government III existence. 4,
Ana to-day there remains "A feeling of VI
ride anu satisfaction in the breasts OF n
10 veterans OF Battery II, aud there is K
lie same feeling OF loya ty and devotion :,
when at our cJuntry's cal in her great u
u nesd we wen: forth TO her defence Il
aviug family All friends, To battle for a
le right aud for the m%aiutenanc of c
lose principles upou which the Govern Il
ent was founded. o
The wrinkled faces Of the veterans of Il
artery III and the faltering steps tell Us
at they soon Will pass away and be ONLY n
as those having done their
lty TO their country aud their God.
IL there comes to us AS members of
artery III a feeling of priue and satisfac.
IN that we did wat we could To main
In the honor AM dignity OF the grand
{ flag that was ever flung TO the breeze
d for those principles which underl,e
Q best government on the glob..
VETERAN EARL FENNER
OF Battery IL, First Rhode
InInAI a a-l. -