Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-30
FINAL CAMP FIRES.
The Last Days Of The Noble Army Of
Northern Virginia.
FROM AMELIA TO APPOMATTOX,
thrilling scenes That Marked the Close Of
the wsr--Lettors Of Greeting from
Surviving Generals
cMrl,tcn for the nlspatchN

bis brigade. Never did troops show better
s..r9llne or night more obstinately and
.-ayc,v than those men under their heroic
cid general. As we approached the home
.. Mr. Joe Wilson we halted and formed
gr, 60 the open fields surrounding his
-,us. and the writer who knew him and
els family well, and had often shared
....- hospitality rode up TO the house and
s.rlcl them 70 seek safety In the cellar,
.. NE would attempt 10 check the enemy
..rrs. Whilst couvcrsiRg with Mr.. VIII
.. hfs lttlc girl Judy, ran up and threw
... arms around my neck. cXclaiming'
..r don't let the Yankees come here
..,rr wished so heartily that / hac
r..r "a host within myself had not
Old. .rart 10 tell her that we could only
... chose people back for little
-.t, and then We must retreat SO 1
Gently a.scuragel her little arms and
,.. her ,,c would try. but she must make
r... aaG hide for We would soon be
.....-e all around their house. After
...-, and sharp skirmish We moved on
... ,.e next morning reached the court
.., We rassed Wisc's Brigade drawn
., limo ON the road just before We
.r.f the place, and one Of our men
.g said 10 them, "Oh, you need
forming line there, We cou!d
.. ,..r line" The old general, VINO
.s .r. remark. exclaimed In that deep
. Of bis. TRY H. Sir an" '"e
ali gave the gallant old man
. cheer for they knew how oIlth
.,...Irt enemy had tried In vain 10
that UldlHil
SIGNS OF DISSOLUTION.
......r- the village / behcld the first
. of appruachiug dissolution OF uhsl
.,rIg which had endured every
....f.p Of camp or march with uhshahtn
....,r.s. and with Immortal "t' ''s
....r.l with igs giant antagonist on
.. f.l ~ battle Looking over the
. Sad. swarus Of stragglers moving
..a-r direction Whilst tn" command
...# .Nrrc I rode over 20 my old home
,r..r las near the road Ga little farther
. over which We were reteauhs'
.... Oiled my havarsack and was rest
.... urrla when ! heard the thunder Oh
......rE magaZIues OF ammunition. l
..... bat too well what this meant. and,
r...us 90 hasty adieu 10 my relatives
.. .t. then had known nothing OF war
..r~.- save the echoes from distant
...Fs soon rcjoinol my command. Al
amelia Springs we fought ana drove
... ,rsmg's cavalry, who had broken IN
.. our WAGON train and burned many
..-.rs Here the brave General Dehrlns
VAS F!ed, and ] saw his bleeding body
.r..Eut past. lying across ms sadule
That night as lay upon the ground, with
. sc.y smoking cmhers close by, ana l
~..s trying 10 get 10 sleep. but could
MT On account OF the thoughts that kept
.rrwlinE into my mind, those inspired
f. the momcntous events then passing
fling those that came yelling up
.-.u th.llhood's memories, as ] was then
.HviuE the scene of those memories per
apps forever. ] heard the tramp Of some Of
hat immortal foot cavalry that still
guE 90 our standards and answered old
Harse Eoh.s' ToIl-Call and they halted
..u fre3. dusty, foot-soTe soldier
came up o. my little fire and asked If
A.. could UarCh q little corn and / said
.... certainly" 1 watched the poor fcl-
H tv the Pickering light as he drew
....l OF corn out Of his dirty old
..,sr.Bck and put II In his pan.
Would STAND TO THE LAST.
said. My friend is that all you
....' lie said. yes. ana / have had
r..rr better for three days" ! said,
Are sou going 10 stand bv 'Mlrse Bob.
. H. lastg" and the light on the old
soldiers face almost 0utsh0ne that thrown
.r b. the dying ,mbors as he proudly
.....lrsucl up and replied: Yes, SIT;
. OIL. last" / reached for my haver-
.E just filled that day by loving hands,
.. rnl my old cOmraic TO help himself
T. rrgl,Etfy did. and even while he
satisfied his appetite gentle slumbsr VS.
.... uv tired eyyiitE. and, as Win uhr
- ming light came the ringing notes OF
ODD. N.s|a call boots and saddle
....I around for my Cumradc OF the
..... before, hut the foot cavalry
..-. already gone and he was on ms
-.. u. sailors Greek, where, It may hr'
.. scaled hts devotion to the cause WIN
.. Blood il my huyeTsack was Hhh''I
-.. morning so was my heart ana as
.... .. / have crust ! think l shal "'
-.. Oh, alar, u with one Ike him.
.. .....1 On nurried.y 70 the High
.....r intending 10 dislodge detach-
~ ,r. enemy. then In possession oil
.. ,..-t They were composed OF III
.... ..r,lry and artillery, how strong
.f know, but We tdp'uItd CIV
..-. and FED them on 'ohieueiao Wv"
u.rJ we reached Appomait"N anu
.... r., rclIg able to board th'ih any
- ,,..rg guilty Of the rudeuess OF
,t.g, n, leave and go home. our
..,..,4,ls were sadly wasted,
... ING mo- more than companies,
....las hardly good regiments me
...-f was short and sharp, pu'
- rs4 lost none Of their melile'
.,.r4v's cavalry charged three
.... rH.r part Of our line where S'oog'
... ...r. mounted and We dlsmouH'e',
..-.. wcll-directei vollay scaNtIeu
,tr,n nut the second time
r f.~.1 nUcprs stood their ground
.......-sl :, cut their way out. We
., ,,,,gb more than "a skirmish line.
. here these three despera's men
.. H.g.r right amongst Us whilst our
... a .r. TrIoading, cutting ana sIashlns
... rr.Ir sahrcs as they came. \ sign.
unusual puzzled our men at M" uu'
. .a..us these fellows 10 be IN earn
.. ..u, one cried out XIII the u
r.....a" and instantly the three men
chair horses went down as II they
.. ..aHsrly melted away. l remember
...... The dust rs from their coats De-
..f sg the bullets passed through thelr
..r. one Of these officers proved TO
. che Federal General Reed, VINO was IN
..-...raod Al that point soon the same
.....sr came charging down again ana
... time one oftiCer stood his grOuud
....r ygUey had again scattered MS
r.. va,1r Erethard, our chief Of arul-
I.s. who win never be forgotten as long
.. . r.yalrymau Of the Army OF Northern
Virginia lives 20 speak OF ms dash anu
COURAGE. came up in the mean time anu
t- Scruggs, a courier. As BrelhaTd
Pa. toward the brave Federal win SABRE
drawn Dee quietly awaited him. and every
r.. stood s'll TO witness the TIT De-
'"..r two such gallant men.
HAND-TO-HAND FIGHT
They fought for some minutes pretty
e..y matched. whilst Scruggs SAT ms
horse quietly close by. Soon the Federal
wounded Major Brethard In the arm ana
.rr.ea about 70 get the advantage, when
srrgs shot the brave fellow dead
l.-,.I him as he lay gasping ms last,
ana looked with pity into the face OF the
fs.uau 30 brave. Here the gallant BIOS
goa was urging forward his men. ana II
ura the last / ever saw OF him aliN1' iCI
BOON they brought him out dead, a pan
having entered his mouth. causing instant
.H General Rosser ! am sure re-
members this duel between Brethafd ana
bis Federal antagonist / think ] talked
w'' him about II a few years ago.
That day we passed through Farmvi'le,
nd 100 the evening halted at the coal pits ~
..muprlaud county. where TWO foanS
X,