The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1894-02-15
AN INCIDENT
Of the "Last Days of the
COnfederacy,"
RELATED BY ONE OF OUR CITIZENS
Who Was Only Thirteen Years Old at
the Time Of the Occurrence.
A Graphic Description.

!
The address of that grand man and noble
patriot, Gen. John B. Gordon, 1.-The last
days of the confederacy," recalls to my
mild many exciting scenes OF those stirring
times, not as soldier, but none the less
an active participant. though but lad OF
immature years-only l3 when the last
| Confederate under the command of Gen.
Joe johnson, to use an army phrase, "fell
back" and left my mother and several
small children in the Federallines, myself
the oldest. The many days of anxiety, Of
sorrow and sadness, distress and want, ex>
citing incidents and hours of peril would
| FIJI volume of no small size. The ex u
| tremity that we were often reduced 10 to
provide the necessaries of life were diso
tressing. and often fraught with danger to
life and liberty. Being the Oldest child at
home, felt too keenly the responsibility,
which greatly sobered my lie in the years
to come. wildly recall going with ar
old colored man, some so miles from home,
on foraging expedition, an old worn out
wagon, with superanuated yoke of oxen.
1t was in the spring of 65 Looking back,
it seems to me it rained every day for %
months. With this old man and worn out
team, at the age of Ii, | was often on the
road in the rain endesvoring to get sorne-
| thing to live on. But we had to go many
miles before we found anything but des
wasted fields and empty smoke.houses. On
one occasion we had been down in Coweta
county and ON our return we reached the
Chattahoochee river The heavy and con-
tinued rains had swollen that already
stream OF no small proportions to an im-
mense size. 1t spread from Hill to hill.
The low lands were one vast expanse of
water. We struck camp as the soldiers
would say, and for more than a week wait>
cd patiently for the waters to recede. |
had not met with much success in securing
provisions excepting a few gallons of syrup
ard some peas. So we were not troubled
much in serving cur meals. We had
about the same thing three tines day.
1t was either peas and syrup or syrup ard
peas Our poor old oxen Jared about as
we did, depending largely on what they
could get browsing abodt the camp. The
situation was anything but cheerful and
the outlook anything but hopeful, especals
" as vas quite unwell. Oh, if the waters
would only recede that we might continue
our Journey home, which was distant about
a days travel. 1t was at this juncture that
| was joined In camp one afternoon, as the
sun was shedding its last golden rays over
the turbulent waters of the Chattahoochee,
by Confederate soldier. Re was on his
way home / did not realize the fact then
but expect he had taken French leave OF
his command and vas then far in the rear
of Doth armies. His faded gray uniform
was passport to my heart and as he was
a man OF pleasant address invited him to
the Inequalities OF my camp and 10 spend
the night with me. This he accepted with
thanks and we were soon good friends and
exchanged "hard tack" for syrup, and with
boyish interest / listened until sleep over
came me to his thrilling stories of camp
life. We were up before the sun next
morning and after scanty breakfast, were
soon down at the river to see if it had
fallen much. My soldier friend after some
elaboration determined to try and cross
the river in canoe and could not bear
the thought VI being left longer in that
desolate place, especially as his line of
march went by my home, SO I, notwith-
standing the earnest entreaties of the COLI
ored man not to attempt to cross the river
in canoe, as so much DRIFT wood, logs, &C.,
floating on the swift current would be liable
to capsize our frall bark and ] would be
swallowed up by the angry waters, and
wound up by saying "he would tell my-ma
for shore" That was just what wanted
to do myself, so determined if God spared
my lie, | would have that pleasure first
Home and mother 1t was that that in>
spired me with courage, sick in body, sick
at heart, weary Of watching the muddy
waters roll on to the great Gut Looking
back it seems to me saw enough Of the
old red Mills OF Georgia go by in those
seven days TO fill up the Gulf of Mexico
and color the old ocean red forever. But
the soldier in gray was accustomed to the
periis OF war and was not far behind him.
SO with instructions to the colored man to
do the hest he could for hrlself and team
and to follow as soon as the waters abated
sufficiently to use the ferry, babe him
goodbye ard stepped into the canoe, ieel-
log that had rather take the risk even a,
great peril than to remain longer at the