The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-09

Little Qld the ldtntT lnlUh Wien "'
wrote these words that he was marking
the arduous path of duty along which his
son was one day 10 be called upon 10
walk. That son was worthy OF such
father and OF such teaching.
AS / said on another occasion; "Through
the pain and humiliation Of his position
his great career about to close In defeat.
and all that he had done about to be
made unavaling. he saw the path OF
duty and he trod II with as firm a step
and as brave a heart and as lofty
mien as if it had been the Way of Tri-
umph.'
At APPOMATT"A.
The march was continued during the
gth OF April with little interruption from
the enemy. and I'm the evening we halted
near AppomattOx Courthouse, General
Lee intending TO march by way Of Camp
bell Courthouse through Pittsylvania
county. toward Danville, with view OF
opening communication with the army OF
General Joseph f. Johnston, then re-
treating before General Sherman through
North Carolina General Lees purpose
was TO unite with General Johnston to
attack Sherman or call Johnston TO his
aid i'm resisting Grant, whichever might
be found best. The exhausted troops
were halted to rest on the evening Of the
Ntn or April near AplpmdttpA tpui 'iOv''f
and the march was ordered TO be resum-
ed at O'Clock 4. NJ. I can convey good
idea Of the condition OF affairs by telling
my own experience.
When the army halted on the night Of
the Sth, General Lee and his staff turned
out Of the road into a dense wood to seek
some rest The General had conference
with some of the principal officers al
which 1t was determined TO try 10 force
our way the next morning with the troops
of Gordon. supported by the cavalry under
General Fitz Lee. the command Of Long
street bringing up TIE rear. With my COM
rades OF The stan. and staff officers OF
General Longs.reet and General Gordon,
/ sought a little much-needed repose.
We lay upon the ground near the road,
with our saddles for pillows our horses
picketed near by. eating the bark OF
trees for want of better provender. our
faces covered with the capes OF our over
coats to keep out the night air. Soon
liter o'clock / was aroused by the sound
OF a column Of infantry marching along
the road. We were so completely sur
rounded by the swarmng forces OF Gene
raj Grant that at first when | awOke !
thought the passing column might be Fed
eral soldiers.
/ raised my head and listened intently
My doubts were quickly dispellei. | re-
called the order to resume the march at
that early hour and knew that the troops
/ heard were moving forward 20 en-
deavor to force our way through the
lines Of the enemy at Appomattox Court
house / soon knew that the command
that was passing consisted In part at
least of Hoods old Texas brigade.
IT was called the Texas brigade. al
though IL was at times composed in part
of regiments from other States Some
times there was a Mississippi regiment.
sometimes an Arkansas regiment and
sometimes Georgia regiment mingled
with the Texans but all the strangers
called themselves Texans and all fought
like Texans
ON this OCCASION 4 recognized these
troops as they passed along the road in
the dead OF night by hearing one OF them
repeat the Texan version Of passage of
Scripture with which ! was familiar
mean with the Texan version. You Will
readily recall the original text when | re-
peat the Texan rendition of II that fell
upon my ear as l lay in the woods by
the roadside that dark night. The YER
sion was as follows:
1.-THE race is not TO them that's got
The longest legs 20 run,
Nor the battle TO that people
That shoots the biggest gun.
This simple confession of faith assured
me that the immortal brigade Of Hood
Texans was marching 10 battle IN the
darkness.
Soon after they passed we were all astir
and our bivouac was at an end. We made
our simple toilet consisting mainly or
putting on our caps and saddling our
horses We then proceeded 10 look for
something to satisfy our now ravenous
appetites.
Somebody had a little conmeal, and
somebody else had a tin can, such as Is
used to hold hot water for shaving. \
fire was kindled. and each man in his
turn. according TO rank and seniority,
made can of cornmeal Cruel and was
allowed 10 keep the can until the cruel
became cool enough 10 drink. General Lee.
who rcposed, as We had done, not far
from us. did not. as far as | remember
have even such refreshments as / have
described.
TIE LAST CONFEDERATE MEAL
This was our last meal in the Confed-
eracy. our next was taken in the United
States and consisted mainly Of a gener-
Gus portion of that noble American ami
mai whose strained relations with the
great Chancellor Of the German Empire
made il necessary at last for the Presi-
dent of the United States to send an Ohio
man 10 the court OF btlllls
"Tantas componere lites
As soon as we all had our turn at the
shaving can We rode toward Appomattox
Courthouse. when the sound OF guns all
nounced that Gordon had already begun
the attempt TO open the way.
He forced his way through the cavalry
OF the enemy only 10 encounter a force
Of infantry far superior 10 his own
wearied and starving command. He in
formed General Lee that ii was impos-
sible to advance farther. and IL became
evident that the end was at hand.
General Lee had replied TO the letter
OF General Grant of the Sth Of April,
which l have read, as follows.
April s. 1865.
To Lieutenant General u. $. Grant. Com
handing Armies OF the Unites States:
General.-I received at a late hour your
note of to-day. In mine Of yesterday l
did not intend to propose the surrender OF
the Army OF Northern Virginia. but TO
ask the terms OF your proposition. To be
frank, ] do not think the emergency has
arisen to call for the surrender of this
army. but as the restoration OF peace
should be the sole object of all | desire
to know whether your proposals will lead
TO that end | cannot. therefore, meet
you with view 10 surrender the Army
of Northern Virginia: but as far as your
proposal may affect the Confederate
States forces under my command. and
tend TO the restoration OF peace. l should
be pleased TO meet you at 10 A. NJ. to-
morrow. on the old stage road TO Rich
mond. between the picket lines of the two
armies. Very respectfully. your obedien1
servant,
II. Z. LEE. General.
No reply 10 this letter had been received
when early on the morning OF April 2.