The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-04

through the head, and believe the words
above were his last.
who had followed US through Thoroughfare
Gap, and about one o'clock, p. M, Saturday
with his legions arrayed and stephen ID. Lee
who served his artillery, swept from the Held
the braggart Pope and his entire army.
SO ended in victory the great battle of the
Second Manassas, and SO eEds my very tmper-
feet sketch Of that great event.
can readily recall, but time would fall me
to recount many Of the hardships that we,
the survivors, endured to the bitter end; the
agones of the final catastrophe Mt Appomat-
tox and the return In April, Us, of those of us
who escaped capture, to our desolated homes
mattox. 1t will assure you OF the esteem
which your peerless commander. General
Lee, had for you as the soldiers OF his In
vincible army, even down 10 the close.
A Federal officer Of high rank, with his
pockethandkerchief improvised as a flag OF
truce, dashed into our lines at full speed, on
the morning of the surrender, He enquired
for General Lees quarters to which he was di.
rected, and was there told, that for the time
being, General Longstreet was in command.
Hurrying to the latters quarters. q beVy OF
officers accompanied the bearer OF the flag OF
truce, towards the pol Int on the lines that the
fighting was then going on. The bearer OF
this flag of truce was the gallant General Gus
ter, whose life, with the lives OF his entire
command, was sacrificed afterwards In night
with the Indians ON the Little Big Horn Riv.
er.
Very soon courlers were seen riding in hot
haste TO various points along the lines and at
their approach the firing ceased. Ine army ol
Northern Virginia had seen many flags ol
truce but never one before in the midst OF
battle-they had always preceded or succeeded
battle After time Gen. Lee who had been
found and had had an Interview with Gen,
Grant, appeared slowly riding along the high
way from the little village near by. The
troops along the roadside obstructed his way
and cried out TO know "What Is the mat
ler.' The grand old hero, magnificent even
in defeat, spoke these words: VI have sur
rendered to overwhelming numbers, the ar.
my or Northern Virginia. have obtained
for you the best terms that could, you Will
90 to your homes and make as good citizens
in peace as you have been soldiers In war
All will yet be WE'LL"
Comrades, surviving comrades, ponder
these words, everyone OF them IL Jewel
Impress them on the minds and on the heart!
of your children. They tell you that the
| prea est man OF all the ages has said you were
good soldiers In war, and what ut the same
| time you ought TO be, good citizens In peace
| These simple words are General Lees las
bencdction on his people and you, and JUS
! such ms you are, were his people.
! pleasure to meet with you and to look once
! more into your faceS-hlces, Whlcn hs your
! President has just said SO truly, are inrrowet
! ull over with the seams Of great struggle
| 1t gives me pleasure In the midst 0i the uls
! cords and dissentiOns and differences tina
| have been amongst us To hear ana 10 believe
| that we are To be again a united people. an
sure upon the platform OF hOnorlng our ueat
comrIdcs and In reViving the ieclhg OF les
pecL atd love for one another. which shoult
grow out of our past relations we can al
stand together, whether free coinage Ut tne
| ratio of IG 10 |, or sound money, Ms some con
tend whether Popullsrn or old fashioned De
mocracy be the true principles, one lniHs