The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-04-16
INCIDENTS
OF THE WAR.
Some Humorous Scenes Recol-
lected by a Member Of the
43rd Regiment.
A RRB WHO WASN'T WHIPPED

Aud How He smscksd the ''Stufnn" out
OF n ysnk who Tired I" Tsk. Hi- Osts-
Unique 10 Not - Delicate Arrangement
Tor Carrying Eations.
Grimes Division, Rhodes old Di-
vision, of the army Of Northern Nir-
rinia, was, IL my recollection is cor
rect. the first 10 stack arms after the
surrender at Appomattox, the writer
was a mere boy at the time, not
twenty years old, and the scene is
indelibly impressed on his 10 memory.
Shortly after daybreak on April
IL, 1850, our command, Grimes old
brigade in front, commanded by
Col. ID. e.. Cowand, Of the 23d y. c.,
regiment. moved from the camp we
had occupied since the fatal 0th,
through Appomattox Court House to
tho old field Just south of it, where
Gibbons division of tho Federal
army was drawn u? in line on the left
Of the road. Our troops filed past and
and when the head of our column
had Tapped the left of the Federal
limo we were halted and faced to the
front. On the Confederate side Gen.
j. Il. Gordon, commanding the ID
corps, was present to deliver, and
Con. Gibbons on the Federal side to
receive tho surrender. Gen. Grimes
was also there at the head Of the di-
vision. Having halted and faced,
Col. Cowand saluted Gen. Grimes
and said: "Sir, the brigade is form
cd.n Gen. Grimes saluted Gen. Cor
don, using similar words. Gordon
saluted Gibbons, who returned the
salutes, saying, "Let the troops
stack arms" This order was deliv-
cred by Gordon to Grimes and by
him to Cowand, who, in voice
tromuleus with emotion, gave the
order to the brigade. 1t was obeyed
and tho st brigade of the lst divis-
ION OF the ID corps of the Army of
Northern Virginia vanished from
sight forever. And then the part
ing-whore comrades whose friend
ship was born of dangers shared in
common with down-cast face and
husky voice bade each other long
farewell, many to meet no moro until
we have "shall passed over the river
and rested under the shade of the
treeS.n
No scene is so solemn but that it
has It's humorous side If we can only
see it, and the surrender is no excep-
tion to the rule. Not many minutes
after we had stacked arms and been
disbanded, % Confederate soldier, ev-
identity q cavalry man, passed with
several bundles Of oats i'll the sheaf
tied behind his saddle. A Federal
soldier hailed him: Hello, johnnie
| want those oats" "You can't have
them,n Johnny replied. "But you are
conquered and | shall take them, ,
said Mr.. Yank. The Confederate
slowly dismounted and said: 81 an
conquered know, but | am no
whipped and if you want those oat
come and take them" This colo
guy had attracted the attention of 6
number of soldiers from both side
and Federal officer cried out
That's right, Johnnie, stick up tC
him." The Federal was met, no
with the rebel yell but with straigh
light-hander from the shoulder. III
few minutes the Federal got up 8
wiser if not better man, and the
cavalry man rode off triumphan
with his oats, saying, "There now
take that, d-n yuo; | told you wa.
not whipped"
And then we took the road home
ward. At every fork there was 8
short halt, and little parties woult
leave the main line as each reached
the way leading to his part of Nortl
Carolina.
We eamped the first night at ,
struggling village or rather hamle
IN Charlotte county, Va, calle(
Rough Creek. A number of men OF
foot passed US and camped further on
Our party consisted of Gen. Grimes
and several others who We're making
their way to Raleigh and its vicinity
The officers were entertained by ,
gentleman in the village, while tn,
courers camped in pine thicke
near by and took care of the horses
etc. We were late in starting be
cause the officers, having for the frs
time i'll months slept in comfortabl
beds, we're in no hurry to move. Blu
when breakfast was ready we boy
were called and enjoyed such re
past Of ham and eggs, fried chicken
biscuits, etc., as we had not seen i
many long day. l particularly re
collect huge dish of spring onion
cut up with pepper, vinegar an
salt. "A few miles from Rough Cree
we came to d country store whel
were assembled two or three hun'
red paroled soldiers, most oe the
from North Carolina and a lars
majority Of them from Grimes d
vision. AS we came up one of Il
men said to Gen. Grimes that tn
was the depot of a Confederate tit
ing agent, and that he had a lot
supplies on hand, which he refus'
to let the soldiers have, because
said his bond would be responsibl
The General at once said that Il
men should have the rations if
had to take them by force, and SCI
for the agent.
Gen. Grimes, after making b
rank and name known to the ageI
told him that he (Grimes) wou
sign a voucher for the ratiOns, al
would take them by force if nect
sary. The agent replied that
would yield, but said that the me
he had on hand was for DISTRIBUTE
to soldiers, wives, and that this W
the day of issue, at the same til
calling attention to a group OF
men in his yard. Grimes left t
matter to the men who had gather
around, all of whom with one vol
said, let the women have their
tions; we will take what is left.
One of the women coming up 81
gested that as the men had no coo
ing utensils, each woman shor
take as many men as she could co
for home and divide their ratiol
This was agreed to and the issue