The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-02

ScrIggs demanded his surrender or not,
but | am sure he evinced no intention OF
surrendering. l passed him as he lay
gasping his last and looked with pity into
the dying face OF the foeman, so brave
Here the gallant Col. Boston was urging
forward his men, and II was the last
ever saw OF him alive. for presently they
brought him out dead. ball having en-
tered his mouth and caused instant death.
Some few years ago, In conversation win
Gen. Rosser. he told me that he also Wit
messed this duel between Breathed and
his Federal antagonist
The next day We passed through Farm
Vile, and in the evening halted al the
coal pits In Cumberland county where
two roads crossed. The wagon trains were
passing and our cavalry was massed be-
tween them and the enemy, held In readl-
ness. but not anticipating an attack. our
beloved old general was sitting beneath
an old oak tree near the road, lean
ing against the trunk OF the tree
when suddenly the Federal cavalry
opened fire upon Us, and came near re-
capturing all our prisoner, who We're
held under guard I'm a bottom in front OF
us. Gen. Lee. slowly refnounted his horse
and rode past az we formed for the charge.
We cheered him and he eravely lifted his
hat in acknowledgment of our greeting.
] believe. II Grants whole army had been
thore then. they could not have reached
or harmed that gray head as iohh -
one OF those cavalry boys, lived 10 raise
q sabre or handle pistol. We soon re-
pulsed them and captured General Gregg.
! suppose ne surrendered his sword 20
Fitz Lee. as ! saw the latter twirling 20
IN his hand as he rode mp after the enemy
had retired. When we came hack 10 the
crossroads We found that "Mafse Bob
had not left us unprovdcd with support.
for ! saw the shining barrels of grim
line Of infantry extending across the road,
and the black muzzles OF battery point
ing down the road. Then. finding that we
needed no help. our brethren wheeled into
the road and resumed the march
Describing what was done on this day.
April 7th. Gen Fitzhugh Lee, ar page 1856
Of his General Ire" says: THE once
great Army OF Northern Virginia was
now composed Of two small corps Of i'm
fantrv and the cavalry corps. and re-
sumed the march toward Lynchburg, hut
after going four miles stopped. and was
formed into line Of battle in a well~chosen
position to give tho trains time 20 get
ahead. II was attacked by two divisions
OF Humphreys Second Corps, which had
been long hanging on SIS rear. but re-
| pulsed them, Malone handling Miles very
roughly Humphreys lost five hundred
! and seventv-one men killed wounded. and
missing Preceding this attack, Crooks
! cavalry division crOsscl-the river above
Farmvillc and was Immediately charged
/ by the Southern cavalry and driven back
/ The Federal General Gregg and \ large
number Of prisonres were taken Gen. Lee
was talking to the commander Of his
cavalry when Cook appeared. saw the
combat and expressed great pleasure at
the result"
THE LAST CAMP FIRES.
on we went TO Appomattox. and / never
| again saw Gen. Lee, but his image abides
i'm my memory and heart After dark we
saw Longstreet's camp-fires twinhling on
| the hills on either side OF the road as we
| passed. and these were the last camp-iires
| of the Army OF Northern Virginia The old
boys of r. Z. Lee Camp Of Richmond
| occasionally hold ore to keen us IN nina
Of hose real ones TIL all cross over the
river and ION fames eternal camping
| ground their silent tents are spread.
lust as the dawn was breaking the next
morning we moved through AppomattoN
| c. H.. greeted by shot and shell from the
! enemv's batteries. as our column Slowly
| advanced through the early morning
mists Finding the enemy In great force
| I'm our front we moved of after sunrise
| to the right and passed around their haIlh'
! fighting as we went ! think ] gee Gen.
| MUnfDT0
| crested with the smoke of the skirmsh
line as our main body passed Soon we
reached the rear Of the enemy, between
| him and Lynchburg. ana there We fired
| the last guns Of Appomattox, and the last
man that died on the field, was a cavalry
MAD They carried him 10 the rear on
| blanket lust as the news Of the tag OF
truce and the impending surrender feach-
! cd u.s. Then sadly and slowly we mover
ON to Ivnchburg. intending no doubt 10
| ioin Johnston. in the Caroinas We
/ heard the salutos by the enemy IN honor
of the surrender as we marched ana 10
| proved 10 be the death-knell Of the Con-
! federacy. The Army Of Northern Virginia
| had been the soul Of the Confederaoy'
and that having taken its flight, the Con-
federacy could not live.
Reaching Lynchhurg that night we
| found everything In dire confusion ana
there. all hope having fed, the cavalry
| the last organized body Of our army, dis
| banded. When ] left my old home IN
! Amelia. I took with me my young cousin
Eugene jefferson. a boy, who fought bv
my side at High Bridge" Farmviile and
| Anpornattox. When we disbanded that
rirht AT Lvnchburg. 7 took him 10 the
| Norven House. and we got supper ! paid
| forty dollars for our supper the last use
/ made of Confederate money TN | reached
| the AppOmdttON river, Hl oiuHf 'llttf
where I paid the ferryman ten dollars 10
ferry us over ] would as soon have given
him a bale Of it if ] had f. This boy and
passed to the Amherst side Of the river
| after sumner and slept on the HILL Next
morning we passed down the river on that
side Tin we reached HowardsNille. Sin
gularly enough 70 was at that place. just
four years previously. / had entered the
army, and there my career as soldier
ended There Sheridan's men burned my
law books and my trunk with my Ia"
license in Il, where this document had Tain
securely and almost forgotten for loui
wears. | am practing law now without q
Iicense so far as that goes. and recently
I'm q West Virginia court. when asked for
nv license before qualifying ] had 10
Mead the vandalism Of Phil Sheridan, as
nv excuse for not producing the license
GOV. SMITHS ENTREATIEs.
At Howardsvine my young relative and
| / encountered Governor William Smith
| venerable nomen. lie had left Richmond
| before the enemy entered and was then
| stopping at the house of Mr.. lack Lewis
! The old man came out to see Us and cX-
nostulatcd with us on returning home
lie begged us TO turn back and 90 L,
| Johnston. I'm North Carolina. lie insisted
| that the end was not yet. that hope had
| not departed and we would yet gain our
| independence This and much 10 the
same effec the said / had the uttermost re-
spect and admiration for this loyal old
| Vircinian. The whole army had been filled
| with praises Of his superb courage and
laughed at the stories Of his ignorance
OF and bitter contempt for military tac-