The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-18
NORTH CAROLINA AT APPOMAT
TOX.
Editor London Says 1t is a Mistake to
say That one Half Of the Muskets Sur
rendered Were From This State.


Mr.. II. A. London, editor Of the Chat
ham Record, who has been in the city at
tending the Convention Of the Episcopal
church, calls our attention to a statement
that appeared in his paper last week
Mr.. London left college to enter the
army. was brave soldier lad, and is jeal-
Gus for the honor of his State He
knows whereof he affrms. We quote:
THE part taken by North Carolina in
the war between the States is justly a
source of pride to her citizens, and the
Record has contributed no little in per-
petuating in permanent form her Con-
federate history. Because of this we take
the liberty Of correcting an error that is
frequently being published, and our at
tention is just now called to it by its
being incorporated in a very interesting
and valuable compendium of North
Cardinals share in the civil war; pre-
pared by Superintendent Howell for the
graded schools Of Raleigh. and publish
ed some days ago in the News and OBJ
server
1--WE refer to the statement that.
AT Appomattox one half of the
muskets surrendered were from
North Carolina troops
This is an error. The official State
ment of officers and men of the Confed-
crate Army paroled at Appomattox
Court house" give a total Of 2S,234, of
which number 5000 were North Caro-
linians. See pages 1877 to 1879 of Vol.
XLVI. of the Official Records" and
also pages 696 to 900 of memoirs Of
Robert E. Lee by Gen. A. L. Long, his
military secretary. 1t is true that Gen.
Lee, in his last report of April 18th, 1865,
states that ION the morning of the 9th,
according to the reports of the Ordnance
officers, there were 1892 organized infan-
try with arms" and yet Gen. Lee on the
morning of the 9th asked for and receiv-
ed from Gen. Grant rations for $4,000
men. In explanation of this Gen. Long
ION page 425 of his Memoirs) says:
1T will be noticed that a large
seeming discrepancy exists between
the 10000 here mentioned as effec-
tive. and the 2S,231 men and officers
paroled. 1t will be also observed that
General Lee asked for rations for
$4,000 men. This difference is easily
explainable. OF effective infantry,
with arms and in fighting condition.
there were less than 5000, and about
1000 cavalry. The remainder of the
paroled men were composed of unarm-
ed stragglers who had come up since
the halt of the army, and to extra
duty and detailed men of every des-
cription, the sum of whom very great
ly swelled the aggregate present,
while adding nothing to the fighting
capacity Of the army"
80 that, while of the 3d. 31 Confed-
crates paroled at Appomattox only 5000
were North Carolinians, we cannot claim
that one half the muskets surrendered
were from North Carolina troops when
the total number of muskets was only
1892. For instance, one of our very
best Brigades was Lanes which is report
ed as paroling $40 men at Appomattox,
and yet Gen. Lane in his last report
dated April 10th, 1869 stated, 81 sur
rendered sc officers and 4S4 men, many
Of the latter being detailed non-arms
bearing men, who were sent back to be
surrendered with their brigade"
eff claims are made for North Caro-
lina's troops that cannot be substantiated,
it throws doubt upon those that can be
proved, and of the latter there are enough
to thrill with patriotic pride every true
North Carolinian."