The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-01-27

direction and regardless 90 roads or paths |
s1amPed through tie darkness distance of
tight miles back to my Old rendezvous, arTiy-
sing just in time TO hear lonely old rooster
about the only oBe left in the neighbor-
hood growing for midnight.
From this time on, the weather continued
favorable, tie roads dried SO wagons and
artillery could move, and during the first
week in March Gen. Wilson struck tents,
crossed the Tennessee River and started or
his march south, after Forrest. / waited this
time until there was no doubt of their de-
parture. when / went home and found the
changes almost as great as on my former
visit
The days following were dull and dreary;
having been so long accustomed TO the fun
and frolic of camp life, the varying scenes on
the march, and more recently to the excite
ment OF dodging and hiding from the
Yankees. the quietude which prevailed in
our little village was monotonous, and /
longed 10 be with the boys at the front
Some of Us endeayoIed TO devise plans to
get through the lines, join Forrest and re-
main with him until IN opportunity occurred
to 90 TO our ogn commands, but there was not
a horse fit for service in the whole country.
and the futility Of any scheme of the kind
abandoned the idea and waited with what
resignation we could for The collapse of the
Confederacy, which ali knew was near at
hand
In the meantime all sorts OF rumors were
afoat, but having no mail or telegraph
facilities, we regarded everything we heard as
unreliable. Johnston had again taken COM
mand OF his old army in North Carolina and
Lee was still in Virginia but it was evident
they could not much longer stand against the
overwhelming forces OF Sherman and Grant.
I he surrender in April is a matter Of history,
and when The news Of the surrender was
confirmed beyond doabt and that Gen.
Johnston bad ordered al Confederates east of
the Mississippi TO do likewise, my Eithtr ed
vised INC 10 20 10 the nearest pest where
there Was q Federal command and get my
parole.
Accordingly, on May ~. / started on foot
and walked 10 Eastport, Miss, where a uart
OF Gen. Hatchs command was stationed.
-Four other Confedeyates accompanied me.
and when We reached the bank OF the river
opposite PASSPORT VIC called the Yankees Oh
the other side and told them Co Q had
come 10 surrender, and that they might now
consider that the cruel war was over
They sent steamboat over for us. and
marched us up TO headquarters, where we
took an oath never 30 bear arms against the
u. 3 GoSernment until duly exchanged. y
do not remember the exact phraseoiogy
ihav,ng iYt nay parole), but we understood
that until exchanged - meant a. forever and
etemaily"
Alter our papers were signed and delivered
TO us we were treated with the utmost hosr;-
tally Wy orr recent enemies, and had a pleas
amt, social tme, especially enjoying the aim
ner winch they set be:ore us, for "a walk OF
ID miles lad whetted our appetites 10 a de-
gree that made it very acceptable and but
for one unexpected incident the day would
have passed OF 10 our entire satisfaction.
Remembering that my friend Charlie I,e-
longed 10 Ilatch's command, inquired 10,
HIM, aud MAS almost shocked when Informed
that hc was IN the guarlhouse, under a sen.
tencc OF six months hard labor. Withou,
inqunng The charges against him. | asked
permission 10 see him, and found hin, closel,
guarded III log cabin On the outskirts of The
camp
he recognized me at once, and it was 2
soHowiul meeting for / had become very
much ATTACHED TO him, and believed he en-.
tsrtained the same feelings toward me. II