The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-02-23

tions with the army of General Joseph
f. Johnston, then retreating before
General Sherman through North Car
olina. General Lees purpose was to
unite with Johnston to attack Sher-
man or call Johnston to his aid to re-
sist Grant, whichever might be found
best. SThe exhausted troops were
halted for rest near AppomattoN
Courthouse, and the march was re-
sumed at l a. m. | can convey a
good idea of the condition Of affairs by
telling my own experience.
When the army halted General Lee
and staff turned out Of the road into
a dense wood to secure some rest.
Lee had conference with some of the
principal officers, at which it was de-
termined to force our way the next
morning with the troops of Gordon,
supported by the cavalry under Cen
eral Fitzhugh Lee, the command of
Longstreet bringing up the rear
With my comrades Of the staff and
staff officers of Generals Longstreet
and Gordon, sought little rest.
We lay upon the ground, with our
saddles for pillows, and our overcoats
to keep out the night air, our horses
picketed near by, eating the bark of
trees for want of better provender.
Soon after a. M. was aroused by a
column of infantry marching along
the road. At first l thought they
were the Federal soldiers.
1 raised my head and listened in
tently. My doubts were quickly dis
PEELED. 1t was Hoods old Texas brig
ade, and l recognized the command
by hearing one of them repeat the
version of passage of Scripture with
| which l was familiar mean with
! the Texas version:
The race is not to them that's got
The longest legs to run,
Nor the battle to the peopel
That shoots the biggest gun
Soon after they passed we were ali
astir and our bivOuac was at an end.
We made our simple toilet, consisting
mainly of putting on our caps and
saddling our horses. Somebody had
a little corn meal, and somebody else
had tin can, such as is used to hold
water for shaving. A fire was kim
died and each man in his turn, ac-
| cording to rank and seniority, made a
can of oatmeal Cruel and was allowed
to keep the can until the Cruel be-
came cool enough to drink. General
Lee, who reposed, as we had done,
did not, as | remember, have even
such refreshments as have described.
This was our last meal in the Con-
federacy Our next was taken in the
United States, and consisted mainly
of a generous portion of that noble
American animal whose strained re-
lations with the Chancellor of the
German empire made it necessary at
last for the President of the United
States to send an Ohio man to the
Court of Berlin.
1antas componere htes.
AS soon as we all had our turn at
the shaving can we rode toward APP
pomattox Courthouse, when the sound
of guns announced that Gordon had
already begun the attempt to open the
way.
He forced his way through the cav
airy of the enemy only to encounter
force of infantry far superior to his
own wearied and starving command.
He informed General Lee that it was
| impossible to advance further and it
became evident that the end was at
hand.
General Lee had written General
Grant that he would meet him at 10
| o'clock on the morning of April 9th,
on the old stage road to Richmond.
Attended by myself and one orderly,
Lee proceeded down this road to meet
General Grant.
| DEADLY PENSION MAKERS.
As we advanced through the rear
guard, composed of the remnants OF
Longstreet's corps, the men cheered
their chieftain as he passed. Their
confidence and enthusiasm was not
one which abated by defeat, hunger
and danger. 1t was lucky for the
Secretary Of the Treasury that this
rear guard was not permitted to try
it's hand at increasing the pension
roll with which he is now struggling.
Those men made no fraudulent pen
sioners. When they were done with
man he or his representatives had
an indisputable claim to a pension
under any kind of pension law.
General Lee, with an orderly in
front bearing a flag of truce, had pro
ceeded but short distance after
passing through our rear guard, wher
he rode upon the advancing enemy
| rode forward to meet Fedora
officer, who turned out to be Lieu
tenant Colonel Whittier. of Genera
Humphreys staff, and who delivered
to me General Grants reply to Gen
eral Lees letter, declining to discuss
terms of a general paciiication.
took this letter to General Lee, who
at once dictated to me a letter t.
Grant. asking an interview for the
purpose of discussing terms of sur
render Colonel Whittier took thi
letter to Grant.
General Lee then returned to th'
front. and with General Longstreet
proceeded to a small orchard, ant
there waited for Grants reply. A
, he was much fatigued, rude couci
was prepared under All apple tree
upon which he reclined until the ap
pearance OF flag of truce, an'
Grants affirmative reply.
WHERE THE MEETING WAS HELD.
Colonel Babcock, who brought tn
reply, told General Lee that he hat
been sent to make arrangements 70
the meeting that General Lee desire'
.. within the Federal lines.
4 4 4
,, pany him with one orderly, and i'm
mediately mounted his horse an
!, rode with Colonel Babcock towar
Appomattox Courthouse
We passed through an infantr
force in front of the village. and Gen
e eral Lee directed me to find a sui,
f able place for the meeting. | rod
n forward and asked the first citizen
n met to direct me to house suitabl
for the PURPOSE | learned aftel