The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-05-25
THE FORTUNE OF WAR.
Events of 1861 and Their Fruit IN


Events of 1864 and Their Fruit In
May. 1865. 3& s
It was November, 1864. The Forty.
fourth United States colored infantry,
under the command of Colonel Louis
johnson, had only few weeks before
been ordered to Dalton, Ca, from
Rome, in the same state. ".
When Sherman began his march to
the sea, the white troops We're all with
drawn from Dalton, leaving the Forty.
fourth U. S. G.. T. as the sole garrison
Of the post. The last train from Atlanta
came into Dalton loaded with troops
whose term of service had expired and
with wounded men who were unable to
go forward with their regiments They
brought news of the destruction Of At
lanta and Of Sherman's departure for
an unknown destiAation. They told of
the rumored movement Of Hoods Con-
federate army toward the north, with
designs upaa Nashville and possibly
upon Louisville and Cincinnati
Scarcely had this train departed to-
ward Cleveland, Tenn, than word was
brought from one of our pickets on the
southwest of Dalton that flag CT truce
had come in with request to see the
commanding officer. Colonel johnson
directed the adjutant and me to accom-
pany him.
The officer in charge of the flag of
truce was Governor Isham G. Harris of
Tennessee, then volunteer aid upon the
staff of General Hood.
Governor Harris-I have forgotten
what his military rank was or if he had
any-said that the flag of truce had
been sent for the purpose Of demanding
the surrender Of the post and garrison
Of Dalton, in order to save the needless
destruction of human life. He gave his
word of honor that the entire army of
General Hood was present and that the
total humiliation of our small force
would be the work of little more than
an hour. He added that in the event of
surrender the officers would be allowed
to retain their personal property and
would be paroled within few days.
Under the circumstances Colonel
Johnson decided that it was his duty
to accept the terms of surrender
During the days of our captivity we
were under a guard commanded by
Colonel John F. House of Tennessee,
who treated the prisoners with the
greatest kindness and .considerat ton.
We were not supplied with any rations
on the first day, it is true, but neither
were our guards, who told us not to
mind little thing like that, which
they were used to. On the evening of
the second day we each received small
portion OF raw cornmeal and chunk
Of raw beef from steer just killed. We
made the meal into little cakes with
our hands and baked them on hot
| stones. The meat we toasted over the
| fire. No salt was given us, for that was
| a scarce article in the Confederate
army. The next day we were paroled
| and after various adventures found our
way to Chattanooga.
After the surrender of the Confeder-
ate armies we were comfortably en-
ccee,--lped at Chattanooga, doing guard
nd picket duty. One day word was
Drought to camp that Colonel House
chad been seen among lot of paroled
Confederates just arrived at the rail-
road station, or Gear she'd Our colo
mel at once sent the adjutant to arrest
our former guard and bring him into
camp. Permission to do so was readily
granted by the provost marshal. The
suffers big tent was soon arranged for
the reception, and all the officers Of the
regiment who were not on duty were
present to welcome Colonel House to
the first square meal that he had en-
joyed for many months and to congrat-
ulate him upon KS . end Of the war, as
we'll as upon tb 4act that we then met
az friends and Sellow citizens Of COM
mon country, whereas our first &C.
quainatnce had been made as enemies
under hostile flags.
The moon was shining brightly from
a clear sky when we reluctantly bid
goodby to our guest, who had to report
at 10 o'clock at the Gear she'd" The
ground glistened in the moonlight, and
the grains Of gravel sparkled like dia-
monds.
Had the gallant Confederate colonel
lost all note Of time and season and fail
ed to remember that the winter of his
discomfort was over? We forgot or re-
Trained from asking. We only know that
when he came forth from the tent and
saw the white light on the ground, he
said, ''Why, it's snowing," and bent
down to gather up handful
All this at, or near, Chattanooga,
Tenn, and on or about the 3Oth day Of
May, 1865. THOMAS B. KIRBY.
! WhoOping Cough.
| II littlo hn IL