The Opelousas courier., 1899-11-04
Interesting War "Reminiscences.

Many Of the readers of the COURIER
will peruse with interest the following
article from the Springfield (Mass.)
Republican Of Il recent date:
Col. John l.. Rice of this city has re-
ceived the following letter, dated
Washington, La, Sept. IA, which ex-
plains itself
"Dear Sir-You will please excuse the
| libelty | fake, but having seen your
name in a New Orleans paper as a men-
tinent that is universal in the South,
| could not refrain from writing inqulr-
ing if YOU are the same Col. Rice to
whom | SURRENDERED on the 9th Of
June, 1865, at this place. | was a mem-
Der of Company a. Second Louisiana
| Cavalry, commanded by Capt. L.. ID.
Prescott. | still have my parole with
your signature. 1t has ben conceded
that we we're the last regularly organ
lied Confederate troops to surrender.
Hence to your credit is to be placed the
honor of having received the last sur
render. Permit me, an old Reb. to con
graduate you and Massachusetts on the
stand taken to preserve %inFiolate the
republican form of government be-
queathed to us by that honored docu-
ment, the Declaration of Independence,
and ratified by the Constitution OF our
fathers. 1t you are the same Col. Rice,
please accept my best wishes for your
happiness and prosperity. Several Of
the command that came here With you.
located here and found rebel wives and
reared families.
life, yours truly, A. B. ANDERSON"
What an extremely interesting echo
from the long ago this is! 1t is not
generally known in Springfield that Col.
John L. Rice did in fact receive the
surrender of "the last regularly organ
lied Confederate troops" after the close
of our great civil conflict, and this fact
is duly recorded in the official records.
OF high interest, too, is the report
made by this ex rebel soldier of the
universally of the Southern opposition
to this wal of conquest. These soldiers
of differing sides in 1865, stand to-day
upon the same true American platform.
When questioned in detail, about the
facts referred to in the above letter,
Col. Rice said: cit is true that | re
ceived the surrender of the troops
spoken Of in Mr.. Anderson's letter. 1t
is also true that those troops were the
last Of the Confederate army to sur
TtIlutI. IL hdppCICu III tiiS way
Everything east of the Mississippi had
surrendered by the list of May, 1865.
But Kirby Smiths command west of
the river held out until May Goth, 1865,
when that General went to New Or
leans under flag Of truce and surren-
dered hi. troops to Gen. Candy. by
the terms of the surrender, the Con-
federatcs were to assemble at designa-
ted points to be parOied, etc. On May
81 | was sent to Washington, in South
western Louisiana, with Il small detacii-
ment of troops, to receive the surren-
der of the C%onrederates at that point,
going by steamboat up the Atcbafalaya
river and Bayou Courtableau. Arriv-
ing there June 1, | was met by Capt.
Prescott, commanding the Confederate
forces, nader a flag of truct. To my
surprise he disclaimed any knowledge
of Gen. Smiths action, and refused my
demand for his surrender, stating that
while he did not doubt my statement.
his last orders we've to fight anything
that came there, and he should do so.
OF course, | told him | should land and
attempt 10 enforce my demand. But
as be had 700 men and | only $50, felt
a little queer, especially as | knew the
war was over. Seine official amenities
finally paved the way to an armistlce Of
five days to enable hlm to send Il mount
ed courier to Confederate Gen. 5. Il.
BuchBer's headquarters at Alexandria,
100 miles to the north, to get the official
order for his surrender. There was no
means of communication, except by
courier. The courier vent and returned
June 6, when the surrender took place,
both bodies OF troops having ia the mean
time occupied opposite ends of town.
Capt. Prescott was ii fine specimen of
the Southern soldier, handsome, proud
and brave, and as we were both young,
about Twenty-Five, | have often won
dercd that we we've not foolish enough
to get into q needless fight aud sacrifice
lives over a mere pInctIllo. Volume
1902 of the Official Record of the Rebel
lion contains the official accounts OF
this episode"
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