The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-15

our homes. But the days slowly passed,
and yet there was no move in that direc-
ton.
One day the flag on the fort was seen to
be at half-mast. 1t had never been seen
so before and we wondered what had
happened For two or three hours we
were kept in suspense, when Lieut.. Wolfe
entered the pen and informed that
President Lincoln had been assassinated!
News of LincOIn's Death.
The news fell like a thunderbolt in our
midst We were stunned utterly dunn
founded, and for a time could scarcely
realize that we heard correctly Brave
men turned pale as they thought of the
consequences of this madman's act and
sorrow, deep sorrow, was expressed every
where for we felt that the people of the
South had lost their best, their only
friend as Lincoln was believed to be
kind of heart and magnanimous to a
fault He could do. and would do, for
these unhappy people what no other man
would dare do in the face Of the bitter
feeling the war had engendered. When
the name of Andrew johnson was mem
toned strong men shuddered, for it was
believed nothing good could emanate from
him.
As day after day sped by and we were
still in prison, we knew full well the rea-
our lot.
Fresh fish," as the new arrivals were
called, were still pouring in, and as long
as this continued We could not expect to
be released, although many had been in
confinement almost two years
One morning when / emerged from my
quarters l observed "a group of officers
clustered around little man, barehead-
ed with his hair combed back. He was a
p.easant-faced young fellow, and, to my
surprise, he wore the uniform of a major
general of cavalry. Who could he be.
and where did he come from? | approach
ed and listened to his quiet, pleasant
voice. but it was some little while before
1 ventured to inquire the name of the
new arrival, for he had come in during
the night. Gen. Joe Wheeler" was the
response to my inquiry, and for moment
/ could scarcely realize that l stood in
the presence of the mighty Confederate
caValryman. But what a little fellow he
Isl Could Ii be possible that this was the
man of whom / had heard so much? But
the longer 1 gazed into his fine eyes and
watched his quick, nervous movements
the more l became convinced that little
men can be great soldiers as well as big
ones.
Thrty-four years from that time there
came the close of another war, but l am
thankful to say that this time 1t was
with a foreign power, / stood on Chest
nut street, in Philadelphia, and witness
messed the passing of many of the heroes
of that war. amid the wild cheering of
assembled thousands Among others who
passed was one upon whom every eye
was centered, and as he arose in his car
rage and gracefully bowed his acknowl-
edgments for the greeting extended him,
l recognized the little general had seen
a Fort Delaware at the close Of the Civil
War; but oh, under what different circum-
stancesl He rode in no carriage then, and
there were no shouting men nor beautiful
women with waving handkerchiefs to re-
ceive him.
Thirty-four years had brought some
changes but except that his head and
beard had grown gray, Gen. Joe Wheeler,
soldier and statesman, statesman and SOL
der, was not day older. The same
dauntless spirit still famed within the
small compass of his body as vigorously
as ever, and the restless eye was as pierre
ing as then, and his movements as quick
and nervous.
Free mt Last.
But to return to Fort Delaware. To-
ward the first Of June many prisoners
were released daily, but their release had
been effected through the influence OF
friends. About June Is was summoned
before Gen. Schoepf. who informed me
that an order for my release had arrived,
and, after taking the oath OF allegiance,
was handed some papers and then hust-
led aboard the water boat and In due
time I found myself in Wilmington, Del
/ made straight for the depot as I wished
70 take the first train for my home I'm
Baltimore; but. alas. when | presented
my papers 20 the ticket man he informed
me chat my trangporta ton paper had been
forgotten and. therefore, he could not is
sue me a ticket.