The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-06
ARMY'S LAST MARCH
DRAMATIC ACCOUNT of THE RE-
TREAT OF LEES HEROES.
JUST BEFORE SURRENDER.
MAJ. JAMES n. sHELDoN's ELo-
QUENT ADDRESS TO VETERANS.

The Personal Narrative. of a Particle
pant in This Last Heroic Exploit
of the Arm of Northern Virginia.
The Riot and Chaos i'm Richmo nd,
the City Abandoned to Anarchy.
The suffcrings of the Army by the
Way-The Battle of Sailors Creek.
The Surrender of the War-Worn
Veterans by Their knightly Conn
mander and a Tribute to Lee.
Mai. James r. Sheldon delivered last
night before the Confederate Veterans
Association and an audience that in
Guided members of the local chapter
of Daughters of the Confederacy and
camp of Sons Of Confederate Veterans,
one of the most dramatic and interest
ing addresses that has been heard in
savannah, on subject connected with
the great War Between the States, in
many long year.
The inclement weather and the cir
cumstance. possibly, that sufficient
publicity had not been given the fact
that Maj. Sheldon would deliver his
address, seriously affected the size of
the audience, which was comparatively
small. 1t listened to Maj Sheldons re-
marks with the closest interest and
the deepest sympa thy an interest and
sympathy more complimentary to the
speaker than any applause could have
manifested. When he concluded the
applause cane-in volume and intensi-
" sufficient to drown the recollection
of the tense silence with which the
audience had heard Maj. Sheldon's S dra-
matte recital of the valor. suffering
and endurance of the shattered rem
nant of the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia.
1t was THE Last March of the Army
of Northern Virginia. as seen and par
ticipated in by an adopted son of Geor-
gia and the South, that Maj. Sheldon
had taken as his theme. He was born
in Rhode Island and came to Georgia
d few years comparatively before the
outbreak of hostilities. He cast his for
tunes with his adopted state.
Mai Sheldon, at the conclusion of his
address, presented the association with
d photographic copy of Gen. Lees final
address to the veterans of his army,
the motion of Gen. McGlashan, who
bore personal testimony to Maj. Shell
dons bravery and fidelity throughout
all the struggle, a vote of thanks was
rendered the speaker and the address
ordered printed in the proceedings OF
the associat ton.
The speaker was gracefully intro
duced by Vice President Louis G.
Young, who in the absence in New
n -srsl osN
over the meeting.
The speaker introduced his remarks
with some brief account of his service
in the Thomas County Rangers, with
which command he entered upon his
first campaign. He served with the
Fiftieth Georgia, when his company
became a part of that regiment. lie
told of the shock that was produced
upon the left wing by the news of the
crushing defeat of the right wing at
Petersburg and of the preparations for
the retreat. Then he continued:
The Retreat Begins.
Deep anxiety overshadowed us all.
That night orders were received to be
prepared to move. Our command was
assigned the important and ,perilous
post of protecting the rear. The move
ment was, however, made so quietly
and steadily that the enemy in our
front was not aware of our withdrawal
for some hours.
Thousands began that march with
empty haversacks and as little in thelr
stomachs. Near the dead of night we
entered the thoroughly demoralized
city of Richmond and the command
passed through the principal streets,
and ! can testify to the truth OF many
of those graphic descriptions that have
become historical. There was reveiry
of confusion. The steady and continu'
Gus tramp of troops and rumble OF
smbuiances, ordnance and artillery
wagons, was the sole and single illus
traton of order or system. The rest
was chaos. and pandemonium reigned.
Iumultuous masses of rabble human
ity, augmented by numbers of army
slragglers, possessed the doomed cap
it'll ard for the hour took advantage
o. the turmoil and hiatus in the gov
ernmcnt as a license for looting, pill
lage and anarchy in general Men and
women madly rushed in and out OF
buildings. warehouses, etc. LOADING
themselves with plumber. only to be
thrown down for another load OF some
tnlng more tempting. Barrels OF IL
quor were rolled out to the streets, the
heads knocked in, and overturned
and it is no fictitious story that records
the cutters and even sidewalks as
streaming rivulets of liquor Govern
ment warehouses were Quilted, and
here It was discovered that millions of
rations were being horded for some
mysterious reason. and clothing, shoes
and blankets galore while the faith
iul' hungry and ragged men had been
dolej scanty feed and less clothes for
months Why? Echo answers. Why
These earnest patriots. who determined
10 follow the fortunes of the Stars
ana Bars to the last ditch-yes. ane
over the ditch-marched with firm
tread rapidly but sadly and silently
across Mayo's bridge. over the James
fi'er. connecting Richmond and Man
thester, and babe farewell forever 10
ile Confederate capital: but here II
vas we near became separated from
me retreating army. IL may have been
cone 10 check the advancing pursuing
army but nevertheless the bridge had
neen hred. and had our march been de-
iaFe1 minutes longer We would have
heen unable 70 cross at that point. We
we're IN time however and crossed and
l'.ned the right wing OF the army.
"lih the loss OF a few men only.
Then began that toilsome retreat
fhout preparation. food or sleep
mar terrible test Of human endurance.
i'fiitude. faith and patriotism.
sleep In Mods aud wtaks.
Does time record anything great
All through the weary hours night
.NH dHF DAY and night again. Hifh