The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-05-01

vile and, like fageing gamecock, re-
spondcd to the attack with such de-
sperate vim, fred aud fought with
such energy aud spirit as to force the
foe to the conclusion to leave our
march, unmolestcd to it's Gnai sequel.
The 7th and 9th were but toilsome
repetitions of previous days, except
that their wcarisomc monotony was
unbroken by the annoying pressing
attention Of our confident antagonists,
who now knew that they had US like
partridaes within the focus of snare,
with the James River on our right and
their line Of march converging; it
could be but question Of hours.
| On the night Of the 9Th we were
halted and went once more regularly
into camp within short distance of
Appomattox Court House, and doubt
less each worn and wearied soul
thought, if he didn't repeat in his de-
votions, "Blest be the man who first
invented sleep" There are probably
but few participants in the occurrences
OF these last few days who possessed
or retained any very vividly distinct
remembrance OF them. The writer 8
gray matter was woefully befogged,
though the badly jadcd body managed
to reach the historical and inevitable
goal on the fateful 9th of April, 1865,
only to find our further progress Sc
curely blocked. With Sheridan mass
ed III our front, Meade in the rear and
Ord on QUE left, with the james River
to our right; with but some eight or
nine thousand armed men, famished
and exhausted, there was but the one
reasonable alternative; yet, even then,
there were no cravens, no crcstfallen
countenances, no shrinking from the
inevitable, no despair.
READY TO FACE DEATH.
Overwhelmed by superior numbers
only, wayworn, solid and tattered, but
undaunted still, was this dim nished
band of Leo's devoted followers, and
even in this dire extremity Of despera-
tlon, determined audacity possessed
them. and had the order been passed,
were ready TO cut their way through
the scrried columns that opposed their
way. "To do or die" (Note-Just
here it is in order to mention that
among the other claims made to the
distinction of having fred the last
gun at Appomattox, the fourth piece,
Parrott rifle gun of Garden battery,
Haskill 8 battalion, ,Longstreet' corps,
claims consideration The circum-
stances were that this piece, being on
the firing line at the time of Gordon
last attack, had charge rammed
home when the truce began and the
order to cease firing received. The
gun squad was, for time, in guam
dary as to the disposition of the load
ed piece, when Gunner Henry G..
Scarborough determined to fire the
charge and did so, breaking the ST.
lence that had reigned for some min
utes and that remained unbroken
thereafter. This veteran gunner re-
Gently died in Bishopvillc with the
firm conviction that this was the last
artillery shot discharged.)
The occurrences of the surrender
are matters Of familiar history. We
saw our illustrious chief as he rode to
aafront and the rumors were rife
that the struggle was ended. We saw
him as he returned from the last in
terview sad final surrender, and rode
sadly and silently, but still majestic,
past the aiignsd remnants of troops,
hat in hand, grandly sublime even. in
defeat, tho oynosure of every tear
dimmed eye.
Our chieftain was apothosized and
tho cause sublimated in the hearts and
minds Of this attenuated band of de-
votees. The breasts of stalwart men
that had been barred in many battle
limo, were convulsed with sobs; many
blubbered audibly; yet, 70 us there
was naught ludlcrous, grotesquc or
even melo dramatic in the majestical-
ly tragic scenes. The occasion was
two calamitously mournful, our hearts
too gricvously burdened. "Tc suffer
and be strong" was the requisite Of
the hour for this sad emergency, and
it was met with the same fortitude as
had been manifested in the evcntful
past.
Soon there was visible change in
tho panoramic scene as "the blue and
tho gray Che gray was composite