The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-19

 farther, but would go home to protect their helpless families if they died in the attempt. It was with the utmost difficulty that our officers could control the men reused in a moment to de- moniac desperation. At length, after exhausting the vocabulary of threats. and remonstrance, the soldiers were convinced of the. madness of such a course. and quietly proceeded on the march. Reaching Columbia, April 18th, we were ordered to reinforce General Lewis. who had been fighting the en. emy at great disadvantage for three days around Camden. We joined him on the 18th, just in time for a severe fight, in which two of our comrades were killed and several wounded. The enemy's loss was immense especially his black troops. which were placed in front as a kind of breast-work for the more cowardly Yankees. Many a black wretch found a wattery grave from a well-aimed bullet while crossing the stream in front of our Notifications; but onward they came, thick as au- tumn leaves; in the midst of death on either side. there was no alternative but to fight for their pretended friends in the rear, stood ready with gun in hand to shoot them if they wavered. The battle ragged several hours when our troops, being overpowered, were forced to retire. In the midst of this sur- rounding gloom came the shocking in- telligence that General Lee and his en- tire army had surrendered. An! in that dark hour it seemed the day of life had closed and hopeless darkness set- tied OCT our fate" Yet, like a dying man clinging to every straw the surg ing wave bore upon their bosom, even tcf at every idle report in this last extremity that savored of a spark of life in the old land yet" Nor could we give up all as lost until the final surrender of our armies, occurring in April. The sensation produced on receiving such tidings beggars description-hoary- haired soldiers that for four long years had stood the "brunt of battle" with unflinching nerve. now, overcome with agony, roled upon the ground in soulful despair. with great, scalding tears coursing down their bronzed cheeks and praying God to take them in this hour of trial. A wall of lamentation from Dan to Beersheba'' was heard throughout our once broad sunny land. and worse than Rachael weeping for her children" was the cry of our Southern women, weep ing not only for their precious sons, but their fortunes and their all had per- ished in the noble cause. Is it strange that a people so afflicted should long for death to relieve them of their troubles? An! then we felt as if the blow would have been ''in mercy sent. " In glancing OCT the war-worn diary at my side the following words, writ ten at the time. will doubtless provoke a smile: of this sad news be true our country lost, we are gone, world
 without end. Come, Father Gabriel, blow your trumpet; blow it now" Alas! many poor Johnnie Reb", in the fervency of his heart, echoed the same sentiment, and no doubt has of- ten thought since it were a pity he did not twang his bugle horn.
 | Not with a warriors triumphant tread When Victory's laurels grace his lofty head,
 Did we hie from the battle field all glory.
 But rather
 "As hares whom hounds and horns pur- sue,
 Pant to the place from whence at first they flew, We could but trust our long vexations past
 Now to return and die at home at last"
 Vague and disagreeable emotions prevailed in our hearts at the idea of passing under the Jugerthan yoke of bondage we felt already closing around our necks. Nevertheless the fiat had gone forth that all Confederate soldiers must surrender themselves as prison CTS of war: and we were accordingly ordered to report at Augusta, Ga, to undergo the necessary formula. A wild state of excitement prevailed in camp at the reception of such tidings, and as we proceeded thither 1t was tm- possible to preserve discipline among the troops. Some declared they would never surrender, but resolved to es- cape by flight the first opportunity. AS a natural consequence, all the harness mules gradually disappeared and the night previous to our arrival at Angus ta the last mule was stolen, thereby forcing us to leave all the wagons and surplus baggage on the road.
 At 10 o'clock next morning. May 4th, day long to be remembered by every soldier of the "old 53rd," we repaired to the commandants office in Augusta, and were mustered out of service, talk ing the prescribed oath imposed upon
 
 war. It was a bitter pill, far worse than rhubarb. jalap or any other bad medicine. However. we 'managed' to swallow it down and went on our way rejoicing.
 Have not all past human beings parted, And must not all the present one day part?
 Yet as the sad moment drew nigh ! when comrades should bid each othor a long, perhaps final, adieu, it was rather difficult to view the situation with such a philosophic eye. Here were assembled, doubtless. for the last time, soldiers who had fought side by side during the past four years of trial
 having their hearts cemented by the holy bonds of affection in pro- portion to the privations they had endured. It is not surprising. then | that tears coursed down the sun-burned cheek of many a soldier as he clasped the horny hand of his ever faithful commander in fond farewell. Hearts were too full for utterance, so acting in accordance with Bryon's sentiments that
 All farewells should be sudden, when forever,
 Else they make an eternity of moments And clog the last sands of life with tears.