The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-10-10
News and Observer.

SIu army.
News and Observer
10 the EditOr:-The enclosed letter
from General Chamberlain, of Maine.
MaJor-Gcneral in the Union army
in the Civil War, in reply to mine OF
the 3Oth ulto., (also enclosed, that the
tenor of his may be fully understood)
may be of interest to your readers.
Perhaps some of the old Confederate e
veterans remember the incident of
the surrendered flag mentioned here
in.
''Washington. DC, July 30, 1901.
''Gen Joshua l.. Chamberlain. Port
land. Maine.
''My Dear Sir:-Let love of chivalrv
be strangers excuse for writing
YOU.
The dawn of April 9th, thirty-six
years ago, the day that marked the
end Of the great American Civil Con-
fllct. found me too young to realize
the momentous import of the times
or TO understand the gloom that filled
my home in the Old North State. )
But reading today in the Personal
"reminiscences Of Gen. Robert f. Lee.
that peerless Southern captain, the
chivalrous words that fell from your
lips on that fateful day. feel con
strained TO quote them to you in full
thinking you may have never seen
them in history.
"A gallant color-bearer, as he de-
livered up the tattered remnant of his
flag, burst into tears and said to the
Federal soldiers who received it:
Boys, this is not the first time YOU
have seen that flag. | have born it
i'll the front of battle on many victori-
Gus field, and | had rather die than
surrender it now Brave fellow,
said,General Chamberlain. of Maine,
i admire your noble spirit, and only
regret that have not the authority
to bid you keep your flag and carry
| it home as precious heirloom. =
Chapter s, page 800.
..Hoping that in the decline of life
! YOU have health and comfort, and
that after yUn answer the last roll
call here your chivalrous soul may
! find repose in the Valhalla of the
| brave, | am, sir,
Very respectfully yours,
al. B. EATON"
In answer to the above letter Gen
eral Cham berlain wrote as follows:
Portland, Me-, August l, 1901.
Il. B. Eaton, Esq, Washington,
ID. c.
MY Dear Sir:-I thank you with
peculiar pleasure for your fine and
appreciativc letter of the 3Oth ulto.,
and the reference therein to some
notice of simple act of mine at the
surrender of Lees army.
Il had not supposed anybody re-
rendered, or cared, what | said on
the occasion referred to. | rememb Der
it we'll, for it was the last flag sur
rendered there and it came in borne
by little remnant of a regiment
which had recently been, think, act
ing as Headquarters Guard and there
fore came in late in the ceremony,
after being relieved from that de-
tail.
The poor fellows-or l would
rather say, the noble fellows-clung
to that flag, battle-smoked and blood
stained, as if it were dearer than life
to them-dear as manhood and honor.
| felt their feeling, and said to them
something like you have quoted.
You may not know that in form
ing my lines to receive the surrender
of these arms and colors, | had given
instructions for the regiments sue
cessively, as the respective Cenfeder-
etc commanders and divisions were
| passing our front to form for this last
act in arms, to come to the carry ol
the manual (then called the shoulder
in token Of respect for brave men, and
| in deep sense comrades; and this be-
| ing done, was responded to in like
manner by the passing column.
WAS not this grand feature OF
this last meeting in arms of two his
toric armies! If your are from the
| Old North State | would like TO
meet YOU. There was no body of men
more brave and in all ways mani y
than those she sent to that great or
deal With high regards,
Truly yours,
JOSHUA l.. CHAMBERLA1N."
Who, MIR. Editor, can doubt the
stability of the Republic when that
mighty CiviLConfiict failed to destroy
| it, Who can doubt that it's destiny
is safe under the guidance OF the de.
scendants of the immortal Lee and OF
that generous, high-souled soldier
Joshua l.. Chamberlain, OF Maine!
Very truly yours.
| i. B. EATON.