The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1902-02-07
AN INCIDENT OF ApPOMATTOx.
Gen. Chamberlain RecoIlections of
the Day of Lee Surrender.

To the Editor Ocala Banner:
PHILADELPHIA, Penn. Feb. >. 1902
As General Chamberlain is 80 well
known in Ocala | thought perhaps
the enclosed chipping, which WAS cut
from the New York Sun, would in
terest your readers.
Respectfully yours,
ID. G.. w. SMITH
To the Editor of the Sun-Sir: A
few days ago MajCr-Gen. Joshua L.
! Chamberlain, Collector of the Port of
Portland, Me-, received from a North
Carolina gentlemen letter requesting
information as to the exact words used
| by Gen. Cham berlain in a short adj
dress 10 the bearer of Confederate
battletlag on the morning Of Gen.
Lees surrender. The words are given
in the Personal "reminiscences of
Gen. Robert +. Lee"
A gallant color bearer, as he de.
Iivered up the tattered remnants 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 borne it
ia the front of the battle on many
victorious field, and had IA her die
than surrender il now" Brave fell
low" said Gen. Chamberlain, of |
Maine, II admire your noble spirit, !
and only regret that ! have not the |
authority To bid you keep your flag |
and carry it home as a precious heir
LOOM"
While the writer hereof was paying
his respects to Gen. Chamberlain to-
day, he was permitted to make a copy
of the answer which Gen. Chamber
lain sent To the North Carolina gen
tleman. Here it is:
Il thank you with peculiar pleasure
for your fine and appreciative letter
and the reference therein to some
notice of a simple act of mine at the
of Lees army. | had not
supposed that anybody remembered,
pr cared, what / said on the occasion
'efeTred TO. | remember it well, for
[ was the last flag surrendered there,
md it came in borne by a little
emnant of a regiment which had
ecently been, | think, acting as
leadquaters guard, and therefore
anne in late in the ceremony, after
eing relieved from that detail The
oor fellows, or | would rather say, 9
he noble fellows, clHng to that old {
AZ, battle-smoked and blood stained, c
: if 1t were dearer than life to them
ear a. manhood and homer. ! felt I
leir feeling and said to them some. [
hing Ike you have quoted. |
You may not know that in form :,
x my lines 10 receive the surrender | +,
the arms and colOrs, | had given G
structions for the regiments success G.
veiy, as the respective confederate n
and divisions were pass. Il
: our front to form for this last act el
arms, 10 come TO the carry of the rC
annual, then called to lhe 'shO lder'
token of respect for brave men and ii
deep sense, comrades; and this &c
ing done, WAS responded to in Il ia
,e manner toy the passing column. til
as not this grand feature of this IN
It meeting in arms of two historic &c
mics? ~
If you are of the old North ~ -
,te,' / would like to meet you.
ere was no body of men more brave Of
4 in all ways manly than those she av
It to that great ordeal. | accept
In gratitude your good wishes for alb
at your naturally consider my de- oe
ling years. do not feel a. if my ~,
W. were declining-except as to ra
ir numerical remainder. In all tn
t makes their value | look upon tn,
m as mounting. The best is yet
re- God grant it may be so with eol
!. With high regard, truly yours, DO
JOSHUA l.. CHANBERLAIN,"