The National tribune., 1903-09-03


Of hostilities and an agreement with Gen.
Johnston and other high officials which
when formally ratified will make peace
from the Potomac to the Rio Grande."
Each commander will group his camps
entirely with view to- comfort, health
and good sanitary arrangements.
"All the details Of military discipline
must still be maintained, and the Cen
eral hopes and believes that in very few
days it will be his good fortune to con-
duct you all to youreh homes"
This announcement was made on the
18th. Two days later our division moved
from Avens Ferry to rHolly Springs,
where we gave ourselves up to the full
enjoyment of our belief that the war was
over. Letter writing occupied the greater
portion of our time, and the remainder
was spent in discussing grapevine dis
patches in regard to our departure for
home.
The fact of being reduced to half ra-
tions did not disturb our good humOr. but
when on the 25th we received orders to
resume hostilities without hearing any ex-
PLANTATION of the cause, a savage spirit en-
tered our bosoms. Our men could be seen
and heard with clenched hands muttering
vengeance through set jaws on man or
beast or property that should henceforth
be found in our path.
The following morning we again march
ed toward Avens Ferry with heavy
hearts, but before proceeding very far the
order was countermanded and we moved
to Goldsboro.
As soon as Gen. Johnston was notified
by Gen. Sherman that the truce was end
ed ana hostilities would be resumed. he
asked for second meeting, and final
terms of surrender We're agreed upon.
Once again we gave ourselves up to re-
ioicing more heartily than before.
One night we had a mimic battle, in
which our brigade engaged an adjoining
one With n firebrand in one hand and
an open cartridge in the other our men
formed their lines and charged, retreated,
and countercharged. with the widest war
whoops, ut the same time illuminating the
scene with the flash of powder sprinkled
on the fire brands
The following night it was whispered
around that the battle would be renewed
and something interesting would happen
1t was noticed that the opposing lines
were longer than usual, ard that the
spectators were more than usually inter
ested
After few charges and counter
charges our opposing brigade was seen re-
treating toward the tent of their brigade
sutler. Our line followed, and the tent
disappeared-the goods also. The retreat
ing brigade now rallied and charged our
men, who had possessed themselves of
the spells, and it was noticed that our re-
treat led toward our brigade sutler. The
other brigade followed. and our sutler
tent went down in the rush. The entire
performance ended three minutes later,
when the belligerents scampered to their
holes with the agility Of prairie dogs. The
suffers of two brigades alone remained to
mourn the sudden departure of their
goods.
On the last day Of April We took mp our
line of march over the historic battlefeids
of Virginia to Washington.
HoMEwARD BOUND.
As we followed our ,colOrs, homeward
bound, with joyous steps and bright an
ticipatiOns of the welcoming plaudits and
rewards awaiting us, we; met n struggling
line of our former antagonists, also home
ward bound, but under conditions vastly
different from ours. 90 ID
The Confederate soldier vas returning
home Invested of everything military ex
cept his clay-eolored, ragged uniform. He
walked with dOwncast seyes, for his flag
no longer hoated over his head to incite
him again to deeds of heroism. That flag
which he had Witnessed more than once
Haunting in temporary triumph over the
1t had gone Down with allfhs hopes for
4 Southern Confederacy and its stars and
bars only reminded him of four years
frutless struggle. s5e rJ, .,.-
The home awaiting him perhaps was n
heap of blackencd ruins and devastated
fields in the midst of a servile race sud
denly invested with the dangerous power
Of unaccustOmed liberty which might
easily be mistaken for untrammeled
license.
Penniless himself. his friends and
neighbors in like condition, his soul was
racked with anxiety as he slowly walked
toward that spot once called home, to ex-
pertinent in the art of making n living
under new and unpromising conditions.
Our sympathy went out to these gal
liant fellows who had worn themselves out
fighting against fate. The contents of
our haversacks were constantly at their
disposal.
We had many friendly chats with them
by the wayside when we stopped to rest.
and as we admired their courage in battle
so did we admire the courage with which
they faced untried conditions of civil life.
They had lost all hope of success after
Sherman's march to the sea and Hoods
disastrous defeat at Nashville. They were
then willing for an order of dismissal to
come at anytime, but honor forbade their
leaving the ranks until the proper au-
thority should declare: 1T is enough"
When this declaration did come from
Lee and Johnston they laid down their
arms willingly, even cheerfully, with
proud consciousness that, although they
returned without their colors, there would
be tears. but no reproaches, from sisters
or sweethearts who had confded those
colors to their valor in the days of mad
enthusiasm when millions of men, women
and children throughout the Southland
were hailinS the rising star of the young
Confederacy-fOr the world knew that
the failure of their cause was not brought
about by lack of courageous effort on the
part Of the Confederate soldier
Eleven days of hard marching brought
us to Richmond on May II, when we
stopped for short rest and then hurried
on to Washington. On May 10 we ar
rived at Alexandria and encamped. We
found that preparations were in progress
for the Grand Review.
GRAND REVIEW.
AT daybreak Oil the morning of May 24
we left our camp to cross the Long Bridge
and take up our position ready to join
the ranks Of Sherman's army in an all-day
march through the streets Of Washing
ton.
We marched without knapsacks, but
with all other equipments, including one
days ration in haversacks In rear of
each regiment our faithful pack mules
were led by the company cooks Their
nOndescript burdens, such as they had