The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-01-21

true, sah-it was true, sighed the
Colonel Outnumbered and worn
out, the time had come when our gall
liant army was to lay down its arms
and fight no mo. 1t was not for me
to raise objections. For time all /
could do was to turn away my head
and let the bitter tears find their way
down my cheeks. If felt that l could
take that army and keep the field for
another year, if l felt that / might
even wrest victory from defeat, it was
not for me to say so and bring my su
perior officers into contempt. How
ever, sub, l had so emmy vowed nevah
to surrender while | had "a breath of
life left, and as the sad faced patriots
were marching forward to ground
arms turned to my weeping heroes
and said, Men, can die, but / can't
surrender chats me, Colonel
cried ten thousand voices in chorus.
And then drew my gallant blade and
shouted, Those who will fight on and
die as brave men should, follow me
1t makes me thrill to remember that
day, suh-it makes me thrill. march
ed away at the head of my men. Ow-
ing to some mistake or misunderstand-
ing only three privates followed me.
did not discover this fact until had
| marched about fifteen miles, and of
| oh IN
gramme. I'm fighter, but there is a
limit to what q brave man can accom-
| plish. For instance, TO men can't
fight two hundred thousand men and
hope to win. When I realized the po-
sition was in l made farewell ad-
dress to my troops and dismissed them
to their respective homes. l haven't q
copy of that address with me at the
moment, but one will be mailed to yo,
sub lone will reach 20 in day or two,
and / trust that a careful perusal will
bring an announcement from yo that
it is n masterpiece in its way. 70 will
find it tears, logical, pathetic and en-
during here was not dry eye
among those three privates when /
read it to them, Yes, sub, disband-
ed them to their homes, and whom
they had marched away / betook my
self to the mountains to finish the work
alone. What happened at Appomatox
after / left has often been told me.
After our army had surrendered to the
last man the enemy seemed puzzled
and anxious. A General finally rode
up and down the lines and loudly in
quired, Has any one seen Colonel
Bragg ? If he is present let him step
10th But Colonel Bragg wasn't
there, smiled the Colonel I" lie was
called for again and again, and have
understood that his absence caused n
serious hitch in the business 1t was
finally decided to take the chances of
leaving him out, but brigade was or
dered to pursue and oyertake him and
induce him to come in. These troops
found me in the mountain, suh-found
me holding mountain road with such
grim determination that the General
halted and sent forward flag of truce.
Sub, said the Captain with the flag.
General Barbaw demands yo'r I'M
conditional surrender within five min
utes or he will open on you with TO-
thousand muskets and twelve cannon.
sub, 1 replied, as I drew myself up,
go back to your General and tell him
to go to the dewitt Can't yo' be
bluffed 2? asked he. can't, says /.
Can't yo' be bribed p Not while I
live Can't coax 20 1t can't
be done. Then, sir, says he, as he
turned about with his flag, we shall
send for enough mo- troops to make
up division and YOU be surrounded
on all sides and fo'ced to capitulate
Troops are coming up to reinforce the
enemy for the next three days, said
the Colonel. On the morning OF the
fo'th day looked down upon sixteen
thousand men and thirty-two cannon,
all there to capture me. / intended
to fight to the last and fall back, but a
new feeling came over me very sud-
denly. Was I doing right to prolong
the wah, to add to the bloodshed and
misery ? Was it the square thing on
my part to keep sixteen thousand men
from their homes One thought led
to another, suh-led right along to an
other, and in the co'se of an hour
made up my mind to the sacrifice.
Neither my patriotism nor my bravery
could be doubted after what I had
done. AS for music and banners, l
had none, but with my hat cooked high
and my sword in my hand descended
upon that division. The enemy fell
back befo' me until I sheathed my
sword and waved my handkerchief.
Then marched into the midst OF them
and raised my voice and asked, 'Is
there Major General here among
yo' ?? There is, says General De-
vine, as he stepped out. Then de-
siah to surrender to yo' but l claim