The National tribune., 1903-07-23

Near the close of that day we received
orders to march early the next morning.
succeeded in getting another Lieutenant
to take my post for an hour and | sailed
| forth into Raleigh to find some one who
could give me information concerning my
, uncles family. l succeeded in finding a
clergyman, Rev. Mr. Pell, who knew them
well and assured me that they were in fair
ly comfortable circumstances for the times
He also expressed the opinion that John
ston would accept the same terms that had
been granted Lee, and / judged from his
tone that he had some inside information
on the subject. Sure enough, our march
ing orders were during the night counter
manded.
REVIEW OF THE ARMY.
Sherman reviewed his army in the streets
of Raleigh. The review took several days,
and on one day Gen. Grant was present.
The Generals stood on Fayetteville street
near the Market House. 1t was indeed an
historic group that l viewed through my
glass from the top of the Capitol, includ-
ing, besides Grant and Sherman, all the
corps commanders of the various armies
| undertook the job of counting the army as
it passed. There were, in all 72343 men.
not including Kilpatrick's cavalry. the sick
and the guards in the camp, and perhaps
few advanced regiments. If such a feat
was ever before attempted l do not know
it. l counted the front of each platoon or
company division, then counted the num-
Der of ranks, did little multiplying, added
few for the staff and the file closers, and
by that time the regiment was gone and
another was sweeping on.
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
On the 18th of April I was writing n
letter in the Senate Chamber when a Sig
mai Lieutenant entered in great excitement
and told me that Lincoln and Seward had
been assassinated at FOrds Theater A
few weeks before, as Schofeld's Corps had
been passing through Washington on their
way from Nashville by rail, | had heard
Wilkes Booth play Richard III at Ford's
and the awful tragedy rose distinctly be
fore my vision. The news came by tele-
graph to MOrehead City, as | understood
it, and thence by rail and messenger. Soon
after the telegraph line was interrupted
and it was several days before we could
get any corroboration or details.
Orders were issued by the General to
put on mourning for our illustrious CHIEF.
The officers attached Grape to their swords
and the regimental colors were draped in
black. Our regular station flag was white,
with red center. Besides this style We
had red flags and black flags, each with
white center. l took one of my black
flags and gave it to a tailor in my detach-
ment and directed him to sew a wide black
strip around the station flag
About n week afterward, Rev. Mr.. peII
informed me that l had been the cause of
considerable terror in the city, and found
That my attempt to put on mourning had
been interpreted as the raising of the black
flag. Subsequently the Provost Informed
me that Gov. Holden, accompanied by
number of women and children, had gone
to Gen. Schofield's headquarters, where
the staff officers explained the matter to
them and laughed away their fears All
this time l was utterly oblvious to what
was going on. l can not think, however.
that the CONSERVATION was general
On the 18th night after we entered
Raleigh sat at my station to late hour.
The myriad bands had played with un-
wonted sweetness, closing as if by COM
MOI mon consent with Home, Sweet Home"
The tattoo" had rolled round the wide
circle of my vision and 100000 men had
answered to evening roll-call. Taps had
sounded, the campfires burned low, and
the lights had gone out in the homes of
Raleigh. Still though then with no ap-
parent necessity, l watched over the silent
hosts committed to my charge. My post
had charm for me, and l had become
attached to the citizens. who seemed in
some vague manner under my special
watch care. AS if lifted up from earth,
in the very presence of mysterious constel,
lations, | mused over life and its problems.
the unrolling present and oncoming future,
L was gazing westward. l knew that at
some point beyond where the sun had set
five hours before the two great chieftains
were in consultation under flag of truce.
And l felt at that silent hour the prayers
of estranged millions ascending to heaven
that bloodshed might cease.
GLAD TIDINGs WRITTEN IN FIRE.
Suddenly l heard far out to the front
the sharp click of horses hoof, "Some