The National tribune., 1903-06-18

that so horses had been run off from the
plantation only an hour before our ar
rival. We Immediately started in pursuit,
but when we had gone about four miles
on a mule, l dismounted him and took
possession of his animal. The mule was
slow and 1 fell far behind the process
sion. Coming to the forks of the road,
turned to the left. while the scouts had
gone tc the right. When had gone about
three miles l saw cloud OH dust in my
front. Thinking l was about to overtake
the scouts, / urged the mule forward and
overlook some negroes who had charge of
the horses we were seeking. Firing my
Spencer, l scared the negroes and made
them turn about and drive the horses toward
the camp. Suddenly several shots were fired,
and y scouts commanded by Serg't Har-
vey, of the 9Sth ILL.,, charged me and de
manded my surrender. My gray jacket
had deceived Harvey, He thought, OF
course, that was a rebel. The shots had
ccme uncomfortably close to me. The
scouts, on some occasions, wore gray jack
cts to deceive the enemy. 1t was, how
ever. a risky business. l burned mine that
evening.
A FLAG OF TRUCE.
On April 20, when within 10 miles of
Macon, we met flag of truce, the officer
in charge announcing that Lee had sur
rendered and that Lincoln had been as
sassinated; that an armistice had been de-
clared between Sherman and Johnston.
and that the war was virtually at an end.
The flag came from the rebel Gen. Cobb.
Gen. Wilson replied that he had received
/ no official news from his Government, and,
in the absence Of instructions to the con-
trary, that he would march into Macon
and take possession of the city.
AT MACON.
Gen. Wilson marched into Macon, Ap-
ril 21, the 123d Ill. in advance. Withou;
resistance we took possession of the city
and about 1900 prisoners. The rebels,
citizens and soldiers, were in fine spirits,
rejoicing that the war was over;
"Wilder's Lightning Brigade entered
the city at Q o'clock in the morning. Tie
scouts started for Andersonvile, some 81
or 40 miles distant, but when they had
gone about u miles, they met some Of the
stoutest of the prisoners who had been re
leased. My pen cannot adequately de
scribe the appearance of those men re-
leased from Andersonville. Emaciated
and nearly naked, they were certainly the
most hideous looking human beings mortal
eye ever beheld.
From Macon and vicinity Gen. Wilson
sent scouts in every direction where Jeff
Davis was likely to be found. On the Sth
of May the band of scouts to which l be-
longed returned ana reported to zen. VIII
son, stating that the Southern Confederacy
had ceased to exist. He disbanded us and
ordered US to report to our respective COM
Ipanies.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
While We were in camp at Macon May
13, the 4th Mich. arrived, escorting JEFF
Davis, wife and little daughter and Gen
John G. Breckinridge's wife. The StaI
Spangled Banner was stretched across the
street, and the jeff Davis party was
marched under it on the way to Gen. vii
sons headquarters, the band marching in
front and playing, "We'll Hang Jeff Da
Wis to a Sour Apple Tree"
GOING HOME.
May % we started North, arriving al
Chattanooga June 3. The boys wandered
lover the famous battlefields and ascendet
Lookout Mountain. from whence they
, could have a good view of the histori,
, ground. On the 7th we started for Nash
vile. Crossing the river from Nashville
we went into camp at Edgefield, wher
we remained until we were mustered out
June %. At Springfield, H., July 8, W.
: received our discharges and final pay.
: CThe end)