The National tribune., 1905-11-30

GEM F4TZ.HUGH LEE.
He and His sol4 Classmate, Ge.. Custer,
Metat Appemattox C. H.
The recent death Of Gen. Fitxhugh
Lee recalls to the memory OF Comrade
r. Hannaford, or "Old Sandy" OF Co.
M. I'd Ohio Cav. an interesting and pa
thetic incident Of the surrender Of Gen.
Lees army at Appomattox.
The incideH is brought back to
me. ne writes, las II 1t were last week
instead OF more than 40 years ago.
Those who swere there will no doubt
remember that Clusters Division when
met oy Thea flag OF truce was directly
south OF where Lees army lay, but too
far back to overlook Lees camp But
when that rash cavalry Colonel of a
South Carolina brigade fired on us-and
\ 1T required second volley to convince
| us that he was in earnest-our charge
on him brought us to the edge Of the
woods from whence Lees camp was
plainly visible. Lees headquarters be-
ing directly opposite from us.
I'VE went into camp and spent the
night there. Clusters headquarters was
at the foot OF an enormous oak not over
80 yards from our tent. About / p. m.
saw two horsemen in gray riding to-
/
custer eagerly observing them. Sud-
denly he sprang up and strobe towards
| them. AS he neared the two men they
| sprang from their saddles and each
grasped one OF Clusters hands, warm
| ly shaking 1t. Custer called his order
lies to hold their horses, and observing
that the animals were not shod sent for
the headquarters blacksmith and babe
him shoe the horses all around
Custer and his visitors threw them
selves on the ground at the foot Of the
big oak and for two hours talked of old
| times when they were cadets together
| at West Point. The then present was
not altogether forgotten while they
chatted OF the past, for one of them,
after gazing at the groups Of Union SOL
diers standing about, asked Custer II
| those were the men he had been win
| ming his victories with Our General re-
piled that they were.
Il was never certain who Clusters
visitors were beyond that they were
cavalry Generals in Lees army, but I
always thought one Of them was Fitz-
hugh Lee. Can any comrade enlighten
me?
There are no doubt many who will
recall this visit, and how the division
band serenaded Gen. Custer and his
| visitors, playing Southern and North
ern airs alternately for an hour or
| more. 1t was not until q few minutes
before the band ceased playing that we
learned the surrender was a fixed fact
that Lee had accepted Grants terms.
The boys became wild with joy. Then
| occurred an incident that illustrated
the wonderful effect music has on the
soul Of man. I noticed that the bands
men were taking their instruments
| apart and the thought came to me that
they had left something undone, SO
stepping up to the leader urged him
to give us one more tune-just one, I
begged. CHANGING at his men he re-
marked:
What do you say. boys?'
"They finally consented to play an
other air and the leader asked me.
What is it?'
"'Give US Home, Sweet Home."' I
replied.
1.-The band played as desired, and as
| the old, sweet strains swelled on the
air q strange quiet settled upon the SOL
| diers VIII" had been shouting .trium-
phantly. and when the second verse
| was reached looked about and saw
| many who appeared to be gazing
straight ahead; but who saw nothing,
only, perhaps some dear spot far away
Home. Sweet Home in the North
while down their cheeks the tears
rolled. 1t was one OF the most touch
this day I feel thankful to that band
| for the treat it gave us, for never be-
fore or since 3have heard the old,
sweet tune PLAYED with such pathos or
better effect. IL any member OF the
band should read this hope he will
accept my Thanks, even at this late
day.
"What5a great day that was and how
proud we should be to be able to say, L
| was at the surrender Of Lee There
were many colored comrades there, too,
and all OF us were worn almost be-
1aspS ,I.,- ~~vfAI
ble-quicking' of that long night With
| what feelings OF relief we put up our
tents there being every appearance Of
rain before morning. We could go to
| bed feeling that we would not be routed
out before morning. This was the first
| time we had such feeling for years.
At O'Clock on the afternoon of Lees
surrender the sun appeared as a big
red ball Of fire, and at 1t was invisi-
| ble."
Comrade Hannaford also relates part
Of his experience at the Wilderness:
II was in the Wilderness 40 years
ago." he says. For day or two pre-
vious our regiment had been almost on
| the extreme of Grants line, near Ger
mania Ford, but on Saturday, the 7th,
that position was abandoned by us and
about O'Clock p. m; we came in on the
Plank Road past Wilderness Tavern
(the road crowded with wagons) and
went into camp about one and half
miles out on the Orange Court House
Pike. Here there was some : open
country. The boys hoped we would be
allowed to pass the night there and
most OF us had our beds made, but at
$3.50 o'clock we were hurried back to
the old tavern and spent the night on
that hill, on the east side Of 1t, being
forbidden to unsaddle our horses.
Just after midnight a Lieutenant of
the 48th Pa. was brought in and buried
in the yard we were camped in. We
were told he had been shot by a BUSH
whacker while he was visiting the
pickets. All night long we could hear
| the steady tramp of marching troops
and the moving Of trains. and when
daylight came we were alone, the thou
sands Of wagons having disappeared,
| leaving our regiment alone.
1.-THE enemy's lines had also SEEM
ir ely disappeared, and to discover If