The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-12
- y i OUT STnCcTB ITIU1Iu, m
WILLIAM II. ETIEltIIDGE.
Personal "reminiscences of the
Closing Days Of the Late
Civil War


Closing Days Of the Late
Civil War.
Editor OF The Times Dlspatch:
slr.--Durlng the final days Immediately
preceding tho surrender tho writer, then
a dlnlinutivc urchn of some half a dozen
summers. lived In tho llttlc village known
| as Five Forks, In Amelia county, Va.
Five Forks is situated on the main
county road, aud is so named by renson
of Its being intersectcd by five branch
roads leading In as many different direc-
lions.
One OF these roads led UP from Peters
burg, whence the ominous sounds OF
Grants heavy Siege guns-lilie distant
thunder-thoush many miles distant,
could be distinctly heard, scaling up In
tho cnsket of fate, as 1t were, tho final
destinies Of the Confederacy.
1t was along the above mentioned road
that a part OF tho rctreating Confederate
cavalry could be seen approaching at full
speed and as 1t wheeled into the main
thoroushfare, horses hoofs We're heard
and hugo clouds of dust seen In tho OPP
positc direction. which proved to be a
body OF Federal cavalry, also coming on
at full TIT. knew that an head-on coll
lision was both inevitable and imminent,
ind concluded that the top Of gate
post, on which was then seated, was
not, by any means, the safest place IN
the field, so l quickly sprang--or In all
probability fell-to the ground, and know
Ing that good run was better than
bad stand, proceeded 10 mako tracks,
or to use the ho,nely expression OF the
darkey, broke ground" across the open
field with the speed Of a March hare, to
the friendly shelter Of my home. which
was reached Just as the two hostile
bodies collideda8A fter a brief contest
both sides retreated, taking up positions
only a few hundred yards apart. one
poor fellow In blue saw daylight for the
last time during this charge and many
moro on either side must, thereafter,
have worn honorable scars as mute re-
ninders Of that fierce little encounter
Tho Federal advance guard took up
position which placed our homo well
within It's own lines, So that after hoist
ing my Bonnie Blue FLAG as high up an
unused chimney as could be reached
with a broom stick. j remained Indoors
with the family, being the only protec- /
tor, and awaited results, which were
precipltated by the immediate approach
OF squad Of Federals, presumably IN
search Of some stray Johnnie Reb" who
might DO discovered in hiding, but find:
ing that we were all comhatants,2
were, on the contrary, furnished guard
for our protection.
Thus far we were none the worse on
for our experience, and the soldiers with
whom we We're thrown in contact--be IL
said to their oredit-appeared to be quite
gentlemanly set Of fellows, though me
experience of some of our neighbors LEI
no room for doubt that, In the rank
and file there were to be found some
pretty tough individuals.
Is Our own troops occupied an elevated
position only short distance beyond,
so:&that we had full view OF both lines
during the skirmishing.
t distinctly remember seeing several
FedcraIs seeking shelter behind trees IN
our yard, and III the porchcs, firing at
our men WHO were exposed IN the open
field beyond. This ~ was particularly
CALLING to u.s. but being In the hands OF
the enemy, we had to swallow the bitter
medicine without a murmur or so much
as q show of wly faces This action
was, kept up for short while, with PROD
| able casualties on both Sides q.
7 was at Amelia Courthouse When news
| OF the surrender was announced 70 the
| Federal troops then at that point ana
| the pcacefiIl surroundings Of other days
| seemed suddenly converted into Vefi
! table Dandemonum. for never SINCE NM
I eyentful day have heard such unearthl5
| yels as then and there nearly slr,sht
| en- me out of my wits; indeed IT IS
nuestion whether have even quite YET
restored my former equilibrium! inc
\ men we're simply wrought UP to frenzy
| or delight at the thought Of returning
home. SO my guard informed me. ! was
pretty well wrought up" nlyself--1io ~
| fright, but managed to compose 1hyset i
suific!ently to pack away, III my canvas
/ haversack, many good things given s me-
! and then. guard self and grip, al 'lou't..
| ed a mettlesome steed ana we're aoo..
| speeding our way home, wherc' ~ :.
! brief stay. our friend took leave OF tle,
much TO my regret, as we had become
quito "chumn,y.' This was the last we
saw OF the boys in blue, and II was llol
,onp before our own loved ones, or "nht
way left OF then, In numbers ana anhtoli1S
we're returning to their homes, Or ~ ~ W.
| site on which they left them! I'll
AZ soon us tho last Federal troops ote -
parted many housed UP vlaseTs cas',e
out in the open, repaired 70 we M ,'.u
| nnd conlscated enough broken do"ti
;,nrses ma mules to start a respectable
livery--all the animals having 'ile 'c., W..
III. s." stamped on their BACKS, put
| they were foon doing duty on the 1aF'is
!, In the places Of those PREVIOUSLY aPpte-
| printed by the enemy.
while living was high inst those days
particularly in the rural districts, yet
no one was ever accused OF living high
| an apparent oontrndiction-but neVerlne-
less a fact, Mocha, Java. and all other
brands of coffee had become practically
unknown quantities during the latter
stages OF the war, SO that upon many
| good housewives ccustomed to meet
Ing emergencies devolved the duty Of
| overcoming this difficulty by providing
| substitute, and this they admirably dld
| In the selection Of tho sweet potato 70
take the place Of the coffee bean, and
from which the coffee of tho realm was
4 made. These We're thlnly sliced ana
! Drowned IN tho family skillet, and then,
In further Preparation for boiling, they
! We're reduced 70 the proper consistency
! by nd OF mortar and pestle, and when
prcparcd and served with plenty OF
!. cream and good old sorghum-instead Of
/ cut loaf-for sweetening, sunplnnted The
l genuine article with most palhtablo
and refreshing drink, ms many Of the
| older citizens will attest, The hard tack
with It's swollen features from soaking.
| Haa not 10 he fheptsed In those days. ~