The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-09-16

any Homcut III any part " oui
line, ana still our men did not
and famine, all combined, were doing
their work Our cavalry was melting
away. and when Sherfdan's troopers
were raiding our lines OF communica-
ton, IL was Anderson's-Arlow Ma
OF infantry. in which
was the sth Alabama, that was often
sent out tramping. footsore. along
frozen roads. in a vain effort to over
take the raiders
This Is but q faint picture of the
conditions as our soldiers saw them
when our army, its line at last broken,
began its retreat from Petersburg to
Appomattox. II there was any hope
left in the hearts of Lees veterans,
who can fail now to see that 1t was
only such hope as was born of uncon-
querable courage and unfaitering faith
in their leader? That there were many
who fell out of ranks in that dreadful
march, some because of physical ex-
haustion and others because they had
lost heart, Is undeniable. The marved
is that so many still had the physi-
car ability to march. and still remain
ed faithful, tramping along without
sleep and without food. and fighting
to the last; the pity is that all did
not have the courage and the constan-
cy of those heroes who stood by the
flag of the old regiment until Cen
era1 Lee had surrendered, ana then
cried like children. as they tore that
flag into tatters. There were at the
i53 men and sixteen officers.
making altogether 169 men of the sth
Alabama, who were paroied. These
figures are official. from the captured
archives.r and they show that the stn
Alabama was one of the largest Con-
federate regiments at Appomattox.
The following account of the last
few days is by Captain Pagan, and
know of nothing more touching:
Chapter XVII
The following account of the last
few days is by Captain Pagan. and
know of nothing more touching:
From the Diary of w. L. Pagan, for
mer Captain of Co. X. written from
day to day and extended in 1857.
with foot notes added in 1905.
ION the night of March 4, 1865.
Mahone's division moved from their
winter quarters on the Boydton plank
road, and relieved Pickett's division
on the line extending from Appomatox
river to Howletts home battery. on 81,
James river. This battery was OF
heavy guns, built in a blum near the
home OF DR.. Hewlett, opposite Far
rows Island. and within range OF
Buffers Dutch Gap Canal wilcox's
Brigade on the left, rested on this
battery There was no firing along
the line and the half starved men en-
joyed the rest and quiet. Daily de-
tails were made to search the field for
anti -scorbutics,' which, when found,
were wild onions, the most indigesti-
BILE food ever eaten by man. Our ra-
lions are IA pound of canned beef and
a loaf of bread
April LIST. Last night the enemy
gave US the grandest artillery dis
play of the war. For several hours
1t seemed that every battery from
Hare's house to the Jerusalem Plank
Road was in action. The sky outlined
the path of the thousands Kissing NOR
tar shells thrown into the city. From
my post / watched the terrific cannon
ade.
On the night of April LIST, Grant eel
ebrated the victory of Five Forks.
Every piece of artillery in the thick
ly studded forts, batteries and mortar
beds Joined in the prodigious clamor--
it appeared as If fiends of the air were
engaged in the sulphurous conflict
rollard's Lost Cause"
Sunday. April 2hd. 1865. Ev-
ing. Sumpter Williamson of Co. "A.
invited me to dine with him, as ne
had captured some fine rats in a
barn several miles to the rear. felt
grateful for his invitation, but / can't
eat a rat, There are rumors that
Grant has possession of the South
Side Railroad and our old winter
quarters. also that General A. p. Hill
was killed. The camp Is full OF grape
vine" dispatches. while men and OFF,
GERS collect in groups to hear the news
At sunset, orders received to move
immediately-as we have no baggage
the regiment soon formed. We are
glad to go, since the entire regiment
has the itch" which Picketts divi-
sion left as an inheritance. At dark
marched towards the Richmond anC
Petersburg Railroad. Adjutant Nor
gan Cleveland on the march whispered
to me to watch my men, lest some
desert. / replied with some irrtta-
ton that had no deserters in mJ
company. Before reaching the railroad
Cleveland told me that a number OF
our people had deserted. / was sorry
for my reply to him at the trenches
and asked for forgiveness. Marched
several miles along the railroad AZ
the direction of Richmond. The rail
road filled with heavy creaking train.
headed for Richmond The sky abov.
reflected the light of burning build
ings and commissary stores, while a.
intervals the earth Is shaken by tn,
exploding gun boats and magazines OF
James river. The men march In ST.
lence, not a word spokea-they iik,
myself, are awed by the complete anC
absolute silence that surrounds u.s.
am told we are going to Burkeville
Va. We marched all night, and tool
a road that leads to Chesterfield, C. II
April 3rd. Monday. On the march
This, morning about a. m. passed
the wagon train. Scores of ambulance
were filled with women, children ant
negro girls. The men are spiteful a
seeing this innovation, and make caus
tic comments. That's the crowd tina
draws our rations." There are gov
eminent ambulances, and might b.
used to help along some tired or sicl
soldier. Stubs was a son of Common
wealth Attorney Stubs of Norfolk
Va, who had been imprisoned by Gen
eral Butler. His office and houS
searched by Federal soldiers, and hi
Wife and daughter insulted. Mrs
Wright, after the execution of he
husband. was sent to Richmond, ant
Miss Stubs came with her, and wa
in Petersburg at the evacuation. Cap
tain Parker. of the 18th Alabama, wa
near relative Bill Stubbs, of Nor
folk, Va, standing on a fence waves
his hand and said: Captain, l prom
Used sister last might that I woul'
stand by my colors Most of the boy
stayed in Petersburg" Noble girl
with all your prosecutions you arc 10y
al still! Lieutenant V. Al Va caugh
up and contradicted Stubbs' statemen
of the wholesale assertions of the Vir
ginians.
These men think the evacuation o
Richmond insured the downfall of tn
Confederacy. Some Alabama and Geor
gia men having married in PePters
burg, remained.