The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-09-27
CHAPTER 1.

a luullOA OOuII Nedrlly,
but with spirit still, the batteries park
ed their guns in field facing a strip
of woodland. The guns were few in
number now, but they were all that
We're left of those that had done battle
on score of historic fields.
Lee had been forced out of his works
at Richmond and Petersburg a week
before. Ever since, with that calm
courage which had sustained him
throughout the later and losing years
Of the war, he had struggled and bat
tied in an effort to retreat to the
Roanoke river. He had hoped there to
unite the remnant of his army with
what was left OF Johnston's force and
to make there a final and desperate
stand.
In this purpose he had been baffled.
Grants forces were on his southern
flank, and they had steadily pressed
him back toward the James river on
the north. In that direction there was
no thoroughfare for him. Neither was
there now in any other Continual bat
ting had depleted his army until it
numbered now scarcely more than 49,
900 men all told, and starvation had
weakened these so greatly that only
the heroism Of despair enabled them to
fight or to march at all.
The artillery that was parked out
there in front of Appomattox Court
House was only a feeble remnant of
that which had fought so long and so
determinedly. Gun after gun had been
captured. Gun after gun had been
dismounted in battle struggle. Gals
son after caisson had been blown up
by the explosion of shells striking
them.
Captain Guilford Duncan, at the head
Of eleven mounted men, armed only
with swords and pistols, paused before
entering the woodlands in front. He
looked about in every direction, and,
with an eye educated by long expert
ence in war, be observed the absence
of infantry support.
He turned to Sergeant Garrett, who
rode by his side, and said sadly:
Garrett, this means surrender. Cen
eral Lee has put his artillery here to be
captured. The end has come"
Then, dismounting, he YEARLY threw
himself upon the ground, chewed and
swallowed a few grains of corn-the
only rations he had-and sought brief
respite of sleep. But before closing his
eyes he turned to Garrett and gave the
command:
"Post a sentinel and order him to
wake US when Sheridan comes"
In minute the captain was asleep.
So were all his men except the sentinel
posted to do the necessary waking.
That came all too quickly, for at this
juncture in the final proceedings Of
the war Sheridan was vigorously car
rying out Grants laconic instruction
to ''press things" When the sentinel
walked the captain, Sheridan's lines
were less than fifty yards in front and
were pouring heavy volleys into the
unsupported Confederate artillery park
Guilford Duncan and his men were
moved to no excitement by this situa-
ton. Their nerves had been schooled
to steadiness and their minds to calm
under any conceivable circumstances
by four years of vastly varied fighting.
Without the slightest hurry they
mounted their horses in obedience to
Duncan's brief command He led them
at once into the presence of Colonel
Cabell, whose battalion of artillery lay
nearest to him. AS they sat upon their
horses in the leaden hailstorm with
countenances as calm as if they had
been entering a drawing room Duncan
touched his cap to Colonel Cabell and
said:
Colonel, 1 am under nobody's orders
here. l have eleven men with me, all
OF them, as you know, as good artil-
lerymen as there are in the army. Can
you let us handle some guns for you?"
No." answered Colonel Cabell 81
have lost so many guns already that
l have twenty men to each piece"
Then, after a moments pause, he
added:
You, captain, cannot fail to under
stand what all this MEANS"
II quite understand that. colonel !"
answered Duncan, "but as 1 was in it
at the beginning of this war, have
a strong desire to be in it at the end
Of it,
The cOlonePs cannon were firing Wig
orously by this time at the rate Of
six or eight shots to the minute from
each gun, but he calmly looked over
the little party on horseback and re-
sponded:
You have some good horses, and
this is April. You will need your
horses in your farming operations. You
mad better take them and your men
out OF here. You can do no good by
staying. This fight is a formality pure
and simple, a preliminary to the final
surrender
Then you order me to withdraw ~
asked Duncan.
Yes, certainly, and peremptorily if
you wish, though you are not under nv
command" answered Colonel Cabell.
1T is the best thing you can do for
yourself, for your men, for your horses
c~-~