The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-03-16
Public AI-Speca Privileges


closed that episode.
March 10Th we broke camp and start
ed of towards Lees right, and about
2 p. m. our brigade got suddenly into a
hornets nest It was near an old
saw-mill. 1 distinctly remember a ire
mendous great pile Of saw-dust. For
about two hours we had IL hot and
heavy. Wewere out-hanked and driven
back, but rallied and again re-took the
field and held II until q regular battery
of 12-pound Napoleon guns arrived, and
they soon Quoted matters. Our regi-
ment went into that action with less
than 600 guns and we lost in killed and
wounded upwards of 200, a heavy per
cent. The next day, the 30th, it rained
and there was no fighting, but the Slst
we were at it again, and that night we
joined Sheridan and were attached to
his cavalry corps during the remainder
Of the campaign.
April LIST was fought the battle of
Five Forks, where Lees left was turn
ed, and after that 1t was sort Of run
ming fight until the end came at Appom-
attox. Being with Sheridan we were
always in the front and was in line Of
battle chad sent out skirmishers who
were engaged when the flag Of truce
appeared. There was wild commotion
for a few moments, but soon we were
ordered to lie down on our arms and be
prepared to make or receive an attack
at four o'clock. 1t was a very nervous
time with US, and about half past three
we heard loud commotion over in your
neighborhood and soon your boys came
struggling over and we knew the terms
had been agreed upon The last man
killed in the Army of the Potomac was
first lieutenant in our regiment. A
shell cut him in two while he was on
the skirmish line, just as the truce APP
peared. His name was Lieut.. Clark,
and in walking through the National
cemetery at Poplar Grove Church in
1900 his was one Of the first graves
saw.
l met General Gordon here in Cort-
land, two or three years since. He gave
US one of his delightful lectures on the
closing days of the Confederacy. / re-
membered him we'll at Appomattox, for
our division had the honor to receive
the arms of the infantry at the formal
surrender, and Gordon was pointed out
to me that day as well as Longstreet.
OF course during that last winter
(l864-5) we took in quite a number Of
deserters nights when out on picket.
remember one night of fourteen coming
in at the pit" that | had charge of
this was at Hatcher's RUM, and oh,
how hungry they were. We always
filled them up on hot coffee and hard
tack before sending them into camp
AS ! think back over the misty years |
am impressed more and more with the
great fight you put up half starved,
improperly clothed, outnumbered as you
were. There is only one explanation of
it all; it Is this-but will have TO tell
you a story
In the spring of 1900, on my way
home from Florida, | stopped off at
Richmond and spent day or two there
and at Petersburg; went out TO some Of
the old Notifications on the Squirrel
level road and over old camping grounds.
The Sabbath that | was in Richmond
was the I'd Of April. | happened to
think that il was the anniversary of the
day that the Confederate government
left Richmond thirty-fve years previous
Five Forks was fought the day before),
and after church that day ! went down
on Libby Hill where the Confederate
monument was, and wishing to ask
some questions as to location of certain
landmarks, ! cast my eye around and
saw a big brawny fellow that picked
out as surely being an old Confederate,
and addressing him, found that / was
correct. We sat down and had a nice
visit for a couple of hours. ! ascer-
tanned that he was member of the
Third Virginia Cavalry, a private all
through the war. He told me a great
many most interesting Incidents. He
had Of course seen Lee a great many
times, had served under Jackson, and
was with Jeb Stuart when he was killed
at the Yellow Tavern, etc, etc.
When we came 10 separate took
him by the hand and said to him that |
was glad that | met him. He replied
wall, I'm glad met you, but hain't
no id hypOcrite. 1t almost took nv
breath away. for we had been having
such a good visit. (still holding him
by the hand) said: II don't think |
know what you mean" He said:
well, mean that ! thought was
right. said: you did?" He used
a great oath, which / will omit, and |
answered: "And | think so yet, and so
would you II we had come up North and |
did what you done down here" etc. !
! still held on to his hand and said to /
him as looked him squarely in the eye
my friend, it's not necessary for you |
TO tell me or any other intelligent man |
that you thought you were right, for |
any man that ever studied the history |
Of the human race knows that men |
never fought as you fought unless they
believed absolutely that they were
riuhf that fha.t marc GUhttnn, e. tk.i-