Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-03-10
The Last Days of the War.


ter of the Russian and Japanese forces
in the late war. little do we. who new
er came into contact with such terri
BILE realities, know of their meaning,
says a writer in the Boston Post.
In hunting for an old diary yester-
day 1 came across a journal kept dur
ing the War of the Rebellion by a
captain of Company l. the Fifty-eighth
Massachusetts Volunteers.
have taken from the record of this
soldier two pen pictures, and will let
the faded pages of the diary tell the
story for him, which, though old in
years perhaps, never fails in fascina-
ton.
Perhaps 1 should give his name. It
is Capt. Nahum Leonard, and if alive
1 should be very glad to hear from
him, for I hold in my keeping his story
of the Fifty-eight's part in the war
between one brave army and another:
"On the 10th of April we arrived at
Farmville and went into camp near
the city.
There we received the joyful news
that Lee had surrendered. The terms
had been arranged the day before at
Appomattox Courthouse, but the for
NAL surrender of Lees army did not
take place until the 18th.
I'VE did not have the opportunity
of seeing the ceremony. 1t was joy
enough to know that the war was vir-
tually over.
THE enthusiasm of the soldiers
knew no bounds. Cheer after cheer
rent the air and a general handshak-
ing took place.
1.-The stout hearted and the weak
alike wept tears of joy.
There were a few old soldiers that
were mute-perhaps the fact that the
end had come was too mighty to be
comprehended all at once.
"a detail from the Fifth Corps had.
the honor to receive the arms of the
defeated army. Amidst breathless
silence Git was said) the vanquished
veterans stacked their arms and
marched away. Nothing like a jeer
or a taunt was heard, nor did a word
of exultation escape the lips of the
Union soldiers.
1T was natural that respect and
even pity should be felt for this brave
but fallen foe, and as they passed
along in front of our camp the words
-Good-by, Yank, and tGood-by, John
ny were frequently exchanged.
THE news of the assassination of
President Lincoln was received while
the soldiers were yet rejoicing over
the surrender of Gen Lee.
zone evening at dress parade a
communication announcing the dread
full news was read to the officers by
Col. Wilton.
I'VE were cautioned not to give the
information publicity Immediately,
through fear that trouble might en-
sue.
Before shutdown, however, the
news was known throughout the camp
and a state of wild excitement pre-
vailed.
Troopers were at once detailed to
- guard the buildings and other proper
hout the town and to protect fami-
rom molestation.
1t was a thankless work. The
Families consisted mostly of women.
lists, and they INDUCED in remarks
about the assassination which the
soldiers could hardly endure"
Then comes the story of the home
7rard march and the meeting at
Wersburg of many of the company
Just released from prisons of the
South Some of whose stories were
full of sadness and gave a picture of
the suffering and starvation of the
Union soldiers that we had never be
lieved to be possible"
At Alexandria wives, sweethearts
and other female friends of the SOL
diers now appeared upon the scene.
making camp life at last a positive
delight.
One Sunday party attended
church at Alexandria 1t was said to
he the church where Washington used
to worship and they were conducted
to the very pew las they supposedly
which Washington used to occupy.
But the charm of the adventure faded
when they were told that the church
had been remodeled several times
since Washington's death and that
his pew had long ago been removed
to independence Hall at Philadelphia
Others became highly enthusiastic
and while visiting the tomb of Wash
fngton displayed great zeal in collect
ing pebble stones from the Enclosure
But their enthusiasm abated some
: what when told that CARLOAD OF
these stones was every day emptied
into the Enclosure in order to supply
visitors with relics.
Gen. Wheeler in the eos.
81 am sorry about Joe Wheeler