The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-07
DIARY KEPT OF THE
last /. DAYS OF WAR

a recent discovery has brought to
light valuable and interesting record,
tho last days and closing
scenes Of the Confederate War. Sparse
and inadequate as are our annals OF
that eventful period, this genuine diary
Will prove of permanent interest and
value, as a contemporary record lii
which a brave and honest youth jotted
down his observations on curren.
events. II is to DO regretted that many
of his notes and observa lions are all
too brief to satisfy our curiosity as to
the details Of army life and expc-
ricnces during those fateful months.
But while we regret occasional paucity
! of details, and wish that the writer
had found tilno and inclination to
record ten times more fully the hap
pcnings of that daily life. yet the very
absence OF minor details is but a
signal illustration of an experience
when stirring events and daily risl,
OF life We're matters Of course in the
routine OF everyday experience When
the probability OF battle, with all its
risk, is threatened with every rising
sun, the diarist Is apt 10 DO negligent
III record OF matters OF minor impor-
tunce. The hardships OF that camp
life, the rough fare, the privation Of
many OF the comforts or nero living
to say nothing of the total absence Of
luSuries, We're so common and usual
III his daily experience that they were
accepted as matters of course-not
worth tho trouble of recording Though
wo may now wish that moro of tho
details Of camp life had been included
In this record. yet as an example OF
the spirit. the splendid morale, tho
almost perfect discipline OF that dlmin-
ished and diminishing body that
marched and held together from Pc
tersburg to AppomattoS. there Is prob
ably not In print n finer illustration
and proof than is presented IN the
pages OF this modest diary.
Harry Townsend, the writer OF It,
II well remembered by the members
OF his old company, and by many who
krew him in business life in Rich
mond, and, in his last years, as Pres
4 hNterian clergyman. In all the walks
OF llfe-as youth soldier, citizen and
| clctgyman--he won tho respect OF ac-
qIaintnnces and the nffectionate regard
or many friends. His manly though
gentle spirit ls reflected in tho pages
Of his diary, sometimes Enlightened by
| poctlc touches OF sentiment or OCca-
! slonal description. Hy no means the
least valuable feature OF The diary is
Il It's expression of contemporary feeling
4 and sentiment in ana out of the army
AS far as this feature appears, II Is
-. u portrayal of ut least ono side ol
public opinion arid current thought
above all, II IL m expression of III.
sublime faith, the confidence aud con.
/ stnncy OF the best men in the rank.
OF that army, 8$s
Tho fate and experience OF the I'rs
Company of IIowlt2nrs at and afte,
\ Appomattox wns nccullnr and natraor
! binary. Cut Off from tho main bods
OF the army, they wero not included 4,
Lees surrender, Under the 9clrcum
stances the battery was dismantled
tho guns buried. and the company dis
banded Most OF tho men, decidIns
that the war was oyer. Went home
Townsend ana fifteen Others, not agree
Ing With tho majority OF their com
rades made their way by a clrcuitou
tramp Of over -four hundred miles dow
to North Carolina to Join Johnston
army The greater part os The dinr
n IS an account OF the eSperinnccs an
adventures of this tramp, With man
charming pictures OF the people en-
countcred and the country passed over
y g. r.