The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-08-08
War Renaissance.
Mr.. J. R. Clack of Henderson,
Gives an Account of His Expert
ences During the Closing Days
of the War in Which He Relates
Some Interesting Incidents.


Some Interesting Incidents.
Having been requested by Mrs. W.
5. Parker, President OF the United
Daughters Of the Confederacy for the
State OF North Carolina, for some
war "reminiscences, herewith recall an
incident that may be Of interest to
my posterity in after years. Not be-
ing a North Carolina soldier, my story
may not be eligible to aplace in your
records, Mrs President; in which case
you will please Just return this to
the writer.
Soldiers OF "E" Company, 18th
Va. Regiment, Armistea rs Brigade,
Pickett's Division, Lieut.. Col. W. W.
Wood, Lieut. E. A. Williams and the
writer, all of the 18th Va. Regiment,
did not surrender at AppOmattox {.
H., but hurried as fast as we could to
Greensboro, n. e., and reported to
Gen. Johnston for duty. During the
few days spent with Gen. Johnston's
army there occurred the last and
most successful charge OF the Confed
eracy. The commissary of the army
was very much depleted, and the sol
diers' wives had applied for rations
and been refused. So they charged
on the establishment, and the bayO-
nets Of the noble guards went to the
ground. The victOrs came out with
bareback, small hams, light Shout
dere and thin middings.
Gen.J Johnston assigned us TO a Gen
LOmax, instructing him to go to
Danyille, Va, establish headquar-
tiers and organize any and all sol
diers passing to their homes who did
not surrender at Appomattox {. II.
While 1T Is not matter OF recorded
history, here no doubt occurred the
last surrender Of the war-made to
three Confederate soldiers.
Reaching Danvilie about o'clock
Ill the afternoon, our General estab-
lished headquarters, with the Stars
and Bars floating to the breeze, and
sent his staff, Wood, Williams and
Clack, to reCOnnOiter As they were
coming Oh q hand-car through the
Richmond and Danville railroad
bridge, which was a covered structure,
we captured seven soldiers of the
Sixth Army Corps, putting them in
lall. We slept on our arms and awOke
next morning to see Dundee (nOw
North DanvilleD and the whole cOun-
try occupied by Grants army, and
to hear the bands playing "Star
Spangled Banner" and yankee Doc
die. torty-One years have passed
since that incident occurred At the
reunion OF the Confederate Veterans
held in Richmond, Va, May 3Oth to
June Bird, 1907, ! saw i'll Richmond
paper the name of Gen. L. l.. Lomax.
Since then | have written to him. and
here quote the first paragraph of his
reply:
War Department,
Gettysburg Nat. Park Commission,
Gettsysburg, Pa, June II, '07.
Dear Comrade: The old soldier is not
making a story. The incident as related
by you is perfectly correct.
Our safety under the above de-
scrlbed cOnditiOnsnow lay in retreat.
On reaching Pelham Station, eight
miles from Danville, we held con-
sultatlon of war. 1t resulted in three
OF us going frOm our homes in Clarks-
VILE, Va, and Gen. Lomax going we
knew not where.
Making a circuitous route, to flank
Grants army that was in our rear
and between us and our homes, we
went through Caswell, Person and
Granville counties, passing within 6
miles OF ROxbOrO, and came to Widow
Street plantation. At this place we
three were captured by q lot of drunk
ell bummers, thieves and negroes.
Our situation was a very unpleasant
one,we being in the hands of q drunk
en- mob,commanded by q Lieutenant
Crow. This man took Col. Wood
and Williams into the home of Mrs.
Street, thinking he would gain much
valuable information. While | was
acting the orderly and holding nv
superlOrs' horses, | was being enter
tanned by this mob who wanted nv
shooter and everything else | had.
But L managed to keep all, thanks
to the courtesy of one of them, a SER
geant OF the squad, who commanded
the rutfians to the rear and gave me
protection. He also gave me one or
two drinks from his canteen, which
contained "apple-jack, a commodity
we mad often inquired after and fail
ed to obtain. When my companions
Telolned me with their verbal parole,
requested my Yankee friend to slim
ulate them also, which he did.
10 end the story abruptly and be-
fore 1T is finished, we continued our
sad Journey home and finally accom-
plished it by many difficulties.
am, Mrs. President,
Very truly yours,
J. r. CLACK,
Company E, 18th Virginia Regi-
ment, Armistead's Brigade, Pickett s
DIVISION, Army OF Northern Virginia.
Regular as the Sum-