The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-07-23

roar Of cannon or the rattle OF fierce
musketry. We are returning to our
homes. to paths Of peace and domestic
pursuits. Once more to worship our
household gods, around the hearth
stone and freside. "
To most people Of this generation,
these tidings should have sounded
welcome and joyous to soldiers, who
for four years, had fought the most
stupendous and sanguinary wars of
modern times. But it was far from be-
ing welcomed with gladness by the
overwhelmed and defeated soldiers
Of the South. Never once had the SOL
diers Of the Lost Cause, dreamed Of
the possibility Of ultimate defeat.
That the struggle would be continued
TO the bitter end, even if every man
went down upon the bloody field, was
the expectation and determination OF
every soldier in the ranks. None
wanted peace on any other terms or
conditions than unqualified independ-
ence and our rights unquestioned.
It was not by the soldiers being dis
heartened, that brought about the sur
render of Lees and Johnston's ar
mics. But by those in authority, who
saw the hopelessness of our cause,
and whose hearts went out to the SOL
diers in the field, who were fighting
blindly. in the unequal contest. Even
after Sherman had gone through
Georgia, with fire and sword; the
Western army, under Hood, dlsas-
trouslv defeated at Franklin and
Nashville, Lees forces reduced to
shadows: Johnston and Hardee, with
a semblance of an army. composed OF
a few veterans, state militia, old men
and boys, giving continually away be-
fore the invader, still there were
bouyancy and hope, in the breast OF
the common soldier, hope that some
thing vet would turn up in our favor.
The Trans-Mississippi was an inviting
field. General Kirby Smith still held
the stars and bars aloft, and giving
successful battle to the enemy. Our
whole army only awaited the sum-
mons to join forces with him and fight
to the bitter end. Men with hollow
cheeks from years of fighting and
fasting, with great furrows in their
countenances, as only the suffering
and bitter things in life can deepen,
vet these brave men were braclng
themselves for still greater endur-
ances. In his rags and tatters and
broken ranks the Confederate soldier
still felt himself the conqueror.
But death knell came to our hopes
and the hopes Of all, when the report
came to Johnston's army, that Lee
had surrendered, and the capital IN
the hands of the enemy. The troops
were in a state of mind, almost IN
toler i,le. All kinds Of conflicting
rumors were afoat, and no one knew
what the next day would bring about.
We all understood that negotiations
were going on for our surrender, bit
ter as that pill was, still there was a
hitch somewhere. It was a CALLING
feeling to have to lay down our arms
to a foe, We had always beaten in a
fair field. No more the roll of the
drum, the blast Of the bugle, the rebel
battle yell, Or the tramp Of our dash
ing horsemen. No more were our tat
tered banners, which had given us
light and courage, on more than a
hundred fields, to wave in triumph.
They were to be furled in defeat, and
our trusty rifles grounded. to an over
powering foe.
I am free to confess that l did not
have the moral courage to endure the
humiliation. I determined to make
my way, with what men who wished
to follow, to Gen. Kirby Smith in the
Trans-Mississippi.
A few nights after it was authorl-
tatively asserted that the surrender
would take place, I called my COM
pany, then about forty-fve strong, to-
eether and announced my determlna-
ton to leave the army that night and
make my way to Gen. Kirby Smith.
All those who wished to accompany
me could do so, and those who wished
to remain and surrender, were at lib
erty to choose for themselves. l eS-