The National tribune., 1909-10-07

led, three horses killed, two wounded.
Gov. Curtin made Capt. Boyd Colonel
| of the 21st Pa. Cav, a new regiment.
and it was well merited. The Colonel
made my Lieutenant Captain, but the
1S-year-old boy Sergeant had to wait.
l saw no more campaigning till we
joined the Fifth Corps at Cold Harbor,
In May, 1864. Then the nine-months
siege of Petersburg followed, with
building forts, breastworks, roads, pick
citing, skirmishing, fighting, sweltering
in the trenches under Midsummer sun,
i with water very scarce in our dug wells.
Ne kept our heads below the breast
yorks, as sharpshooters were always
| ready to pull the trigger. Many of our
good boys fell by their bullets.
On Aug. 1921 We fought two hard
| battles to take and keep the Weldon
Railroad. Then more left flank tricks,
Hatcher's Run, PEBBLES Farm, long
march southwark, destroying Weldon
Railroad: then Da bneys Mills.
We built Winter huts three times, but
the end was in sight. March 20 broke
camp and took, the ,traH for the last
time.
For two days we had drizzling rain.
| Met at White Oaks Road on the 31st
| for sharp action. Pushed them back.
Next day. April 1, at Five Forks, we
struck Pickett's famous division, and
|
| day. We filed haversacks, and started
| hot foot on last chase. We kept it up
till the Sunday following. and had fine
weather all week. Made good time.
Marched nearly all night last day
At Appomattox.
| About sunrise on April 9 We formed
a double line of battle with bayonets
! fixed. Advanced some two miles over
gently unduiating land, with timber and
titled fields alternating. when we halted
and stacked guns.
Gen. Ayers rode to our front lifted
his hat and spoke. Gen. Lee had sent
a flag of truce, asking for terms of sur
render. And then, with mighty shout.
1--we flung our caps above our heads and
breathed the afr of freemen in a re-
lstored Union, where traitors will never
again dare to hoist the flag of Seces-
sion. What a dayi Comrades, you
were there. Wasn't it glorious? The
four long years of dreadful war-civil
war, the most hateful of all wars-were
over.
There, on April 9. 1866, on the sacred
soil of Ole Virginny, with the mighty
| orb of day shining brightly down, Ma
ture's emerald carpet beneath our tired
feet peach trees in full bloom. apple
blossoms just bursting. the forests half
green in their lovely Spring dress. all
fresh and new from Fathers hand, the
war ended. Wasn't it the most soul
thrilling moment of our lives?
Far off to our right was in the
Second Brigade. Second Division, Fifth
ICorps-we could see the white flag
After a short rest we advanced in the
same line a mile or SO, and halted
about mile from Appomattox. where
my company found itself in a barnyard
We stacked arms for the very last time
In that war. We had no desire to dis
possess Bossy and Selim, so we leaped
the fence, and, 10! our feet landed on q
beautiful green sward, with the farm
1 mouse few rods distant on slightly
i elevated ground. Can't lust telI~why
! the line fell to US in such a pleasant
spot, but We accepted 1t as a dispense
| ton of Providence, and have ALWAYS
| felt thankful for It. How care free
light hearted and happy we boys were
1 No more picket posts, no more mid
might mud marches, no more biting ant
and roar of battle. Peace, the white
winged angel from the GloryIand, wal
there.
L strolled around the lawn and no
ticed a bunch of boys at the north side
OF the farmhouse. No one spoke. AL
were intently looking at a wounded
rebel sitting on a clean white bed, will
".
a cracker in his hand and a pile at hi,
side, but he wasn't eating He was 6
very badly war-worn veteran, indeed
His suit was frayed and dirty and hi.
left trousers leg rolled above his knee
showing clean white bandage arount
his leg.
said: Friend, what are you crying
for?"
"I didn't expect this" he replied
4 our officers told us II you Yank
caught US you would put out our eye.
and cut off our ears. Now, I see the,
He'd to us. I belong to the Louisiana
Tigers. / am the last of four brothers
The others have been killed In the war
This is the third time I have beer
wounded. love the old Flag. I an
glad the Union is saved. My father
owned 100 slaves, but / worked, anG
can go home and work again."
Comrades, this is in brief the story OF