Evening journal., 1910-06-28


About the year 1896 1 met the late John
r. Gordon. governor of and United
States Senator for Georgia. and one Of
the great commanders Of the Confederate
army. 10 whom General Lee intrusted the
duty of carrying the hag of truce to the
Federal army at Appomattox
81 have Looked forward to the oeca-
sion which brings me to your city with
especial interest. said the General Il
have been invited 70 deliver a lecture in
one Of your great halls and that Of it
self is certain 10 be a gratifying expert
ence But I am to- have another expert
ence which is sure 70 give me as keen
pleasure as anything II has been my
lot TO enjoy for many Years.
After the battle Of Five Forks. on
April ], 1865, eleven miles southwest OF
Petersburg when Sheridan defeated Cen
eral Pickett. It became apparent to Cen
era Lee and his commanders that il
would be necessary to evacuate Rich
mond and General Lee was also Of the
opinion that our army should evacuate
Petersburg and make an attempt to reach
Lynohburg So he summoned me to his
headquarters.
General Gordon. he said I would
suggest that you proceed with .-our forces
as rapidly as possible westerly, making
every effort 10 reach Lynchburg II we
can get to Lynchburg irst we shall be
able 10 escape Grant and make a junction
with Johnston in North Carolina. or he
with us
General Lee, asked. is this
command or are we In councilY
"The reply was that he was rather ad-
vising or counseling such action than
actually commanding IT, Lee adding that
he felt that if Grant would let him out OF
/ Petersburg and give him the opportunity.
there was an even chance that we would
reach Lynchburg ahead Of the enemy.
I must have looked somewhat inquirinsly
at Lee at this point, for he hastened to
add Il feel certain. though. that Grant
viii try to get ahead Of us and cut
off Lynchburg. Therefore # we start
Immediately we may beat him.
Il saw the point AZ once and as soon
as possible thereafter we were on the
way TO Lynchburg marching along the
north side of the railroad which runs
from Lynchburg 70 Norfolk As we plod-
ded on the fear that had been with me
from the start that we should find our
selves cut off al some point on the line OF
march grew exceedingly grave. And sure
enough on the morning that we arrived
at the heights east Of Appomattox Court
House, there we saw Sheridan in 'front.'
OF us, preparing to attack, and every one
of us knew instantly and inruitvely that
Grants army was behind that line and
that here was the end Of IL all Later that
1nV j 81
General Lee. waving a flag of truce. and
the last shot Of the war in Virginia
had been fred
"A day later our poor, wearied. hun
gry, forlorn and pitiable troops. with
their clothing hanging in rags and moth
( ing in their stomachs for three days ex
cept parched corn. we're drawn up II
front OF a federal brigade TO stack arms
just as we had formed our iine-and an
with what heavy hearts we formed i.,-
heard the voice Of the Union commands
ordering IN a tone that could he heard a
either end Of our line. Present arms,
And then and there. the next moment IN
conQuerors were saluting the ragged
y remnant Of the Army OF virginia
Tonight ] am 10 meet for the frs
time I'm my life the man who gave tha
N'AiANiAilA+ @llaAl meet MN upon IN
platform from which I am to deliver m,
address. and he will know from the
tenderness and cordiality of my greet
ing what are my sentiments toward
him That man is General Joshua 7
Chamberlain. as brave and noble a com
mander as the Union army ever had
And from the day that he gave that or
der Of his 10 Present Armsr 20 us van
7
that II was the most chivalrous militar
command ever given in peace or in war
Copyright, 1910. by =. . J. Edwards Al
Rights Reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell o
"A Hero Of the Federal Treasury"