Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1911-06-02
ONE MORE BATTLE

headquarters the night before the
surrender. when the Confederate
commander was still determined to
strike one more blow for the
cause for which he was fighting,
is given ~ Major A. r. H. Ransom
in Harper's Magazine. Major
Ransom writes:
when arrived at head
quarter: General Lee was in a tent,
81 tting with General Longstreot on
some bundles of rye straw. the
ground being wet from the rain,
at the upper side Of the tent,
with one candle for light ! made
my report. and the general told me
to wait. as he wished to see NE.
He asked me if had had anything
to eat, and told him no. He said
he was sorry he had nothing to
offer me. He gave me a bundle
nj straw and told me to sit near
the door.
1T had been raining all after
nnon and ] was quite wet. | was
also very tired, so | put my foot
rough the bride rein of my
mare standing outside and. lying
down on the bundle Of straw, was
soon asleep.
was awakened by voices and.
looking up, saw the colonel had
left in charge of the troops at the
bridge standing in the tent. He
reported that the rations had not
arrived, and the starving and
discouraged troops had all deserted
in the darkness, leaving their arms
in the trenches.
General Lee heard him to the
end of his account, and then with
wave of his hand dismissed him.
Turning to General Longstrcet, he
said: This is very bad. That
man is whipped. It is the first
time | have seen one of my officers
who had been whipped. 1t is very
bad.
The conversation between the
generals was then resumed in low
tones, and ! again fell asleep. |
must have slept for some length of
time when was awakened by
General Lees voice, speaking in
loud tones, louder than | had ever
heard from him. He was saying,
General LongstrCet, will strike
that man a blow in rhc morning
General Lee sometime spoke Of
General Grant as that man and
of the Federal army as those
people.
General LOnEstrcet replied in
low tones. giving the strength and
condition of his Command and the
strength and position of the enemy,
and concIucd 10y saying, But you
have only To- give me the order and
the attack will be made in the
morning"
Again the conversation was
resumed in low tones. and fell
asleep.
81 must have slept for an hour
at least wheL again | was awaken.
cd by the load, almost fierce tones
of General Lee saying: 4 tell you
General LonRstrect will strik that
man a blow in the moring General
LongstreCt again rccOuntcd the
difficulties ending as before
General you know you have only
to give the order and the attack
will he made but must tell you
think il will be useless waste Of
brave lives.
Thinking I had been present
long enouph at such an interview
| coughed and got up from the
straw and drawing back the flaps
Of the tent looked uut into the
darkness. General Lee said:
Captain Ransom ! beg your
pardon. | had forgotten you. Go
now and set something to eat and
some rest. will see you in the
morning.
81 found my poor mare lyin g
flat on her side in the rain and
fast asleep. II was past midnight
and very dark but reached our
camp though neither ! nor my
mare got anything to cat that
night.
"Thc morning came and
listened for the sound of our attack
but all was still. There was no
attack. Oar Sighting days were
oypr" +"