The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-04-08
ONE MORE BATTLE
That Was What General Lee
Wanted Before Yielding.
HIS TALK WITH L0NGSTREET
Major Rsnson's Interesting Account Of
the Scene In the Confederate Com
manders cheerless Tent the Night
Before the Surrender.

mander's Cherries Tent the Night
Before the Surrender.
An interesting account Of the dra'
matte scene at General Lees headquar'
tiers the night before the surrender,
when the Confederate commander was
still determined 10 strike one more
blow for the cause for which he was
Fighting, IS given by Major A. II. IL.
Ransom in Harper's Magazine. Major
Ransom writes:
when | arrived at headquarters
General Lee was in tent, sitting with
General Longstreet on some bundles
of rye straw, the ground being wet
from the rain. at the upper side OF the
tent. with one candle for a light
made my report, and the general told
me to wait, as he wished to see me,
He asked me IL had had anything to
eat. and | told him no. He said be
was sorry he had nothing to orer me
He gave me a bundle Of straw and
told me to sit near the door.
ut had been raining all afternoon
and was quite wet | was also very
tired. so | put my foot through the
bride rein Of my mare standing out
side and, lying down on the bundle OF
straw, was soon asleep.
81 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 a wave
of his hand dismissed him. Turning
to General Longstreet, he said: This
Is very bad. That man is whipped. II
IS the FIRST time l have seen one OF
my officers who had been whipped. II
Is very bad
"The conversation between the gen.
erals was then resumed in low tones
and | again fell asleep. l 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 LongstTeet, l will
strike that man blow in the morn
Ing General Lee sometimes spoke
of General Grant as that man and
OF the Federal army as those people
General Longstreet replied In low
tones, giving the strength and condi-
ton of his command and the strength
and position Of the enemy, and con-
cluded by saying, But you have only
to give me the order and the attack
win be made In the morning. Again
the conversation was resumed In low
tones, and fell asleep.
II must have slept for an hour at
least when again was awakened by
the loud, almost fierce, tones Of Cen
eral Lee, saying, 4 tell you. General
Longstreet, will strike that man a
blow in the morning General Long
street again recounted the difficulties
ending as before, General. you know
you have only to give the order and
the attack will be made, but | must
tell you | think It will be q useless
waste Of brave lives
thinking l had been present long
enough at such an interview. | cough
ed and got up from the straw and'
drawing back the flaps Of the tent,
looked out into the darkness. General
Lee said: Captain Ransom, l beg your
pardon. had forgotten you Go now
and get something to eat and some
rest. / will see you in the morning
81 found my poor mare lying fiat on
her side in the rain and fast asleep.
Il was past midnight and very DARK
but reached our camp. though mel
Their | nor my mare got anything to
eat that night.
"The morning came, and ] listened
for the sound OF our attack. but all
was still. There was no attack. our
Aobtino dava were over"