The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-04-05
one more BATTLE
That Was What General Lee
Wanted Before Yielding.
HIS TALK WITH LoNeSTREET.
Major Ranson's Interesting Account OF
the Scene In the Confederate Corn
nanGer's ChecrIcss Tent the Night
Before the Surrender.

nanGers Chscrless TENT the Night
Before the Surrender.
An interesting account Of the dra-
matte scene at General Lees headQuaT-
Sers the night before the surrender,
when tie Confederate commander was
stilI determined to strike one more
blow for the cause for which he was
fighting, is given by Major a. f. e
Ransom in Earper's Magazine Major
Ransom writes:
when I arrived at Headquarters
General Lee was in tent, sitting with
General Longsteet 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 L
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 he
was sorry he had nothing to offer me.
He gave me a bundle Of straw and
told me to sit near the door.
tIt had been raining all afternoon
and was quite wet 7 was also very
tired, so I put my foot through the
bride rein Of my mare standing out
side and, lying down on the bundle o.
straw, was soon asleep.
'I was awakened by voices and
looking up, saw the colonel I hae 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
al deserted in the darkness, leaving
their arms in the trenches.
General Lee heard him to the e1d
Of his account, and then with a wave
Of his hand dismissed aim. Turning
to General Longsreet, ne said: :. This
IS very bad That man is whipped It
is the first tine have seen one OF
my officers who had been whipped. It
Is very bad
seThe conversation between the gen
erals 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 Longsteet, I viii
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 Longsteet replied in low
tones, giving the strength and condl-
ton Of his command and the strength
snd position Of the enemy, and con-
cluded by saying, But you have only
to give me the order and the attack
VIII be made in the morning: Again
the conversation was resumed IN low
tones, and fell asleep.
'T must have slept for an hour at
least when again was awakened By
the loud, almost fierce, tones ct Cen
eral Lee, saying, z tell you, General
Iorgstreet, 7 VIII strike that man
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 VIII be made, but ] must
ten you think it viii be g useless
waste Of brave hTes.'
thinking 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, I beg your
pardon. had forgotten you. Go now
and get something to eat and some
-est. VIII see you In the morning.
Il found my poor mare lying fat on
her side IN the rain and fast asleep.
It was past midnight and very dark,
but I reached our camp, though mel
ther nor my nare got anything to
eat that night
'eThe morning came, and I listened
for the sound Of our attack, but ali
was stu. There was no attack. Our
Sghting days were over"