The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-17
Retreat of Lee to Appomattox.

On March 20 1865, the RinggoId Bat
terry. under the command OF Captain
the breastworks OF Petersburg, Va. to
Fort Gilmcr on the lines near Rich
mond, where II manned battery
until The night OF April 90. when we
received orders 10 destroy our gun
carriages, spike our guns and max q
ready TO cvacuate our lines. This we
did, cutting the .spekes from the can
non wheels and driving rattail files
down the vent holes OF the guns y
few hours before sunrise we took up
our line of march to Richmond, reach
Ing that city Just before daylight.
where most of our company was arm
ed with muskets. The city having been
set on fire by SOME one, was in q great
bluze OF fire in many directions. We
Amelia Courthouse, where we would
unite with the man body of Lees
army; AZ We weer marching towards
River h lensmbepeG ir1 9Ss the had anss
~ pair of shoes TO shoemaker the
day before 10 be stretched. and 1 de-
tcrmined mo-. 10 leave until 1 got my
boots, my father having paid $500 for
them few days before. IL being very
early the storekeeper had never open
cd the store. so / kicked the panel
out of the door and got my boots
When / rode over the canal bridge
leading to Mayo's Bridge, the top OF
it was Oh fire and burning rapidly /
soon caught up with my company on
>
In Manchester. There stopped and
saw the big Gallego -four mills and
Mayo's, and other big warehouses and
mills all oil fire: it seemed. indeed, as
though the whole beautiful city, tho
capital of the Confederacy was doomed
to destruction. 1t almost made my
heart sink within me, but ] rode on,
determined to follow our great com
mander, General Lee, and fight for our
rights 10 the last. Our company
marching on foot had not time to stop,
INtI Mo- ,t,n Il TN,
ing on horseback. soon caught up with
them Our mon not being used 10
march on foot 1t went very hard with
them. especially as we had had moth.
about the size of dinner plates and
called hardtack. II worried me to
know how we were to be kept alive
with nothing but bareback 10 cat ana
this was al. we had to eat FOR six
DAYS, from Monday. April 3, untii sun
day. Aprii p; All that had TO keep
that carried In front Of me from
Hichmond TO AppomattoX.
On passing Tho farm of my uncle.
DR. Dr. Thomas Robinson, of Cumberland
and he went in and niicd my cantccn
with sorghum molasscs. This was II
welcomed accompaniment TO the hard
tack. There was only time for him
TO tell me that his sons, William /
and James !. Robinson, hnd been cap
tured n the Cumberland County cav
airy and were prisoners at Point
Lookout, Md
Our progress was slow, as VIC hal
often to stop. both night ana day 10
prize our wagons out OF tho mud Tho
NngsolG Battery on arriving ut tho
Appoma ttox Courthouse 1.-THE main
rod leading to LynchburE. and the
Gther road to Appomattox station.
sontns DC Railroad), went into camp
y. Walker. camped near by. This was
saturday evening, April S. 1865. As
soon MS we began TO unpack our things
spend the night tho advance or Tho
enemy: under General Custer. rode
risht INTO orr camp. shooting as they
came, and took possession OF our
W9sons containing our baggage Cap
tain Dickinson formed his men into