The enterprise-recorder., 1912-06-07
CHAPTER xxxvll.


no" ""u Nolno, 10 tn0Be who
nan cast their fortunes with the
south II seemed almost AS the End Of
inc world, ! had thought 10 write Of
nose last md days, 10 picture them
N All their contrasting light and
shadow, but now cannot There
are thoughiH 100 lccp for human uf
terance memories 100 sacred FOR iha
zen. ! rciUIcc mat was A part "
VI, hat 10 The lowering Of the last
finer9d haillriiag ! remained con
S'ant 10 he hest radiilns of my
house. cannot sit hero now. bn7plth
'uA protecting shadow NJ = alg for
which my son fought ana diad. lni
wrirn Dhni ! rosrpl .ra sndns for
Yoars Df peace nave ,lusht ~ Of me
South lessons no loSs valuable tnru
nId Tho var rpl 40 rejoice lllY
ma, having once doun.d he grav
wore u DlriI ,hr last sh1ttai gau
"'.aed FRS grim nrssago 70 he "l-.l
n ls hardly moro ihln q dream now
sometimes vague and shadnwy iglu
distinct win living figures and biz.
iOrlo scenes. require hut N close
nay eyes lc behold once more those
slender lines OF ragged, weary, hua.
cry men, to whom Bghting had bs.
come syuDnymms with life { p4ss
lgOln through he fiery rain OF those
Last fierce battles. when IN despsrl
hOn We sought TO check the un
numbered bmc lcgions hat fairly
crushed Ms beneath their weight
saw IT, all, held a part IN IT all
Upon Ina, April day which Witnessed
The burning Of he last sad page in
this tragedy, stood without the Nc
Lean house, ankle deep n the tram.
pied mud Of ihc yard surrounded by
group Of Federal officers Within
was my commander. the old gray
Zero OF Virginia, together with the
great silent soldier Of the North
Few about ne spoke as We waited
in reBtcss agony, No one addressed
me, and think there must have been
n look IN my face which held them
dumb -~--"-''. ---Ae-snft ~
know not how long waited
standing beside my horse, with head
half bowed upon his neck, seeing the
figures about me ~ IN u dream A.
last the door was Hnng open, and
those within came forth He was in
advance Ol them all IN that pale,
stern, kindly race, aud within the
depths OF hose sorrowlul gray eyes.
[ read instantly he iruth-lhe Army
OF Northern Virginia was 40 more
Yet with what calm dignity Ili thIS
defeated cbicitain pass down that
blue lane, his head erect. bis eyes
undmmed -as iaunicss IN lhRt awful
hour Of surrender ~ when he rode
before bis cheering lpgiODs Of ighln5
men Only AZ he came 10 where [
stood and caught the look Of suffer.
ing upon my face, aid he once talter
and thcn ! noted no more than the
slight twitching Of his lips beneath
the short gray beard
Captain Wayne" no said with all
bis oldtimc courtesy 81 shall have
10 trouble you 10 ride TO General
Hills division and request him to
cease firing al once
turned reluctantly away from him,
knowing fun wcll in my heart was
bearing my last order and rode al a
hard trot down tho road between long
llnes Of waiting Federal infantry |
scarcely 80 much az gaw them, for my
head wag bcnt low over the saddle
pommcl, and my cyes were blurred
with teara
>
Tho sun lay hot and golden over
tho dusty roads and renceless fields'
The air was vocal with Dlare OF trum'
pets and roll Of drums, while every
where the eye rested upon blue lines
and long columns Of marching troops.
[ formed one Of a little gray squad
moving slowly aouthWard "A mere
fragment Of thc igbting men Of the
Conredcracy, making their way home
ward as best they might AS tha
roads forkcd ! lett hem, Tor hero our
paths dpcrgcd. and it rhanced WAS
me only one whose hope lay wess
ward
silently jhnughuulN / rndgad on
for an hour through the thl'k red
dust MY horse. sorely wounded In
our las, sldrmish, lmpcd painfully ha-
hind me his bridle.rcIn HIns care.
lessly over my arm. Ont yondef
whore ,ho sun pointed the way Win
streams OF Gre, was to take up "''
anew Lilcl VIVA. was here leIt 10
--. m, u--L .-.rn- A l-e.rLnl. ue-nl---