Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-09-03

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trude, with the astounding imperturba-
bility of one who had arranged and
settled everything.
Married. gasped Bob. instinctively
clutching the air, as IL for support
"N0w-at such time? Don't you
know that am under marching or
ders and that President Davis and
the cabinet are to leave for Danville
by the evening train and that the Fed
eral army will be occupying Richmond
by this time tomorrow # @.ss !.
Eyes, Robert. We were In church
this morning when the news came.
Kerchival and have figured it all out,
and the doctor agrees with us that as
Richmond has fallen and Kerchival
has been released from Libby on pa
role and uncle Is here from Charleston
the only way for us two to guard
against separation again is to get mar
ried now so that can be with-with
my husband, whatever happens. So
we have sent for the Rev. DR.. Min
nigerode, and, now that you are here,
the ceremony can be performed and
you be off to join General Lee in half
an hours time, for suppose he will
need you now more than ever 49,,
So they were married, Kerchival and
Gertrude, and Colonel Ellingham left
them Immediately after the ceremony
radiantly happy together in the midst
of the climatic conyerging of all the
storms of war. -..... ... ..~$-...,:
President Davis and his cabinet had
left Richmond by special train for
Danville. Colonel Robert Dillingham;
had hurried away on horseback In the
opposite direction Immediately after
the marriage ceremony to join the
army Of General Lee, now marching
out of Petersburg up the north side Of
the Appomattox river toward Amelia
Court House. .--..%. ~
The only people who remained in
Richmond were those who were poor
and could not 60 away, or those who,
like the Ellinghams. had home inter-
ests to hold them there and no other
place to 60 to should they leave the
city, and those others who, like Colo
mel Kerchival West, were Union SOL
diers in Confederate prisons or on pa
role. ..----..!
At the same time General Grant was
riding into Petersburg through desert
ed streets between rows of closed, ST.
lent streets. The next day he; started
with his army after the departing Con-
federates, his columns moving south
of the Appomattox parallel to Lees
route north Of that stream. He had
foreseen that Lee In his retreat would
endeavor to reach Amelia Court House,
from Petersburg and Richmond could
unite and where he might expect to
receive supplies. .
Two days later, the retreat continu-
ing, Sheridan descended with a large
force upon the Confederate rear guard
at Sailors creek, small tributary
flowing north into the Appomattox,
and overwhelmed the commands of
Generals Ewell and Anderson, captur-
ing these and several other high off,
GERS, including General Lees eldest
son, General G. w. Gusts Lee.
On April the Confederates stopped
at Farmville to feast, having come up
with the first provisions that had
reached them since leaving Petersburg.
and to fight again. This time they
succeeded in beating off Sheridan's
cavalry and pushed on another stage
toward Lynchburg.
But the once great army of Northern
Virginia was now reduced to two small
corps Of infantry, and the cavalry
corps under Generals Fitz Lee. Gordon
and Rosser, for the one time CON-
mander Of the Laurel brigade of the
Shenandoah valley had rallied new
mounted force and was now doing yeo-
mans service in an all but hopeless
campaign where laurels were scarce,
out where loyalty and courage did not
60 unhonored. ..
Colonel Robert Ellingham was with
Gordon, whose cavalry corps. after
fighting all the way from Petersburg
as rear guard for the wagon trains,
was now transferred to the front.
my corr; is worn to fraZzle." said
the gallant Gordon at the campfire
council on the night of the 9Th, "but If
the force beyond Appomattox Court
House is. Sheridan's cavalry alone we
can hold it until Longstreet comes up
and then cut through" .-.,...-
The attack was made at daybreak.
There was moment when 1t took on
the Fictitious look Of victory as the
Confederate lines charged, cheering
wildly, and redoubled their fire as the
Union cavalry slowly fell back. They
did not know that Sheridan already
had the game in his hands and was
now only skirmishing for wind-up
without mourning any more loss than
should be absolutely needful. No SOON
er had the cavalry disappeared from
their front than Lees troops saw the
solid infantry lines of the Army Of the
James massed before them, ready for
an attack. Longstreet, covering the
Confederate rear, was at the same
time threatened by Meade with SUI
perior force and could not. come to
Gordon's aid. The firing suddenly
ceased. The Confederate line halted,
hesitated, then sullenly faced about
and fell back upon the confused, for
lorn mass Of ragged grays that were
huddled around Appomattox Court
House. s.
'The war in Virginia is over" said
Sheridan to General Haverill, passing