The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-01-23

is fulfilled and it has come I can't believe
1t. AS think Of it feel the stir of para
dlse In my Senses and my spirit goes up
In thankfulness to God for this, his high
est and best, the one perfect flower in the
garden Of ife-iove
Binding tears rolled down my cheeks.
my sweetheart as I read the glad tid-
lngs, and feeling so new. so strange.
came over me that asked of IT, angels
what 1t could be and whence came the
strains of celestial music which filled my
soul. and what were the great grand.
stirring hosannas and the soft tender
sweet adagios that circle around and
around. warmed my every vein beat my
every pulse. And o little mother of my
boy. the echoing answer came, "A little
baby has been born to you, and he and
the new made mother live"
Following the failure of the peace
conference which preceded General
Lees surrender General Pickett wrote:
On every side gloom, dissatisfaction and
disappointment seem to have settled over
all, men and officers alike, because of the
unsuccessful termination of the peace con-
ference on board the River Queen on the
fatal 3d. The anxious, despairing faces 7
see everywhere bespeak heavy hearts
Our commissioners knew that we We're
Sasp1nS our last gasp and that the peace
conference was a forlorn hope. Because
or the 1nformality Of the conference and
my knowledge of Mr.. Lincoln, his human
1ty his broad nature, his warm heart, I
did believe he would take advantage of
this very informality and spring some
Wlse superhuman surprise which would
somehow restore peace and in time insure
unity. Now, heaven help US, it will be
war to the knife with knife no longer
Keen. the thrust Of an arm no longer
strong, the certainty that when peace
comes it will follow the tread of the con-
querOr. e.
Again in the same strain he writes:
All, Chulita mia, the triumphs Of might
are transient but the sufferings and cru
cifixions for the right can never be for
gotten. The sorrow and song Of my glo-
ry crowned divisions nears its doxology
May God pity those who wait at home for
the soldier who has reported to the Great
Commander. God pity them as the days
go by and the sad nights follow. The SOL
der is done with tears and time, and to
MIN thousand years are as one.
The End In Sight.
The final letter of the series was
written a few hours before the surren-
der of General Lee at Appomattox It
follows in part:
Tomorrow, my darling. may see our flag
furled forever. Jackerie, our faithful old
mail carrier. sobs behind me as write
He bears tonight this-his last-message
from me as Our Cupid" First he is
commissioned with three orders, which I
know you will obey as fearlessly as the
bravest Of your brother soldiers Keep up
stout heart Believe that shall come
back TO you and know that God reigns
will he yh010
mand-staff field officers men-all The
second commission is only given as pre-
caution lest should not return or lest for
some time should not be with you. Lees
surrender Is imminent. 1t is finished.
Through the suggestion Of their command
ing officers as many Of the men as desire
are permitted to cut through and Join
JohnstOn's army.
It is finished! All. my beloved division!
Thousands of men have gone to their
eternal home, having given up their lives
for the cause which they knew to be just.
The Others alas, heartbroken, crushed in
spirit. are left to mourn its loss! Well, 1t
is practically all over now. We have pour
ed our our blood and suffered untold hard
ships and privations, all in vain. And
now-well. I must not forget either that
God reigns. Life is given us for the per
torrance of duty. and duty performed is
happiness. u%rE
1t is finished-the suffering. the horrors,
the anguish of these last hours Of strug-
gle, Of these men, baptized in battle at
Bull Run, in the lines at Yorktown, at
Williamsburg. where they, with the Ala
bama brigade Of Wilcox, withstood the
advance of the whole Of McClelan's army.
driving them back at Seven Pines, at
Gaines Mill. Frazier's Farm, Second Ma
nassas. Boonsboro, Sharpsburg, Gettys-
burg. and the engagements in front of
Bermuda Hundred, Fort Garrison. Five
Forks and Sailors Creek
The glorious gift of your love will help
me to bear the memory of these days. In
this midnight hour l feel the caressing
blessing of your pure spirit as it ningles
with mine. Peace is born.
The Battle of Seven Pines.