Connecticut western news., 1915-04-08
ROBERTS REMlNlSCENCE
Old Soldiers Recollection Of Lees
 Surrender so Years Ago.

! since the South laid down her arms and Johnny came marching homo again." In recognition of the anniveE- sary, Hon. E. $. Roberts, a member of the "Second Heavies," who served through the war, has written the fol- lowing reminscential article for The News, in his characteristic converFm- tional style, which will be of special interest to his comrades and others:
 Dear Comrades: We are reminded that the closing days of the great Civil War are just one-half of century away. Those stirring days are as fresh in your minds us though but yesterday. You will remember that we came all the way down from Fredricksburg through Chancellorsville. the Wilder ness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, where it was terrible bloody trail all the way that was leading you to environ the city of PeteTsburgh, Va., where it took you about nine months of vigilant, watching, fighting and waiting, which, to give a minute account of, would fill volumes, that are indelibly stamped upon your mind never to be effsced. 1bAl hAbh dppiOuSil AO AhS Outtt NNNuu was questioned. Your alarm was suffl- cient to arouse the gate keeper who answered you from within and inform ed you that you could not enter until you had proved yourselves worthy. And it took you nine long months of the severest struggling which has visi- ply left its marks upon you.
 It was past the middle of June when you knocked at their gate and you were swinging on that gate watching your chance until the 24th of March, 1865, when it became apparent that the Con- federates were as anxious to get out as you were to get in. So on that morn ing before daylight the "long roll'' beat and you were hustled out and up to Fort Stead1nan, two miles to your right, where the "Johnnies" had massed a force and surprised our boys in their slumber and had captured this fort and two batteries and turned their guns onto your own men, which, how ever, were soon recaptured and with them nearly 5000 prisoners. You then returned to your own camp and halted for a few hours, then moved down A mile and charged on the "Rebs" and captured half mile of their work and held them. From this time you had to be very vigilant for you knew that they were looking for a weak point to break through and you know the early morn- ing hour, before day, was the time, and you were routed out and into the pits and lay on your arms till daylight
 This was repeated every morning un- til April 3, when you were routed out just after midnight and moved in close up to the Rebel lines and general ad- vance of the whole army was to start, and at the sound of signal gun tho whole army moved in and Pande- monium was let loose and history was being made fast. r. And, as we only intended to touch on the doings of the surrender of Lee, April 9, 1865, we will pass over much of the intervening events. You soon had the pleasure of breaking through the gates" and entering into the Sanctum sanctorum, where for the want of pass" you had been de- barred for nine long weary months from its entrance. And for want of time and space we will pass over the intervening days and nights, (for nights and days were about the same,) up to the morning of the 9th of April.
 Having marched on half ration since April i, and fought one battle, captur- ing several generals and l3,000 prison CTS lon April 7,) with every indication of the collapse of Rebellion, the 9th of April dawned on you with tired and wearied bodies and limbs. All sorts of rumors were afioat Parks of aban- doned artillery and army wagons all along the way. Still you keep going, so tired that you hardly knew what you were doing; occasionally halting; still rumors that negotiations for 'Lee's surrender" were in the air. But the continual marching for three days was telling on you and when you halted, about 8 p. m., you dropped instantly and were soon asleep, perfectly ex- hausted, indifferent as to what was go- | ing on.
 About 5 D. m. you were aroused by cheering coming towards you, "What means that ?" Soon our generals rode hOWu bliIhuBh oui hhSS JoAtAHst
 unconditional surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia p'
 Pandemonium !? Yes, this is putting it mildly. No tired men; no sick men; your vision was clear. You began to see what you had been fighting for, for three long years. Thoughts of home and rest came sweetly to you. But not without pang for the poor fellows that had fought all through to this day and died without the knowledge of the surrender.
 These are the fortunes of War, that we all pray that we may be sparea from ever again.
 In my haste much has been unsaid, and will close this here.
 Yours sincerely,