Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-05-16


fused to observe the telegram unless
ordered by Wilson himself to halt, ow'
ing probably to the prize offered to the
commander who reached Macon first
One of the bearers of the telegram II
Wilson from Gen. Cobb was Col. J. l..
Morgan. who was accompanied by sew
eraI others. They met the Federal adj
vance fourteen miles from Macon, and
we're sent to Gen. Wilson, but he said
he would go on into Macon.
The first Federals to reach Macon
was troops under Col. White, com
handing the Illinois cavalry. When
Gen. Cobb received the dispatches
ABOUT the armistice he disbanded his
forces and instructed his men not to
fire a gun, and informed Gen. Wilson
he was ready to receive him and his
staff. Gen Cobb, after sending out
the notices on all the roads, remained
in full uniform at his Office with his
staff, and surrendered to Col White,
protesting, however. that under the
rules of the armistic Gen. Wilson had
70 right to take military charge of
the city, being a violation of the order
of Gen. Sherman. Gen. Wilson came
into the city about o'clock p. m. and
fixed the terms of surrender. Gen.
Wilson took possession of the Lanier
House as his headquarters.
Gen. Cobb, finding Wilson was send
ing out foraging parties on the second
day after his arrival to feed his COM
mand, went to Gen. Wilson and in
formed him of an abundance of Con-
federate supplies along the line of the
Southwestern railroad and told Wilson
that an order from him Cobb would
be recognized and he could get these
supplies and not forage on the sur
rounding community, offered to send
an officer along with Federal officer,
and turn over all the supplies without
further trouble. Gen. Wilson readily
accepted this proposition, and DR.. E. ],
Eldridge, of Gen. Cobb's staff, with
one of Wilson's officers, went together
and the supplies were turned over to
Gen. Wilson, and thus were the farm
ers relieved of raids upon their crops
and barns and other property
1t was a queer condition of things,
for ten days after Cen Cobb was par
oiled. He was prisoner of Wilson, a
guard around his home, yet he main
tanned his headquarters and issued
orders for the carrying out of the
agreement between Wilson and him
self. He was useful to Wilson and to
the people.
These facts show how Gen. Cobb pro-
tected Macon, and was respected by
Wilson, and how Gen. Cobb's good
common sense availed to save his PEG
pies from plumber and pillage, for
Wilson was pillager. He was a
faithful disciple of Sherman. Alabama
remembers him as plunderer and q
pillager. His conduct at Selma, Ala.
was not that of Gen. Lee in Pennsyl
vania nor that of Gen. John B. Gordon
I i'll Maryland.
Gen. Wilson boosted of his capture
of Macon in his correspondence with
Gen. Sherman. Many of Wilson's sol
diers committed depredations in Ma.
con, insulting ladies and pillaging theil
homes. Gen. Cobb acted with foresight
and prudence when he had the liquors
destroyed before Wilson got possess
ion. It was quick work, but a neces-
sary one for safety, for the whistles
settled in little pools here and Their,
and the invading soldiers could bt
seen for days gathering it up in til
cups. Gen Hampton should have de
stroyed the liquor at Columbia, S. C.
Macon had narrow escape, and tn,
management on our part of Gen. Cobb
50 prudent and sagacious, is recalled
by those of us who remember so vel
this great Georgian Many have con