Connecticut western news., 1918-04-18
VOL. XLVII
"REMINISCENCES OF LEES
SURRENDER AT RICHMOND
Hon. E. S. Roberts Writes Interesting
ly Of Fifty Three Years Ago
on April 9th.

Dear News
AS the 9th of April approaches us
every living member of the old I'd
Heavies has memories that carry him
back to the stirring times of 53 years
ago today. On the evening Of the 9TH
we passed through the village q
Farmvi.le, Va. a beautiful moonlight
night. The young rebel girls were
saucy and pert, doubtless the first
"Yanks" that they had seen. A very
pretty villa of about 1900. Situated ON
the Southside r. r.. in Va. with bridges
on either side as the Appomaton River
nearly circled it and the Rebels had
burnt the bridges to keep us out and
now it kept them in.
We camped on the hill outside. for
the night. There was large Confeder.
ate Hospital located here and The
Rebels had evidently left here in a
hurry as large mass of artillery and
army wagons, half destroyed were
parked here. The Jonnies had used
their axes on the wheels, set fire to the
Caissons etc. But we put out the fire
and saved what we could. We were
tired enough to sleep and sleep we did
on the run, and the people here were
mainly women and children, and their
villa knew but little of war, until
now.
Early on the morning of the 9Th we
were routed out and moved about one
mile and drew three DAYS ration of
hard tack and coffee. There were
rumors of peace, of flags of truce,
every indication that the end was near.
Lee was anxious to quit. After draw.
ing rations we broke camp about noon
and marched about fifteen miles halt.
ing near New Stone', about 1Otp, N.
We passed what appeared to be a
freshly made cemetery but as we knew
there had been no battle near, our sus
picions were aroused and upon digging
we found they had buried many can
non to prevent their falling into our
hands. ia .e...... j..
We started out about O'Clock this
a. m. April 9th So years ago. Rumors
began to come to as OF every descrip-
ton we knew something was going to
happen. We marched about two miles
halted. cooked coffee, rested an hour,
then off again, Oh SO tired, 80 worn
and foot sore. In this manner we
trudged along listlesslx. The day was
smoky clocdy. Cannenading to the
front and to the left of us, we were in
dense forest, them halt sin place
rest'' we dropped to the ground with
little or no life, we thought In few
minutes we were up and on again. The
route was rewn with wagons. bat
tories, caissons, ambulances, shells,
cannon balls, muskets, etc. This did
not excite ne because we were SO tired
AMI worn since March 9th. it had
been one continual march and fighting
Things were getting serious for Re-
ibellion On the South ard West of
Lees" army were our cavalry. The
9th corp. and Ord's. command heading
Lee off. Our Corps. the 9Th close on
his heels on the East which .hedeed
Lees Army after much correspondence
between Grant and Lee the cnlminat-
ing point had come.
While negotiations were going on
1istlessly and limp on the ground as
we dropped when the orders "place
nest, was given. We Lay quiet till
about 5 p. m. Sunday, April 9th, 1866
when we were aroused by faint cheer.
ing; which soon became pronounced.
Our Generals rode down through the
ranks and said IAN uneOnd itional
surrender Of Gen. Lees army
"tad eMonium let loose'. No Que was
sick. lame or anything else, for the
time The btys we're Wild yelling
cheering Everything movable vent
into the srr with II vim. We say rhe
fruits of cur more than thee years
struggle You saw home Then vou
conld bur tAink of the BOYS that were
with as ia the morning who haiI
struggled through it all SO near to tIle
end md theu fell before the Victory
was won They knew it was $50 near
bur TO tllera so far.
The Confederate soldiers were with.
out foor and orr boys fed them, You
couldn't thiuk that those boys no.,
eating together were few hours be-
fore flying at one another's threats,
such was the case. The country around
was always more or less infested with
"Gorillas'' who would rob or kill
these returning Confederate soldier,
as they would our own hens. These
C0Dfeds marched back to their homes
under Our protection. No enmity be-
tween the rank and file. The war was
over and feeling of relief came to
both alike only we had won, they had
lost, which was truly gain.
FARM TR ACTOR NOTES