The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-05-03

tne FeQoral army, the Fldette was
arrested and punished for permitting
US to get so close TO him before he
halted us.
When we reached Gen. sherman's
Headquarters we were treated very
nicely. Soldiers were sent out to
hold our horses. Col. Lowndes went
in and stayed out and held my own
horse. When Col. Lowndes had de-
livered his message and we had start
ed back to our headquarters he said !
to me, 'Buford, why didn't you let that
soldier hold Your horse? My reply |
was. ] don't let no dam Yankee ko!d !
my horse
eve had come now to the end of |
things; the war was over; the cause i
had been lost, and the Confederate I
soldiers, conquered by overwhelming
numbers turned their thoughts home
ward, and many turned their faces
thither also. On the 26th of April l
left the almost deserted camp for
home, riding my cavalry horse, which
was very good one. With me were,
I recall. Witherspoon of Sumter and
Sanford Welborn Of Unlon-perhaps
others whom l cannot now recall. We
met up with Gen. Wade Hampton as
we rode out Of Charlotte, He was
going in the same direction and we
rode three or four miles together,
when he turned off into another road
saying he was going to cross 1adkln
river in bateau and his horse would:
swim across. We three promised him
that we would meet him at Due west
five weeks from that day and go with
him to join Gen. Kirby Smiths army
beyond the A1ississippi-the only rem
! nant Of the Confederate armies that
| had not surrendered. But before the
time appointed rolled around every
thing had gone to pieces, Kirby
! Smiths army included, and of course
we did not go to Due West. Gen.
Hampton had not surrendered; Meth,
; er had T. Some time in the summer
/ of 1865 l went down to Columbia and
! took the oath Of allegiance. Gen.
Hampton must have taken the oath
some time or other or he could not
have taken the seat in the United
States Senate to which he was elected
by the South Carolina Legislature and
which he held many years, nor the
office Of national railroad commits
sioner to which he was afterwards
appointed by President Grover Cleve-
land.
When we reached the ferry over
Yadkin river the ferryman informed
US that the charge for carrying man
on horseback across was S25 or a
plug of tobacco. I had a plug or so
share along with the others, though I
did not chew; so i gave him plug
Of tobacco and my comrades. Wither-
spoon and WeIbourn paid him SIS
apiece. My plug Of tobacco, however
was worth more than the fifty dol
lars in Connferate money.
Il reached home the 4th day Of
May. Forty-five years after that I
was going out to Raleigh on the Rail-
road. When we approached Durham
asked so all in the coach could hear
if there was anyone on board who
could point out. the Bennett House
An old man stood up and replied that
he could, and when we were passing
the place he pointed out the house to
me. 1t looked just about as it did As
years before except that the we'll
sweep in the front yard was gone.
"In talking with Gen. Julian S.
Carr Of Durham, \. c., at the con-
federate reunion at Tulsa, Oklahoma,
last summer, he told me he owns
landn around the Bennett House but
I was the only person he had ever
seen who was present at the meeting
there between Gems. Johnston and
Sherman. He further said that
lit became necessary to cover the
house completely with corrugated
iron in order to keep it from being
carried off by piecenaeal as souvenirs.
Gen. Carr urged me to write out my
der. I promised him would if 1
could ever find time; so I hope you
will send him a copy Of your paper
if you publish what I am saying. l
might add that Gen. Carr appointed
me on his staff as assistant quarter
master general with rank Of lieuten
ant colonel, when he was first elect
ed commander Of the United Con-
federate Veterans. Gen. Brown who
defeated Gen. Carr at the reunion in
Pennington in 1916 honord me with |
the same appointment as Gen. Carr
did again when he defeated Con. !
Brown at Washington in 1917. So you |
see, l am entitled to be called colonel. |
The title captain with which my
friends have honored me; for several
years past grew on me gradually. l
was not a captain OF the army as
Caps jerks was-the highest posi- |
ton l ever reached was high private.
I appreciate Very highly the honor
coflferred on ne by Gen. Carr and |
Gen. Brown: but l am proudest Of all |
Of having been selected by Col. Raw
Inns Lowndcs as his courier and escort
on his visit 10 headquarters of Gen. W.
T. Sherman the night Of the 25th Of
April 1865 when / was hardly more
than a. lad.
Col. Lowndes is still living in
Charleston--the same elegant gentle