Captain William Quirk, 61 men, Provost Guard.
Captain West, 106 men, Camp of Instruction.
Buckner, 46 men.
Isaiah Yorkum.
Major Shannon, 55 men.
Dr. Hines, 10 ften, Post Hospital.
J, Hammer, 13 men, Staff Major Hammer.
Captain Davis, 120 men, Artillery.
Colonel Parks, 7 men, Invalid Corps.
F. W. Johns, Surgeon, 13 officers and men, Hospital Department.
A. Cammack, Captain and A. Q. M., 5 men, employees Q. M. Department.
H. T. Abell, Captain, 126 men, Artillery.
J. P. Yates, Captain, 97 men, Artillery Brigade.
Captain A. A. Mosby, 41 men, Palmer's Battalion.
Major Johnson, 23 officers and men, Engineer Corps.
First Lieutenant Maguire, 36 men, Lewis' Brigade Mounted Infantry.
Lieutenant Colonel Star and Major Morris, Sec, 57 men, Field and Staff, Artillery Battalion.
Brigadier General Hebert, 3 Engineers, officers and men, Bragg's Staff.
Captain Southerland, 87 men, Artillery.
Captain Bradham, 68 men, Artillery, Colonel Starr.
Major Marge, 3 men, Quartermaster General.
Captain Kelley, 100 men, Artillery Colonel Starr.
Captain Ellis, 52 men, Artillery Colonel Starr.
J. V . Darden, 18 men, Artillery Colonel Starr.
Major Tregnerant, 44 men, Depot Commissary.
Major H. B. McClellan, 61 men, Cavalry Headquarters.
Captain William Wallace, 154 men, Post Command.
Colonel E. J. Harvie, 170 men, Army Headquarters.
Surgeon John Clpster, 4 officers and men, Purveyor's Office.
Lieutenant Colonel Gongales, 8 men, Hardee's Chief of Artillery.
Colonel Cofter, 246 officers and men, Provpst Marshal.
Daniel Morgan, 37 njen, Detailed from Conscripts.
Lieutenant Colonel Chew, 26 men, Home Artillery, Northern Virginia.
Surgeon W. H. Moore, 735 hospital patients, Greensborough.
Major Chesman, 177 men, Post amd Depot, Grreensborough.
Dr. H. Homster, 157 men, Wayside Home and Hospital, Greensborough.
Colonel 0. S. Holland, 1 man, 37th Mississippi Regiment, Stewart's Corps.
Lieutenant Colonel William W, W. Weir, 1 man, 37th Mississippi Regiment, Stewart's Corps.
Hardee's Corps and Butler's Cavalry, 4,300 men.
One Regiment (46th Georgia) 311 meu;consolidated from 21 Regiments. '
First Arkansas Regiment, 663 men;consolidated from 20 Regiments. The commander of the Regiment, Colonel Howell, had 15,000 on his roll in the beginning.
Major G. F. Towles of General Terry's Staff paroled on the 2d of May, the man who fired the first gun in the rebellion — Major R. C. Gilchrist— of Hardee's Staff, who discharged the first gun at the Star of the West.
We obtained 108 pieces of artillery, which were parked near the town, with limber-chests, caissons, and running gear, but little or no ammunition and no horses or mules, or wagons. All these were needed by the paroled army to carry their rations, private property, &c.
All the valuable horses were, of course, the "private property" of somebody, and were appropriated. Such was the scramble for horses and mules that the officers had to keep a strict watch over their horses to prevent them from being stolen, but many lost their animals notwithstanding every precaution. Every horse or mule that could carry a man or any other burden had been gobbled. As a general rule, the officers will carry away with them good animals, and the large number of wort animals which this will distribute over the Country will be a great benefit to the farmers in the States to which they are going. Many have long journeys to perform, going beyond the Mississippi.
They are also permitted to retain one-seventh of their public arms, in addition to their private weapons, for purposes of protection on their way home.
Butler's Division of Hampton's Corps numbered about 15,000, all paroled; General Anderson's Brigade, which were camped at Hillsborough, numbered about 1,300. These constituted the only organized bodies of the cavalry which were paroled.
The cavalry, about 2,000, which went off as the escort of Jefferson Davis, were part of Wheeler's command and those of Vaughn and Basil Duke, which came across from East Tennessee for the purpose.
Davis, I have positively learned from a gentleman who saw him and heard him make a short speech, was at Monroe, North Carolina, on the 26th of April. He left the same day, not, as I believe, to cross the Mississippi, but to escape by means of some fishing smack or any small craft out of Florida, to some British or Spanish Island.
As I said, the speech of Mr. Davis was appropriately brief. He said: "By the surrender of 8,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry, we have not lost the whole army— they are somewhere on top of the ground," hinting, rather than openly declaring, his purpose to reorganize in Texas. It is believed that he will not attempt the risk of a long march through the country to the Mississippi River, with chances of being cut off by Wilson’s command, or jeopardize s treasure in any battle, which would be almost sure to result in its loss. His long stay at Monroe, when there was no other motive for it points undoubtedly to some arrangement for escape from some one of the numerous inlets which there afford such admirable chances of escape without observation.
I rose at daylight yesterday morning and walked alone to the camp of General Johnston, over a mile west of the town. The camp is located in a grove on a hill side, looking toward the south, with a small stream of water coursing at its foot. In the rear of the General's and the Staff Officers' tents, were scattered the smaller tents of the attaches of headquarters, and their horses were hitched at some distance; one or two wagons were drawn up near the centre of the grounds, suggestive of an early, move. Before I reached the ground, the sun had risen, but only a small portion of the officers had got up. General Johnston had not risen. The servants were preparing coffee and an early breakfast, and seemed to work with alacrity and cheerfulness.
While I was waiting to see the General, the Adjutant General and several other officers rose, dressed, and sat down around their camp chest to breakfast. The aroma of good coffee which floated out on the fine morning air reminded me that I had not breakfasted; but being a stranger I could scarcely expect to be invited to partake.
The officers seemed moody and silent, and affairs moved mechanically. There was no cheerful smile or mirth provoking jest so common around the camp table.
"Well, gentlemen, we surround this festive board, I suppose, for the last time," said one of the officers. "I suppose so," was the hesitating reply of another of the group.
A short pause followed, during which each gentleman helped himself to the ham and warm biscuits and sweetened his coffee. Another pause, and a few words I could not distinctly hear.
“I suppose all the children born hereafter will have “U. S." stamped upon thein," dryly remarked the wag of the party.
“Yes," said another in the same vein, "but if I am not mistaken there'll be a few with “C. S. A" imprinted on there — " A laugh greeted this queer question and the moodiness of the circle gave place to cheered conversation, in which the officers discussed their near separation, the routes they would take, and the situation of affairs, &e. There was little reference to the great topic of the disbandment of the army. They seemed and conversed like persons who were already reveling in the peaceful scenes of home, which now possessed a thousand new charms.
Afterward, making my business known, and remarking that I wished to obtain the impressions and views of the General touching the future of the South and of the country — as one who had been so prominent would no doubt exercise a controlling influence hereafter.
“He will have no more influence than any other man," said one of the staff;" each man in ‘the South is capable of thinking for himself, and will have his own opinions. General Johnston's opinions on military subjects will be respected, but on other matters, no more than any other man."
“What is to be the direction of affairs and the, feelings in the South, now, is an interesting question," I said.
“That depends more on what you at the North do than anything else," replied the A. A. G.
Two or three other officers assented, with emphasis showing, not their opinion merely, but suggesting something of anxiety on that subject. The conversation proceeded in a frank but kindly manner, and was soon enlivened by the participation in it of a gentleman of high respectability at headquarters, though not in uniform. He had been a large planter near Helena Arkansas, and had been ruined by the war, and particularly by the 4th Iowa cavalry, who had burned him out, and carted off his negroes four times, they returning each time on account of their attachment to the place. The fourth time they separated families, and he pictured in strong colors the misery and .suffering which followed. He had been a judge in his district, was a Henry Clay man, never cast a secession vote, and was driven into the war. He had been a prisoner at Camp Chase, during which he complained of hard usage — not being allowed to purchase fruit, and mentioned other grievances, which he offset against Andersonville. "And now you have fought for the niggers, and have got 'em, what do you propose to do with 'em?" he asked, as if he had put a poser.
"We have fought for the Union, and have got that and the freed men will take care of themselves," I replied. This gentleman now engrossed the chief convex sation, and the remainder is not worth the space it would occupy. On the subject of Slavery, the capacity of the negro for improvement, and other collateral topics, they all seemed agreed. " Now you have freed 'em, we want you to take 'em," was a remark twice or thrice t repeated.
I replied " the South needed them more, but if we Hake them,' as he wished us to do, he would probably be the first man to come after them again."
These staff officers were evidently gentlemen of the first families — not in the offensive sense of the term — educated, proud, but taught in the conventionalities of polite society, who would not intentionally offend a guest, however obnoxious his opinions might be.
General Johnston received me with a quiet, gentlemanly courtesy, and as he was not occupied, began to converse without apparent constraint or reserve. He speaks in a low tone of voice, slowly, and with that deliberation which impresses you with the idea that each word is well weighed— for it is always the best word, and fully expresses his idea. He is about 60; say five feet nine, high, with a full silver and gray beard and moustache, dark, hazel eye, which flashes coring animated conversation with a peculiar expression. His complexion is bronzed, but fresh and healthy, and the expression of his features benevolent, mixed with firmness and great solidity of character. He has a way of cutting off each word with a marked precision. His forehead is high and intellectual, and his figure slight, with & bust well and firmly knit. He impresses every one as a “high-souled, benevolent gentleman” and soldier, which is the character ascribed to him by Mr. W. W. Holden, of. Raleigh.
The surrender of Lee's army terminated the war," he said, “and nothing remained for us but to make the best terms we could." This view he expressed to Mr. Davis, who sent for him to meet him at Greensborough, shortly following that event. General Sherman, he said, was then just moving out from Goldsborough. He urged Mr. Davis to accept the situation, and not attempt to prolong the war which must be hopeless, and could only result in needlessly devastating the country, and wasting valuable lives — which was a crime.
These views he subsequently expressed to the Governors of four States in the shape of the following telegram;
GEN. JOHNSTON TO THE GOVERNORS OF FOUR STATES.
On the 30th of April General Johnston sent the following telegram to the Governors of the States of Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. The presence of Governor Vance in his camp at the time made it unnecessary to address the dispatch to him:
Greensborough, April 30th, 1865.
To his Excellency Joseph E. Brown, Augusta, GA.; A. Q-. Magrath, Governor of South Carolina, Spartanburg, via Chester, S. Cajon Milton, Florida:
The disaster in Virginia; the capture by the enemy of all our workshops for the preparation of ammunition and repairing arms; the impossibility of recruiting our little army, opposed by more than ten times its number, or of supplying it except by robbing our own citizens, destroyed all hope of successful war. I have, therefore, made a military convention with General Sherman to terminate hostilities in North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
I made this convention to spare the blood of the gallant little army committed to me, to prevent further sufferings of our people by the devastation and ruin inevitable from the marches of invading armies, and to avoid the crime of waging hopeless war.
J. E. JOHNSTON, General.
Upon parting with General Johnston, one feels that Providence must have ordained that men of such marked character should have become identified with the rebellion to give it that vitality without which it could never have been prolonged for the time necessary to achieve the great purpose Heaven had in view.
He had noticed that the papers were severely criticizing General Sherman. I said, " Yes, the Government, we think, and the public, share the idea that General Sherman had been over-reached in the negotiations — that they were more liberal than were ever asked for, and such as would have been gladly accepted by the South at any time during the past two or three years — that they looked to a recognition of all the rebel State Governments, which involved the possible payment of the rebel debt, and a re-opening of the whole question of "Slavery, which all feel the war has definitely settled. , He replied; " It was the basis made of a settlement intended for the approval or rejection of the respective Governments — not a final convention. Generals in the field had often terminated wars in that way; and Napoleon, during his Italian campaigns, settled affairs in a similar way. There were but two methods of proceeding with the South — to pacify or punish," He thought there had been punishment enough for both parties in the war itself. There has been blood shed enough. General Sherman thought it would be best for the country and all concerned that the. Union should be restored at once, and not by slow degrees.
A member of the staff said, “I notice they talk of breaking down every man of respectability in the South by taking away his property and ruining him." I re plied, "I think the chief indignation of the people lies against the original instigators — the political leaders — more than toward those who have incurred the risk and exposure of war; that there is nothing like vindictiveness even toward them only they wish the law vindicated."
During breakfast General Johnston expressed much regret that Booth could not have been taken alive, so as to draw out of him the whole plot. The Southern people could not certainly be connected in the minds of the people with the transaction. The single argument that Mr. Lincoln was better for them than Mr. Johnson, was a sufficient proof on that point, if there were no other.
General Johnston said he had no doubt the people of the South would acquiesce in the abolition of Slavery. The members of his staff spoke of having seen many prominent gentlemen in the South who fully understood that the institution had gone up, and would accommodate themselves to the new organization. He believed they would find it more profitable to hire free labor than to employ slave labor. The only fear he had on the subject was in the working of the system on the larger rice plantations of the Gulf States.
On these and many other topics General Johnston expressed the most enlightened views.
Just as I was about to take leave, a tall officer approached the General, with hat in hand, and with a speech evidently prepared, said:
“I come to bid you good bye, General; I hope when we draw our 'claymores' it will be under more favorable circumstances."
“It is' too late for me to think of that now," The General replied, with an emphasis which half conveyed a rebuke for the officer.
"Then you want to return to peaceful pursuits? General." "Yes, that is now my only ambition," he said, and taking t
he officer by the hand, said: “I shall always be glad to see."
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Homeward March.— From Raleigh to Petersburg and Richmond.— Incidents of the march.— Reception by the People.
Once more, the route! Well, as Galen Hass said, "once more, hurrah." We adapt ourselves to circumstances. The march is inevitable! Then, long live the march! We hasten t — we never hurry — no wise man does. They pack up our baggage, which consists of a towel and toothbrush. A change of linen is a superfluity; but a cracker is indispensable I Thrice happy we — ye also, if ye have suspended to your shoulder a canteen of cool water. Well then we are ready Monsieur le General Hazen! — We follow you cheerfully, calmly, on foot, as become all the men of Sherman's renowned army. In the very highest hope — this life of ours makes one so amiable and agreeable to circumstances. With confidence, cheerfulness, and courage, we obey the command and march alone.
We left the pleasant city of Raleigh with a sigh of regret, having a feeling of strong sympathy with Cowper, when he wished for
"A lodge in some vast wilderness."
But then it was bearable. We were going home. Few men are altogether insensible to the endearments of home. To the veteran soldier there is a peculiar sacredness in the word; it is associated with the most pleasing and hallowed recollections, the very mention of it is sufficient to awaken the most affecting reminiscences. As memory brings up the past, the heart thrills under the recollections of delightful joys. Temporary absence only enhances the charms of home. Should the plowshare pass over its site or modern improvements destroy its familiar features, still the old house has a. place in the cabinet of our memories.
The first day we marched twelve miles. We could have marched twenty, bat these slow-moving wagons in long trains, much blessed with the prayers of the amiable Quartermasters and teamsters in charge thereof, stick in the mud, get into, the ruts, become entangled. The mules make the air resonant— the willing animals fling up their heals; they curve about the road; they do everything but draw. It is a pity, only, that it is so common, is it not, that man's progress should be impeded by asses?
Personal Recollections of Sherman's Campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas Page 42