(T[lTf 4£txBt Olampatgn. Digitized by the Internet Arciiive in 2010 witii funding from Tine Library of Congress littp://www.arcliive.org/details/lastcampaigncavaOOgilp BHIGADIKR GENERAL JAMES H WILSON, United States Army, Major General U. S. Volunteers 1865-6 and 1898. THE ! i A iV THE LAST CAMPAIGN A CAVALRYMAN'S JOURNAL. E. N. OILRIN Third Iowa Cavalry. Reprint from the Journal of the U. S. Cavalry Association. PRESS OF KETCHESON PRINTING CO. LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. JUN 2 1908 THE LAST CAMPAIGN — A CAVALRYMAN'S JOURNAL.* To the memory of the old cavalrymen who wore the blue and the gray, this little narrative is dedicated. THREE divisions of the Cavalry Corps have come by way of Memphis, Nashville and Chattanooga, and are en- camped along the mountain side from Waterloo to Gravelly Springs, Alabama, in the extreme northwest corner of the State. The forces of mounted men, widely separated in the West and South, have been concentrated here, and are now well in hand — an army of cavalry. General James H. Wilson is in command. He is one of Grant's trusted generals, who intends a swift saber-thrust at the heart of the Confederacy. When, where, and in what force we are to move, Dick Taylor and our old friend For- rest (who our scouts report just below here with his cav- alry) would give a good deal to know. It is ten miles to Chickasaw Landing on the Tennessee River, from where our trains bring rations and forage. The heavy spring rains have made it difficult to haul supplies, for the streams are bank full, the low lands overflowed, and the swamps almost impassable. The question of forage is a serious one. While marching orders are delayed, we are getting acquainted. General Upton, commanding the Fourth Division of the Cavalry Corps, has just been ordered here from the Army of *By E. N. Gilpin, Third Iowa Cavalry, a clerk at General Upton's head- quarters during the campaign described. 618 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. the Potomac ; limps slightly from wounds received in the battle of Winchester, where he was brevetted major general for gallantry. At Gettysburg he commanded a brigade, at Spottsylvania a division of infantry and artillery. He has his spurs to win as a cavalry officer. He is a young man to be a general, not yet twenty-six. He is slightly above medium stature, keen-eyed, and carries himself as a soldier. His voice is low, usually, and rather pleasant to hear ; speaks quickly when excited ; when he gets angry he is quick as a Brevet Major General, Emory Upton, U. S. Army. Colonel 4th U. S. Artillery, July 1,1880; Died March 15,1881. flash, and the man he is talking to thinks a revolver is going off at him. He is in dead earnest, one can see that; has military books in his tent and studies them when he comes in from studying his regiments. He rides a tall, long-bodied bay horse, that makes him look smaller than he really is. He says his prayers every night, which is a novelty. Al- though he is a strict disciplinarian, making the division drill, rain or shine, dismounted and with saber, I do not THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 619 hear any grumbling. Every now and then he puts them through some new evolution that pleases them. They are all veteran soldiers, he a new commander, and they are sizing him up. He has made a good impression on his di- vision.* March 1 1, ir in Hariison's Cabinet. THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 6^7 The reinforcements did not have time to get off the cars. The Confederates had unloaded a great deal of forage at the station, intending to whip us and then feed, but we cap- tured every pound of it. There were several Napoleon guns on the cars. The prisoners said, "We will get them later." While charging, Captain Taylor, our Indiana cavalryman, ran up to General Forrest, hit him over the head with his saber, and ordered him to surrender. Forrest drew his re- volver and shot him dead. Another of our boys followed hard after, striking at him with his saber as he ran, and shot as he Jumped the fence, and thought he wounded him in fhe arm. His men say he has sworn he will never surrender. We spiked the cannon, bent the guns, buried the dead and cared for wounded, established hospitals, made preparations for comfort, and as night came on, encamped. Our headquarters at Dr. Phillips' fine house. Ate my supper and turned in, but was so full of the day's excitement that I could not sleep. In the adjoining room I heard the General turn uneasily in his bed, then start up, give orders, and in his dreams was fighting the battle over again. When I went in his room he said his leg pained. I asked if I should get Dr. Carter? He said no. It was just the nerve giving him a twinge. I set the candle down and was going, when he asked the time. It was after midnight, for the guards had been relieved. I told him everything was right, and he could rest content with the army he had led that day around him. I put out the light, and soon he was breathing regularly, and presently fell asleep. As I looked from the window, all was quiet where our army lay encamped ; not a sound came up through the dark- ness, and only the light of campfires glimmered in the sky, away south toward Selma. April 2d. Sunday. Selma, Alabama. Left camp at 9:30 A. M. General Croxton, with First Brig- ade, Second Division, had marched toward Tuscaloosa to intercept Jackson. Detached expeditions burned iron works, factories, rolling and flour mills, and destroyed millions of dollars worth of 638 • THE LAST CAMPAIGN. cotton. General Upton, with the Fourth Division, took the left hand road ; General Long with the Second the right. Our line of march is along the top of hills that extend to the city of Selma. At the head of his division, his face a little pale, General Upton is being watched by every soldier in the command. We passed a "Johnny" leaning against a tree, who had received a curious wound ; a bullet had cut off the tip of his nose, and the blood was trickling down on the leaves. As the column passed, I heard an old trooper say : " My friend, you put your nose just a leetle too far into this here Rebel- lion." Yesterday one fellow was shot through his canteen filled with molasses, and lost it all. Colonel Noble was struck ; the bullet dented his saber-belt plate, doubling him up, but he was not seriously wounded. Lieutenant Battin caught one between his leg and the saddle, grazing his leg and plowing through the saddle-flap. Bullets play some very funny tricks; sometimes a Testament or deck of cards will deflect a bullet from the heart of some mother's darling, and for that reason one should read his Testament and play cards when he goes for a soldier. A wide fertile valley below us shows delightfully green, and as we march we hear the tinkling of bells, the lowing of cattle, and singing of larks in the fields. Stopping here to eat my dinner, the indistinct murmur of life on a farm comes to my ears like music. Went to the head of the column and found it halted in full view and range of the enemy's works at Selma. Gen- eral Wilson came up and he and General Upton rode to a little skirt of timber and examined the position with their field glasses. The fortifications are 600 yards distant, a formidable line of forts and earthworks, with palisades ex- tending a distance of three miles, with the flanks resting on the river, above and below the city. On the left, in our front, is a wide stretch of swamp land, into which the road runs and disappears In Long's front the country is open, except for a line of timber skirting a ravine, through which a considerable creek flows. The forts began shelling and THE LAST CAMPAIGN. ■ 639 we fell back to a point out of range. While the generals were consulting, I made a return from the last reports of regimental officers of the number of men in the command now formed in compact column, waiting for the order to ad- vance. Order for assault by the Second Division on the Summer- field Road and by ours on the Plantersville Road, the signal, one gun, at 6 o'clock, to be fired from Rodney's battery. Our last day's march was pushed so swiftly that no time was left Forrest to make disposition of his forces, until we closed in on the city. He played his old game, however, and a delayed force trying to join the main Confederate col- umn made a dash on the train in the. rear of the Second Division, intending to throw it into confusion. General Wilson had provided for that with a regiment on guard there, and trumped his little trick. When the attack was made on our rear, the Confederates sallied out of their works immediately in our front, and the Second Division, without waiting for the signal, moved to the assault. A sharp volley checked their advance ; another accompanied by a yell and a charge, drove them back to their works; our division moved forward, and the battle was on. Volley followed volley ; the long loud rattle of our Spencers, and the reply by our batteries to the incessant heavy booming of guns from the forts. With a cheer, our boys charged dismounted across the fields and swamps, over rifle pits and embankments, over trenches and palisades, up through the battery smoke, on to the parapet, yelling like devils. Tearing down obstructions they opened the way. Along half of the battle front the strong palisades held, and the attack of the Fourth Cavalry was repulsed. General Wilson, on his white horse, led forward the mounted reserves. At a steady trot the long blue line formed across the plain ; then spurring to a gallop, the ground trembled with the thunder of hoofs, the air scintil- lant with the flash of saber blades, the cavalry charge, like a tornado let loose, swept through all opposition ! Our carbines and sabers, Yankees and yells, proved too much for the Johnnies, and Selma was fairly won ! 640 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. We*captured everything they had, and 3,000 prisoners. Forrest made his escape along- the river road, fleeing with his broken army. As they ran, they set fire to a large cotton storehouse near the arsenal. The fire spread to barracks and ammunition houses, shells exploding and flying in every direction ; brigades of both divisions in pursuit. The Con- federates running for life, jumping their horses over the bluffs into the river, our cavalrymen after them to the brink, cutting and slashing with their sabers. Soldiers yelling vengeance, for some of our men were shot from their saddles after entering the city; citizens scared, women and children screaming, excitement high everywhere. Of all the nights of my experience, this is most like the horrors of war — a captured city burning at night, a victorious army advancing, and a demoralized one retreating. The soldiers, overpowered by weariness, wrapped in their blankets, sunk to rest about the streets; thecitizens, exhausted by excitement and fear, the cries of their children hushed at last, snatching a troubled sleep ; the wounded, lulled by opiates into forgetfulness of their amputated legs and arms; the dead, in their last sleep, with white faces upturned to the sky; for the passion, cruelty, bitterness and anguish of war, this Sunday night now nearly gone, will be remembered. If there is a merciful God in the heavens. He must be look- ing down upon this scene in pity. April ^d. Selma. Up early and out in the city. Several squares burning, and soldiers running with the engines, more for amusement than to put out the fire, splashing the fire and unlucky citi- zens time about. Thornton and I rode out to see the battlefield and forts. Two lines of breastworks flanked by miry swamps and quicksands, rifle pits and stockades, extend around the town. The forts are dangerous looking affairs in themselves. Deep ditches and sharp palisades protect them on all sides. Where our boys could not tear them away or pry them apart, they jumped on each other's backs and scaled them in a game of "leap frog." Many guns in each, some fine Parrott guns. The Confederates got out in such a hurry that they did THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 641 not spike them. We broke, spiked, and burned them all. Everything is done by strategy on this raid. The Confed- erate generals have all been fooled, from Forrest down. General Wilson, who looks the dare-devil as he gallops past, is as cautious as an old maid. He waits until " the sign is right," then goes in with a dash. He and Upton pla}'- into each other's hands as though the thing were all cut and dried. It is done so quickly, it is over before you know you are hurt. If we had laid siege to Selma, half the command would have been killed or wounded As it was, we have lost less than four hundred. We struck them like lightning ; the thunder-clap was there as soon as the flash ; when the storm broke, all we had to do was to take them in out of the wet. From the forts we went to the iron foundry; immense machinery, hundreds of guns of all sizes, some very fine naval guns, and thousands of shot and shell. General Upton is in command of an expedition in pursuit of Forrest. Everything is progressing smoothly with the great cav- alry raid. General Wmslow is provost marshal of the city, and discipline is strict again. Word came that Croxton had defeated Jackson and cap- tured Tuscaloosa. April ph. Went down to the ordnance train, found Thornton, and together we visited the great Selma arsenal, but could not pass the guard. However, we looked at the shot and shell piled up in great rows, through the long shops. From there we went to the stockade, where about 3,000 prisoners are confined. They prepared this " shebang " for our reception. The fair ladies of Selma are busying themselves feeding and caring for the captured Confed- erates. Our boys sympathize with the Johnnies, and as a consequence, walk home with the girls. After a long ride around the city, came back to headquarters. The large foundry was fired just at dark; shells are ex- ploding one after another, then by platoons and squadrons, then back to one, and up and away again, never stopping, a bright light flashing and wavering, throwing shadows over 642 ■ THE LAST CAMPAIGN. the housetops, trees, church spires, and in among the col- ums that support the balcony over our heads. A few of us are sitting together, our chairs tipped back against the pil- lars listening to the war music, and chatting. The station of the Alabama and Tennessee Railroad with many cars and locomotives, is also burning. April ^th. The Selma arsenal covers ten acres of ground, and is full of all manner of military stores. Thousands of boxes of ammunition and caissons ready for shipment — but too late ! There were rifles, carbines, canned powder, revol- vers and muskets — an immense array of stores for killing Yankees. We found 500 darkies under orders, piling dry lumber and other combustibles for the coming conflagra- tion. Colonels Lyons and Patterson, who commanded brigades, are prisoners ; another officer, as report has it, wants to come in and take command of his brigade, which he says is all in the stockade. April 6ih. Writing orders concerning our coming march. It has been raining all day, the Alabama River is high, and we have been delayed preparing the bridge. The river is rising ; its current is swift and strong. General Wilson went to Cahawba under a flag of truce to arrange with Forrest an exchange of prisoners. Found For- rest grumpy and unwilling to make terms, but Wilson got the information he went after. He expects to recapture the prisoners. April yth. Saddled "Charley " and rode out beyond town to the forts and works which surround the city. Spent a pleasant day following my fancy. Selma is a beautiful place, and the war has never been much of a burden to it until our Cavalry Corps came in. April 8th. General Upton and staff came in with the First Brigade, having marched 120 miles and had a skirmish with the enemy near Summerfield. They found a captain and a dozen men, scouts of ours, dead; they had been killed outright in a barn where they were asleep. General Wilson has sent Forrest word that he will retaliate. Surgeon Max- well came in from Montevallo, where he had been in charge THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 643 of our wounded. He met Forrest at Plantersville, who said a captain of a charging regiment ran at him with his saber, struck him and was trying to run him through, when he shot him. The captain belonged to Company "C," Seventeenth Indiana. Forrest said our men showed more gallantry in that engagement than he had ever seen. We all drew Confederate clothing and made ready for marching. They are concentrating all. their forces, intend- ing to whip us before we get out of Alabama. General Alexander, who is superintending the construc- Brigadiek General. A. J. Ai.exander, U. S. Volunteers. Major 8th U. S. Cavalry, July 28, 186*;; Lieut. Col. 2d IJ. S. Cavalry, March 20, 1879 Retired July 3, 1885; Died May 1, 1887. tion of the pontoon bridge across the river, narrowly escaped with his life to-day. Mike Worley was holding a rope, let- ting a log go under ; drift-wood was running, and it was hard work. The General, provoked with him for not doing it right, and in trying to get hold of the rope, lost his footing and fell from his skiff into the river. The swift current drew him under the pontoons, and he would have drowned 644 . THE LAST CAMPAIGN. as sure* as fate, if Worley had not o^one down and held to him till they were hauled out. It took a brave man to do it. April gth. Business in the office finished, went out in the city in search of amusement. Went to one of the best looking- houses in the neighborhood, sat down on the porch and began a conversation with Mr. Montford. Told him who I was, and the current news at headquarters, and got the old gentleman interested, I suppose. He asked me to dinner; I declined, but said I would come and take supper with him. He seemed a little surprised, but quickly recover- ing said, "Yes, and spend the evening, and I'll have my girls sing and play for you." While we were talking, I saw two girl faces peeping from behind the curtain, so I thought I would ask Thornton to come too. At the appointed time we appeared at the Montford residence ; I, in a blue jacket and gilt saber-belt, gray trousers above my cavalry boots, and wearing a Secesh cap. Thornton is a handsome fellow, and in any uniform would take a girl's eye. The old gentleman introduced us to his affectionate daughters, the Misses Erminie and Kate. Thornton was at once struck with Miss Erminie. We walked in the garden, picked flowers, and talked of the beautiful in nature, and all that. A sweet faced, elderly lady announced supper, and made us welcome, saying that her son was a soldier too, pointing to a portrait on the wall, a handsome military figure in gray uniform, her eye resting with motherly pride on his features. I noticed that they were like her own. After supper we were invited to the parlor, and what was begun as a piece of soldierly bravado, was likely to end in a civilized social call. Waverly novels, handsomely bound, were with other books on the table. "There is no more ro- mance in these days, or I might call you Flora Mclvor," I said to Miss Kate. She had pictured how she and Miss Er- mine used to gallop up the river with a gay cavalcade, to where the Pearl and Swiftwater joined, and have their pic- nics in the woods. "That," she said, "was before Brother Henry took all our horses and joined Forrest." Miss Er- minie played "The Bonny Blue Flag," and other Southern songs, and then Miss Kate, to her sister's accompaniment, THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 645 sang, "Tis But an Hour Since First We Met.' Both girls were little Rebels to the finger tips, and said they "hoped we would be taken prisoners." I told them of a pretty black- haired little Rebel, who sat smiling innocently and fishing, her Capitola hat thrown carelessly beside her, while our com- mand was marching past; but she was counting every com- pany, to report our numbers to General Price, and we all nar- rowly escaped capture. At this Miss Kate laughed and clapped her hands and said : ''That's what I'd like to do ! " Perhaps it was because I had on Secesh clothes that I was so drawn to her; but she was a beautiful girl, and wore the rose that I had given her, and when she sweetly sang, " When This Cruel War is Over," she had to promise immediately to write the words. At the doorstep she gave me her hand and said: 'If they take you prisoner, I will have my brother see that they treat you well." She turned quickly away, for she knew I was reading her face. On my way to camp I kept humming the refrain, " Hopes and Fears How Vain," and trying to recall the tones of her voice. Next morning a parcel came, tied with a dainty pink ribbon, and the song written in a fine girlish hand, with "suit of gray" for "suit of blue," as it runs in the Northern version, the words "hoping that we meet again" under- scored, which made the recipient so sentimental that he was unfit for duty all the rest of the day. We have met again, and I found, what I knew I should find, a sweet sincerity added to her girlish beauty ; but even you, my curious little journal, shall not know what words were said. The command left Selma at night, crossing the bridge of boats. The intense lurid glow of the burning buildings on the bank lit up the river, and the long lines of cavalry seemed to be marching upon its surface. It was all night in crossing. In the gray dawn, as the bridge was torn away, Generals Wilson and Upton, halting their horses on the brow of a little hill, sat looking back to where disaster hung like a pall above the stricken city. General Wilson thinks the enemy badly crippled, and is determined to press on to Columbus, their stronghold in Georgia, and give the Confederacy a mortal wound. 640 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. AprH loth. Church Hill, Alabama. The late rains had laid the dust, and it was pleasant marching. We passed through Benton. At this point skirmishing commenced. Where the roads crossed at a sharp angle, a regiment of cavalry were making a rush to get to the main road, and our boys at close range, poured a stream of fire from their carbines, so near that I could see the dust fly from their coats where the bullets struck. They were gallant fellows, as they rode at a gallop, their long hair blowing behind their little Secesh caps. As they leaped the fences, it was a goodly sight. As we came to the hill, a Confederate officer lay dying by the roadside. Jim McCalmont had dismounted and was kneeling by his side taking a ring from his finger as I rode up. It was set with a stone, that in the morning light showed red as the blood that was flowing from a ghastly wound in his breast. A swift, vague impression of having somewhere seen his face, made me stop. He was holding Jim's hand as he told his name — Captain Henry Montford, and begging him in broken words to send the ring to his mother, who lived in Selma. Dismounting I went close to his side, but could catch only a word or two of what he was trying to say. In a minute he sank back on the ground, his face growing pale in the shadow of death, while Jim was praying. We marked his grave, and sent his last message to his mother. This afternoon the Confederates were firing at us from the other side of a creek we could not cross. The steep clay bluffs were fifteen or twenty feet high, and eaten away by the current so that to ford it would be necessary to ride belly-deep thirty yards parallel with the bank before a turn could be made to ascend the further shore. General Upton galloped forward waving his sword and shouting at the top of his voice, so that the Confederates could distinctly hear: "They are flanking them on the left. Forward!" The ruse worked; I could hardly believe my eyes; they all lit out of there like a flock of wild ducks. There was nobody be- low the bend of the stream on their left but our head- quarters bugler, blowing for all he was worth, and an orderly THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 647 raising the devil among the corn-stalks ! A battalion of men behind a slight breastwork could have held it against a brigade. Camped at dark. Our new darkey foraged extensively and got us a good supper. Headquarters at General Robinson's, who owns a fine plantation. He is in the Confederate army. His darkeys had taken all the horses and mules, and hid in the swamps. Writing late to-night orders of march for to-morrow, and an order for the punishment by flogging of a soldier of the command. When preparing General Upton's explanatory order to the soldiers, I made bold to say to him, that disci- pline was necessary, but I thought it should be lawfully en- forced ; if we all got our deserts none of us would escape whipping. "The man," he explained, "had broken into a house, threatened the women, and stolen jewelry. Such things were not to be tolerated by Christian soldiers, and he intended to make an example of him. We could and would take the last pound of food if it were needed, but thieving must be stopped." I then had a copy of Burns in my pocket, that I had "confiscated," and felt very uncomfortable. April nth. Lowndesborough, Alabama, Our division marched at daylight. The provost marshal led the soldier out with a detail to flog him. In attempting to tie him, he broke away. A party mounted and pursued him a quarter of a mile, overtook him and brought him back, tied him to a tree and gave him forty lashes upon his bare back, as the column was passing ; then his hands were tied behind him, and a placard placed upon his breast, upon which was written in large letters : " Flogged for Stealing." He was made to face the command till all had passed. These great forests of long-leaf pine, through which we march in a semi-twilight, are cushioned by the fallen needles, deadening the beat of hoofs; and a low continuous murmur is rising and falling around us like the sound of the distant surf. We had not marched far before we came to Big Swamp River ; here we rested for an hour while the engineers were repairing the corduroy road, and then we began navigation 648 ' THE LAST CAMPAIGN. swamp ward. Of all the swamps I ever experienced, this is the swampiest. Majestic trees with hanging moss, tower above the gloomy waters, while a rank growth of juniper, nightshade arid all manner of climbing and creeping shrubs and vines choke up the road and render it almost impenetra- ble. The country around is low and marshy, often flooded for miles by the rising river, which, when falling, leaves a bed of quicksand and morass, broken and tangled weeds and vines, twined fantastically about the gnarled roots, making the somber forest sublimely dreary. Our division was all day crossing, and when halted upon the opposite side, presented a muddy spectacle. After leaving "The Big Swamp" we came up into some very fine country, where we halted upon a rich plantation and rested for two hours. At 4:30 p. M. we reached the beau- tiful little town of Lowndesborough, finely situated upon the mountain, and surrounded by lovely and picturesque country. We caibiped near town, while the pioneer corps is bridg- ing a bayou ahead for our march to-morrow. The citizens tell us that General Lee telegraphed that he had evacuated Richmond and was moving in the direc- tion of Danville. The news was announced, and the whole army is cheering. April i2tli. Montgomery. Our division marched at day- light. The Confederates in advance destroying bridges and throwing up obstructions in our road ; and at every con- venient position skirmishing, losing two or three men on each side. To-day we built a novel bridge over one of these creeks. Our artillery mired down, and it was impossible for a col- umn to ford. General Upton ordered every trooper to carry a fence rail on his shoulder, and when we came to the crossing we found a couple of heavy artillery caissons in mid-stream, for a foundation, and on them rested two forked pine trees for piers, across which ran sapling stringers ; every man threw his fence rail for a flooring, and swaying, and swinging the command crossed the rude bridge. I do not believe anybody ever saw that done before ; it held all THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 649 right, and with drawn sabers we deployed and whipped the Johnnies in the open. Plantations we have passed to-day are fenced with Mex- ican rose-hedges, that offer almost as much defense as the osage orange. Now that they are blooming, it is a beau- tiful sight to see them, as far as the eye can reach, in long red and white lines. As they run parallel with the road, the gates and bars opening through them at intervals, serve well as places of ingress and egress for our flankers. Passed forts and rifle pits; making a wide detour to avoid the intense heat of burning mountains of cotton, we ascended the hill overlooking the city of Montgomery. General Wilson came up just as we were entering. There, before us was the State capital, the first capital of the Confederate States; now, from the dome, floated the "old flag!" In a moment every hat and cap flew off, and three cheers, loud and long, were given ! The town took up the echoes as old familiar sounds ; and the people seemed to live as of yore, under the "Stars and Stripes!" The town was surrendered to General McCook ; General Wilson and our officers went to his headquarters and had a jovial time. Col- onel LaGrange, whose brigade has been temporarily at- tached to our division, had a slight engagement and cap- tured a number of prisoners and battle-flags from Generals Adams and Buford. They did not offer much resistance, as they do not intend to make a stand until they reach Colum- bus, where they are concentrating their forces. We captured a dispatch from Jeff Davis, which reads : "Governor Watts asks help at Montgomery. Says, with the troops that can be spared from Georgia, he can save Mont- gomery, retake Selma and save Mobile!" All this might have happened, but it didn't ! Before His Excellency left his capital, he had seen the handwriting on the wall. April Tjth, Montgomery. We remain in camp here all day. It is a beautiful city on the high banks of the Alabama River. Early in the morning I employed my leisure in exploring. In a fine old church I found a darkey sweeping and made him pump for me while I played the organ. It sounded magnificently to 650 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. one wlio cannot strike a dozen notes in order, and as there was no one there but the darkey to comment, I ran my fingers up and down the key-board in lively style, then pulled out the stops and let it have it, rolling out billows of sound that made the old church tremble. It brought the darkey up with eyes rolling: " 'Deed, suh, dat's suttinly dif- funt fum any playin' I evah heard ! " " That's a cavalry fugue with artillery accompaniment," I said, "and the only one of the kind." "Golly, Gosh, Massa Capting, how yo done fool pore ole Ben."' The Confederates, before they left, set fire to an immense amount of cotton to prevent it falling into our hands ; bu,t very much remains stored, because the blockade has been effectual. We burned the nitre mills and all government stores, but as the town was surrendered, no private property was dis- turbed. Our headquarters at a country villa a mile from town. Magnificent gardens and groves surround the house, and beautiful flowers bloom everywhere. The negro cabins, barns, stables, cribs and stacks are scattered profusely for miles over the land adjoining, and the happy, jolly darkeys come in groups to wonder and gaze. This evening our band began playing. At the first toot here came the darkeys, all ages, sizes and complexions, from a deep black to a light saddle-color, swarming with open eyes and mouths, crowd- ing along the fences on tip-toe. To-night is a jubilee in their cabins. We can hear them dancing, fiddling, singing and laughing. They make a curious musical instrument of "cane reeds," and the darkey that performs the loudest, is the grand mogul of the assembly. We are ordered to march to-morrow. April i^th. Cowles' plantation. Marched at daylight, Second Brigade, First Division, in advance. Colonel LaGrange looks natural, and has the same determined style of riding. Our regiment and the First Wisconsin were at one time brigaded together under Gen- eral George E. Waring, and were almost like brothers on our raids through Missouri and Arkansas. Met an old friend, THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 651 now adjutant of the regiment, who tells me there are only a few of the old First Wisconsin left. The Confederates have been throwing up rail piles and brush defenses every few miles ; when our boys come within range, they begin firing, and then run and join their com- mand ; another party takes their place, and so the thing goes. We had five men killed to-day. April ijth. Buchannan's plantation. Marched at 5 a. m. over some very fine country. Came through Tuskeegee, a beautiful town situated up among the hills. ' The principal citizens came out and surrendered the town, and their good ladies and daughters came thronging out to see us and were quite friendly, surprised and thank- ful that we did not charge upon them with our sabers, yell- ing and swearing, as they expected us to do from all reports. The Confederates in our advance are burning bridges and piling rails as usual. We saved the most important bridges by charging down before they had time to fire them. We are camping to-night on a fine plantation owned by an old Confederate. Plenty to eat, drink, and make merry over. Coming in from detached duty with Colonel Benteen, the Third Iowa was deployed on the crest of a hill beyond which they were skirmishing. Benteen had his leg thrown nonchalantly over the pommel of his saddle, sitting like a Centaur, heedless of the bullets that cut the bark along side, when Captain Morse of the staff came tearing past us down the hill, his black, rawboned horse unmanageable, and the gallant captain part of the time on his neck and part on the crupper, his military cape flapping about his ears, still fur- ther frightening the animal he bestrode, like Irving's head- less horseman. "Stick to your critter !" Benteen, a true son of Missouri, called after him. Then some one in the line sang out, "Grab a root ! " which was taken up by the others — " Grab a root ! " in all the tones voices are capable of pro- ducing, Pete Lunford's high piping treble rising above all the rest, " Wait, darling, till your Mummy comes!" as horse and rider shot by and disappeared in the bushes. Benteen laid back and yelled with laughter. Of course it was against 652 , THE LAST CAMPAIGN. all military discipline, but you see such a thing but once in a campaign. April i6th. Sunday. Columbus, Ga. Marched at daybreak, crossing a bad swamp just after leaving camp. Country is poor, broken and covered with a dense growth of stunted pine and oak, and we had to cordu- roy much of our road to-day. Our advance arrived at Crawford at 9:30 a. m. The enemy was here encountered, and slowly driven until at noon we arrived in sight of Columbus. The advance of the division, under command of Colonel Eggleston of the First Ohio, immediately charged to the bridge over the Chatta- hoochee, with the intention of securing it. General Upton and staff followed immediately. We were standing on a little knoll, watching the enemy across the bridge, and as they did not fire began to think the place was evacuated, when in a moment, every gun in Columbus opened on us. We were not a quarter of a mile from their forts, and the shot and shell came fast and furious. Two of our head- quarters horses were killed. One shell struck our chief bugler's horse, tearing him all to pieces. Then grape and canister, more than ever I want to hear again. More horses were killed, but fortunatel}^ none of us. The First Ohio was fighting bravely through the streets of Girard, but the bridge in their front was fired before they reached it. and there was no alternative but to fall back. Glass in hand. General Upton stood like *' Patience on a monument," scanning their position until satisfied it was impossible to attack successfully from that point, then or- dered us to withdraw, I did not stand upon the order of my going, but got out of there as fast as "Charley" could take me. A bridge that spanned a little ravine had been torn away; there was no time to think, and my horse took the gap at a tremendous leap; but the distance was too great; he caught the opposite bank with his fore feet and held until I flung myself over his head. My brave "Charley" brought me out safely, but I found that he had been wounded by a piece of shell that cut a tendon, and it was necessary to kill him and thus end his suffering. THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 653 From a hill, from which I could see every house in Co- lumbus, every fort and earthwork, I watched the two armies maneuver until it was dark. Columbus is situated on the Chattahoochie River, where it flows through a beautiful plain at the foot of the mountain. Three bridges span the river ; one foot bridge, below the town, crossing from Girard ; an- other foot and railroad bridge, entering the main part of the city ; and an old forsaken causeway a few miles above the town. The lower and upper bridges had been destro3'ed at our approach; only the main bridge remained. It was stuffed with-cotton, covered with turpentine, ready to be fired, in case of our capturing the forts defending it. There were two regular forts, with redoubts and rifle pits, and abatis protecting them in front and on flank, and in front of them a line of earthworks along the lower ridge. Forts from across the river had range to these points, and it was next to impossible to successfully attack them through the valley. A dim blue line of hills, as far as the eye can see, encir- cles the plain in which the city nestles. In the twilight General Upton withdrew the First Brio-. ade and Rodney's battery from the line beyond the ridges, and marched them, under cover, up beyond the main forts. At 9:30 at night the Third Iowa was dismounted, and in rear of them the Tenth Missouri was formed, also dismounted, and in rear of them the Fourth Iowa, mounted. The Third Iowa was ordered forward at a charge, and away they went, yelling and shooting down upon the Con- federates, who were not expecting an attack from that quar- ter or at night, and after a short resistance were driven from their first line back to the forts and in among the batteries. The Tenth Missouri, supporting the Third Iowa, charged over the slashing and abatis, up to the batteries, captured them, and charged the flying enemy over the bridge, and in the face of the reserves, captured the guns, loaded with grape and canister. The charge was so impetuous, and as in the night friend and foe could not be told apart, the Confederates were panic-stricken and fled in disorder. Then our men charged over the bridge into the city. Major General Howell 654 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. Cobb fled with the remnants of his army, and all defense on the part of the Confederates ceased by 1 1 o'clock. Columbus was ours ! A wild exultation seized the soldiers, and I believe our division could- have whipped anything in the Confederacy. It was grand to see and hear the battle at night — all dark except when the scene was illuminated by flashes of the guns and glaring brilliancy of volleys from forts and rifle pits. So near were our men to the batteries that some were made blind by the powder flash. There, Captain Miller of Com- pany "D" fell, a shell passing through his side, and he died as he said, "like a Christian and a soldier." The Confeder- ates held stubbornly to their guns until our boys were in among them and forced them to surrender. The arsenal, foundries, work-shops, the QtWVLhoTiX Jackson, and an immense amount of ammunition were fired. The flames from 60,000 bales of cotton blazed up against the sky. Now that the battle is over, and we have possession of the city, strict discipline is enforced. Contrasted with the night we took Selma, it seems very quiet. It was nearly midnight when we entered the city, and until morning we could hear the slow rumbling of ambulances to the hospital, where the surgeons were busy. Our headquarters are at the " Battle House.'' April lyth. Up early and out in the city. The forts are full of prisoners. Prisoners and artillery everywhere. General Wilson came to congratulate and compliment the Fourth Division. This is Upton's fight. Our officers think the assault and capture of Columbus a brilliant exhi- bition of generalship. One thing is certain. General Upton has inspired his men with enthusiasm, and they have confi- dence in him. He is quick to see the point of attack, and is able on the instant to throw his force with the greatest effect. No delay, no dawdling, no mistakes; he strikes quickly and surely. He told General Wilson that he could now take his division and march through the South in any direction. He is not given to boasting, and as a military man, is sure of what he says. We are masters of the situation. • THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 655 Flying columns north and south served to divert Taylor, Forrest, Cobb, and the other generals, so they could not con- centrate their forces to oppose us, and they have been out- generaled from the start. I do not believe there is an army in the world that surpasses these divisions, that now march in compact, well-balanced columns, men and horses in per- fect form; disciplined, well officered, sure of themselves. It would be impossible to stampede them, and it would require awful carnage to convince them they were not invincible. April i8tJi. Lowe's plantation, Georgia, Marched at early dawn. First and Second Divisions in advance of us. Our division guarding the rear and corps train. Broken country and a scarcity of water made our march necessarily slow, and I had time to stop and chat occasion- ally with "ye inhabitants;" the principal question being, "What did you-unscome down to fight we-uns for?" "You- all" and "we all" prevail like an epidemic. The divisions in our front captured and burned a train, also captured many prisoners and animals. Cactus fences all along the way, bristling up sharp and tough ; they would make an excellent abatis. We see an occasional fig tree, and many plants and herbs entirely unfamiliar. April igth. Double Bridges, Flint River, Georgia. Marched early, crossing both forks of Flint River; one .forded, the other bridged. Country poor and dusty. An orderly bearing dispatches from General Wilson has just arrived. He reports: "We took and occupied Macon last night. General Howell Cobb has surrendered. We cap- tured many prisoners." The men are cheering. It looks like the end of the war. April 20th. In the pine woods in Georgia. We ride and fight all day, hardly stopping long enough to eat and sleep. The day's occurrences must be jotted down, if at all, by the light of the camp fire. The fellows watch me writing, and want to know if I am "making my will." I am writing history, I tell them. "Sacred or pro- fane?" asks the Major. It might be called profane, I reply. 656 . THE LAST CAMPAIGN. "A «- funny kind of history it will be!" says Lieutenant Battin; "Put that in it." Who knows, perhaps this road from Waterloo to Macon may some day lie before the reader like a map, for things are being- done. We have marched over it, at all events, 500 miles ; have had some rough and tumble service, our horses have fallen off very little, and the men are game as fighting cocks, and have taught a new lesson in military tactics. The cavalry as now armed and maneuvered is not considered merely the eyes and flankers for the infantry and artillery, but an effective force against the enemy entrenched, and in fortified cities. For us the road will always be memorable, winding over hills and mountains, through dark forests and green valleys, past cotton fields and plantations, with barns and clustering cabins, by rich cities, along shores of rivers, and by the margin of brooks half hidden in flowers and grasses, past quiet villages and hamlets, beneath the bright blue sky that bends with magic in it above the Simny South. The pity of it is that the road is marked by devastation and bloodshed and trampled under the rude feet of War. May- hap in history, as long as America shall endure, will live the scene where Upton fought his battle in the night, and won another ^^tar ; where Wilson, at the head of his cavalry, charged a fortified city, a stroke of daring generalship, and from the thorn Danger plucked the white flower Victory, that all his soldiers wear with him in their hearts ! I hope the historian may also say : On this road the army of cav- alry marched and put an end to the great Rebellion. April 21st. Macon, Georgia. Crossed the Ocmulgee River on the railroad bridge, and camped in East Macon. The town is full of Confederates, all friendly under the armistice agreed upon between Gen- erals Sherman and Johnston. Mobile, the lavSt Confederate foothold on the coast, has fallen. General W^ilson was right in marching on this line instead of striking south from Selma. The end is not far off. April 22d. Moved our headquarters to a beautiful green sward near the old Fair Ground. Our office is in a confis- cated tent, with ropes and flies decidedly "cottonish," evi- THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 657 dently once intended, to hold a batch of Johnnies. A fine view of the city is presented from here. The Fifth Iowa band came over and serenaded, and a pleasant evening- was spent. April 3jd. A fire in town last night burned our commis- sary and destroyed much of our supplies ; all our coffee is gone. Macon is a great capture, containing all kinds of military stores and an immense amount of cotton. If we confiscated all the cotton stored in the South it would pay our war debt. Vast quantities of it have been destroyed. Johnston's soldiers are coming in, and car-loads of re- serves from further South. General Upton was discussing with a number of officers an incident in one of Napoleon's campaigns, where a cavalry force had cut through the infantry and galloped between the opposing lines. "What of our discipline?" asked the Gen- eral. "If such a thing happened here, what would the Fourth Division do?" ''Do/'' said Captain Morse, mindful of his own experience, "They'd stand and yell 'Grab a root' like a lot of blamed fools!" The General did not join in the laugh that followed, but went on to press his question in that fine, earnest way he has when discussing military prob- lems. The rumor has just reached us of the assassination of President Lincoln ! We cannot believe it. April 2zf.th. News of Lincoln's murder confirmed. It comes like a stunning blow. The soldiers loved him, and grieve for him as though they had lost a father. News of peace unsatisfactory and doubtful. We are here to put down the Rebellion, if it takes ten years yet, the men say. Andersonvdlle is so near that the war is a reality in- deed with us. Many of our men who were prisoners and escaped, having been lying out in swamps for months, are coming in, starved and naked. Generals McCook and Alexander came to our headquar- ters to-day. April 2jih. Saddled my horse and crossed the Ocmul- gee on the pontoon bridge that General Cobb surrendered 658 • THE LAST CAMPAIGN. with the city. Visited the Macon arsenal and other govern- ment buildings, and rode about the city. The cars began running to-day. General Winslow came over to head- quarters bringing his report and eleven battle flags taken from the enemy. After he had gone General Upton spoke of his efficient service as provost marshal at Selma, saying, "Winslow would make a great quartermaster general." That sounded strange to me. Had he seen him after Gun- town re-form the line, and for three days and nights balk Forrest of his victory, holding him at bay with the Third and Fourth Iowa Cavalry, and bringing the scattered army back to Memphis, he would have left out the quartermaster. Winslow has not General Upton's military genius, nor his dash, but he is brave and resolute, and can handle a division of cavalry as skillfully as any officer in the service. Wrote letters to the Department, transmitting flags and other captured trophies. One flag, as fine as I ever saw, it was said Mrs. Lincoln had presented to the garrison at Selma; another, that Tibbetts of Company "I" captured from Austin's battery, inscribed with the names of battles of Shiloh, Chickamauga and Murfreesboro. Each flag had its history. I stacked them all in the corner of the tent think- ing if they could speak they would have heroic tales to tell. Some of them were almost new, but others were torn and tattered, lashed by tempests of shot and shell. The fortunes of war have separated them from their brave defenders, and there is no one to even tell to whom they belonged. They have fought their last fight, and made "unconditional sur- render." Never again at the "Reveille" to unfurl in the morning light; never at sunset to lower, softly folding upon themselves with rustling murmurs to "Retreat." So I put them all away gently, reverently, as became a soldier. Laid unnoted away, lost to those who loved them, their stillness to be forever unbroken, unless mayhap their muffied folds should stir and thrill to the softly-blown bugles of memory. We are in uncertainty, and can hear nothing from the North. April 26th. To-day I wrote a lot of movements for a new system of infantry tactics. General Upon is now busy study- THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 659 ing a new line formation, and jotting down notes. I told him of a company of militia we saw drill "up thar in Mis- soura," when ordering a right wheel, the captain shouted: " Break in two and swing reound like a gate, swing reound ! " with emphasis on the word of command, which amused him greatly. He said it had the advantage of simplicity. April 2'jth. Still no communication with the North, save through Confederate hands. Everything unsatisfactory. Rode over to the city and saw some beautiful houses, one the rpost magnificent in the South, parks, lakes, statuary; outside of Tempe's Vale, one would hardly expect to see any- thing more beautiful. April 28th. Everything is chaos here, the most extrava- gant rumors prevailing among the citizens ; no reliable news of any kind. The suspense is almost unendurable. We are reduced to about quarter rations, and no coffee, and nobody can "soldier" without coffee. Our clothing is worn out, and we nearly all wear Confederate uniforms. It is time the war was over. April 2gth. Macon, Georgia. Rode over to General Winslow's headquarters, making quite a little tour through the cit}'. The citizens seem friendly and most of the soldiers, though some of them are moody and cherish resentment. Pillaged property is to be turned over to the provost marshal. It consists of gold, silver, and all manner of trinkets. Fortune favors the brave! Rummaging in an old storehouse, I found a little bag of coffee, a sample lot it must be, bright yellow grains, inclosed in wicker, such as fancy baskets are made of. Lun was in an ecstacy while roasting and getting it ready to grind. "Let it simper slow," he insists, which, doubtless is the true method of making coffee. We keep it to ourselves, but as you can smell it a mile when the wind sits fair, we are likely to be besieged by the whole army. April joth. One trait is very noticeable in these Southern people, and it sets one a thinking. Certain families in each State hold themselves in a kind of superiority above the others — an aristocracy of birth ; different from Northerners, who think Smith is just as good as Jones, and so is Robin- 660 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. • son. I was talking about this with a nice looking old lady, who lives just across from our headquarters. She had re- turned my military salute with a stately courtesy, and so I stopped to chat with her. The kind old soul listened atten- tively while I stood at the gate and ran over the names of the Georgia boys that I used to know at "Old Hanover." They had come North to school, and brought a new charm to life with their handsome faces and chivalrous ways. There was something captivating about their soft Southern accent. They taught us how to swim and shoot and fence, and we taught them to skate and play football and "hook water- melons." When the war broke out, they all left for home, and I had never heard of any of them since. I suppose, I said, most of them went into the army. "The boys of the best families of the South," she answered, "joined the army." Two of the college boys she knew, Eli S. Shorter, of Co- lumbus, now an officer in Benning's brigade, and his cousin, Fred Wimberley. This afternoon a servant came over, bear- ing a tray with a round something, carefully wrapped, and a couple of bottles of Scuppernong wine. Lun looked at the tray with curious attention, chuckling to himself, as he brought out what he called "a noble plum pudding." I think I shall enlarge my visiting list! Northern papers received, with news of Lincoln's death, and the closing scenes of the war. Much dissatisfaction with Sherman, because of the armistice with General Johnston. We put great confidence in Sherman, and will not believe he did other than that he thought just and right. May ist. General Grierson has dispatched that his com- mand is at Eufaula. General McCook at Tallahassee. Our division will probably move to Augusta in a few days. An expedition goes down the Savannah River to the ocean. I went riding to-day beyond the lines to "Cross Keys," where Stoneman fought. May 2d. General Long, recovering from his wound re- ceived at Selma, has issued a farewell address to his division. He is greatly loved by his command. There never was an army of better men, or better soldiers than these now break- ing up, soon to be lost in civil life. Closely bound by disci- THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 061 pline, welded together under fire, and working harmoniously in a glorious campaign, it is with a feeling of sadness we see the end approach. May jcL The First Ohio Cavalry moved to Atlanta to receive the surrender and garrison that place. Orders came from General Grant to-day to garrison all important posts in the South. Our divisions are separating, and we all await orders. All Confederate soldiers are ordered to go home immediately. May ^tJi: General Wilson brought to our headquarters an official notice, received from Washington at noon to-day, and he and Upton are conferring. ''Open questions begin to burn like fire ; what to do with the children in orphan asylums, the poor people, many of whom are starving; our relations to the State Legislatures and local authorities; what to do with the railroads; food supplies, cotton, clothing; the negroes who have followed us, men, women and children afoot, on donkeys, in little carts, in a wild flight for freedom. Struck our tents ; our luggage was hauled to the Atlanta depot, but for some cause the train did not go, and we were ordered back to camp. We are to go to Augusta to-morrow. Generals Wilson and Upton parted company in front of the tent, Wilson waving his hand as he rode away. They have grown very close together in this campaign. I would like to know what fortune has in store for them. General Wilson, with his restless energy, would seem to be a born soldier of fortune, yet amid all conflicting orders he keeps a level head, and is as skillful in administration as he is in the field. He has fully justified General Grant's estimate of him when he placed him in command of this army. General Upton is a thorough student of military science, and is also a master of the details of military life. He is quick to see and use the material at hand to accomplish his designs. He has the enthusiasm of youth, but he is not rash; Tie has inordinate ambition, but is neither selfish nor cring- ing; he believes in himself, yet is neither over-confident nor vain. He has fairly won distinction as a soldier; and as a soldier, loves his country with passionate devotion. I would 662 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. like to record the wish that his name may always show clear and bright on the roll of fame. After General Wilson had gone, General Upton looked grave. It is rumored that General Grant is to come here. The war ending with such suddenness appears to have jolted Sherman and Stanton both off their feet. Secretary Stanton should have remembered that Sherman was an American, as patriotic as himself. Sherman was in command of a great army, flushed with victory, and was idolized by his soldiers ; then was no time to force insult upon a commander. How- ever. General Sherman is too good a soldier and too true a patriot to be long affected by it. Lee's troops are going through here in all directions, a thousand a day, for the past week, and Johnston's men are coming in, taking the familiar paths to their homes after long years of absence, poorly clad, some on crutches, some with empty sleeves, pale-faced from wounds or sickn'ess; the anger and bitterness of hate one feels turning into pity, when coming back to us in silence, they have no homes to go to. I do not wonder that Sherman wanted to give better terms than the government at Washington. They have sur- rendered, after fighting the thing to the end. That settles it. Now they are Americans and we will be friends again. Grant says to Lee, " Take your horses and go home, put in a new crop and begin again. " That sounds as though Lincoln had said it. But there is no good place to begin-: They have lost all. We must help them start, and keep them from starving. I have seen a number of our fellows give them money, take their names and postoffice addresses, and heard them say to them, "We will see you through." The darkeys have worked the little plantations, some patches have been kept cultivated ; but it is a mighty lonesome home- coming. We are issuing provisions from our stores, and ra- tions of meat from captured Confederate beef -cattle; and that is as good as Henry Ward Beecher's beautiful words' "Forgiveness and Reconciliation." May jth. On the cars for Augusta and Atlanta, Georgia. Up early. The Fourth Division marched at daylight. Staff officers, after waiting for two hours at the depot, got a THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 665 train and moved out ; five hundred men from the First Brig- ade, and about the same number of returning Confederates with us. Three engines to our train. It is queer to see us all together. Along the way, the people run to their doors to see the Johnnies going home, with their handkerchiefs ready to wave, but when they see our blue uniforms, they drop them, the cheer of welcome for the returning soldiers dies away on their lips, and we pass silently. The road is a desolate one ; many soldiers of Lee's army along the way. Had a long chat with two boys who were looking for their homes ; had served from the beginning in Longstreet's corps. Potomac, Shenandoah, Chickahominy, Chickamauga, Richmond, are interesting themes in good hands. Near West Point we saw two companies of Stoneman's cavalry. They say they have captured a courier with this pathetic message, dated May 3d, from Jeff Davis to his friend Harri- son : "I leave in an hour; if my horse can stand it, I will go on rapidly to Washington, Georgia. All their efforts are directed for my capture. My family are safest when far- thest from me. I have the bitterest disappointment in regard to the feeling of our troops. I would not have any one I love dependent upon their resistance against an equal force." We arrived at Augusta at sundown. City full of Con- federates. No Federals were ever here before. In front of the Planters' House, in the center of the city, we are great curiosities. It seemed to me the whole city was crowding to see the Yankees. Major Dee, with his regiment came march- ing up and we encamped in the public square. The Gen- eral and staff stopped at the Planters' Hotel. May yth. A gunboat came from Savannah escorting a commissary boat loaded with supplies for us from General Sherman. We are not forgotten by him at any rate. Rode all over the city sight-seeing. Crossed the river into South Carolina, from Hamburg to Aiken, chatting with citizens gathered on the street corners to deliberate on the approach of the Yankees. A company of Confederates, with two pieces of artillery, were guarding the bridge, but I came back unchallenged. The soldiers will all abide by General Lee's orders. 664 . THE LAST CAMPAIGN. • Colonel Jones arrived with the Third Iowa Cavalry. Gen- eral Molineux, of the Nineteenth Corps, will relieve General Upton. Augusta is a beautiful place, but blissfully ignorant of the horrors of war. The Yankees are growing in favor. All the churches were opened to-day. Generals Fry, Wright, Imboden, Ruggles, Basil Duke, Colonel Breckenridge, Ma- jors Bigger and Morgan (John's brother) and a host of other Confederate commanders are here. Many chats and arguments are kept up between our men and the Confederates, for the most part very friendly. Ar- senals, foundries, powder-mills and factories, commissary and quartermaster stores, and great stores of cotton, in our possession. May 8th. Augusta. Gold and silver circulating again. An auctioneer has been steadily plying his trade across the way, and our soldiers and the Confederates intermingle, buy cigars and smoke and chat, while the old fellow puffs his motley assortment as though he knew his goods were worth something. Silver sold at $i,ooo. Confederate, for $i. I saw a Confederate lieutenant buy a box of cigars for $500 Confederate money, his entire pay for the last seven months in the army before Richmond. His right arm had been shot away in the closing campaign. A flag raising at the arsenal. General Upton giving the assembly a little impromptu address, and his terse summing up of the results of the war was listened to with deep inter- est. No one, on the spur of the moment, could have made a better speech. I believe it will not be long until Augusta follows Savannah by the same road into the Union. May gth. Augusta. Paroling prisoners all day at the court house and city hall. Among the number was General Beauregard. Took a stroll down the bank of the Savannah River, watching the boats floating along with the tide. It is a fine night; a fisherman's beacon fire was flashing out over the water and his jolly song echoed around the river bend. A reward of $360,000 is offered for the capture of Jeff Davis and his companions in flight. We have captured their THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 665 last trunk line, there are no cars that he can travel on, our cavalrymen picket every ford and ferry on both sides of the Ocmulgee River, and it is next to impossible for him to escape. This is a typical order : '^Brigadier General Winslozv, Commanding First Brigade. "Keep me informed by courier of the exact movements of Jeff Davis, and when you have found the true scent, go for him, J. H. Wilson." General Vaughn, in command of Jeff Davis's escort, came in to make arrangements for the surrender of his forces, consisting of Dibrell's two brigades, Ferguson's and Duke's, and Butler's division of Wade Hampton's cavalry. They started with four thousand men, a hundred boxes of gold, and sixty boxes of silver; most of the specie has been dis- tributed among the men, many of whom have deserted. May loth. On the cars for Atlanta, 9:30 p. M. Passing green woods, factories, fields and country villas, an occasional farm house with its cluster of negro cabins cast its shadow along the landscape, and the lights in the windows glitter like fireflies as they flit by. Awoke this morning nearing Atlanta. Houses destroyed, farms laid waste, burnt ties and twisted rails plainly showed Sherman's onward march. Very strong works around the city, flanked by numberless lines of rifle pits, protected by che- vaux de frise, the most impenetrable one can imagine. Here and there are lonely patches of graves dotting the hillside. Established headquarters in what was once a dwelling. It is pierced by shot and shell in two or three places. I have a room upstairs, and sleep under a hole made by a shell that had burst, tearing out the side of the chimney. Colonel Eggleston, of the First Ohio, had received the surrender of the garrison, arms, stores, etc. May nth. Atlanta is a ruin, not a business house stand- ing, and not a dwelling, except a few marked by shot and shell — every tree and shrub about our camp scarred and cut into grotesque shapes by bullets. All the region is a battle- field ; lines of reddish-yellow clay earthworks, in every shape 666 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. known to military science, stretch away as far as sight can reach, and torn into shapeless masses by the heavy guns. May i2th. Out riding over the battlefields, among forts and rifle pits, wire fences, slashings and unknown obstruc- tions, unti-1 both horse and rider were tired out. Dismount- ing, I followed the line of an old fence and found a lot of fine ripe strawberries, and feasted, while my horse browsed in sweet clover. A report has been received of the capture of General Bragg. Dispatches keep coming in at all times from scout- ing parties after Jeff Davis. We think he cannot escape. Citizens came over to see us to night. I do not know what for, unless to drive away the loneliness. It must be miserable living for the people here. They had a hard time of it. It does not seem real to hear them tell their stories. Bomb-proofs are scattered through the city, in which, during the siege, the affrighted people burrowed like prairie dogs. They cut bullets out and sold them to buy bread. The citi- zens at Griffin are starving. If it were not for our feeding them from our stores, this whole country would perish. Governor Brown, of Georgia, was brought a prisoner to our headquarters to-day, arrested by order of the Secretary of War. Soldiers from Lee's army are passing continually. They are all awfully tired of war. I pity the poor boys. General Lee has loyally accepted the results of the war, and the armies will follow his example. They have followed him, God knows, with unfaltering step, without shoes, without blankets or food, grim and gaunt, a skeleton host to the last. That ends it. Captain McCormick, A. C. M., and Major Bird, A. D. C, have joined our headquarters. The railroad was completely destroyed when Sherman was surrounding Atlanta. Blackened embers and beds of ashes show where the piles of railroad ties were fired, and the rails at white heat, twined around the trees. The little pines and oaks alongside are seared and blackened by the process, and many have three or more rails twisted around them. THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 667 The Vice-President of the Confederacy, Alexander H. Stephens, in poor health and quite feeble, was brought to our headquarters, a prisoner. I vacated my room for him and came down stairs, where the gold and silver is stored to the amount of half a million dollars, which the Confederates confiscated and we captured, besides five thousand dollars in gold from the Confederate treasure chest. I feel like a buc- caneer or a bold brigand in here with this "unsunned heap" of treasure. Captain Gilpin has orders to take the State funds and deliver to Governor Brownlow, at Nashville. In barrels and boxes, it makes a load for two six-mule teams. General Winslow is in charge of all the parties at work on rebuilding the railroad to Chattanooga. It is nearly fin- ished to Cartersville, and our courier line is established from the Chattahoochie. We are to ride out there to-morrow to note progress. I have listened to-day to Alexander H. Stephens in con- versation with General Upton, and to their arguments about politics and the reconstruction of the Union. He is a splen- did talker, never at a loss for ideas, or fit words in which to express them. The line of policy in reconstruction * was the main topic. I was impressed with one thing he said, as rub- bing his fingers up and down on the back of his hand by way of illustration : "Slavery was a sore on the body politic constant friction North and South kept it inflamed." He told us of his interview with Lincoln and Seward at Fortress Monroe. He had a high opinion of Mr. Lincoln, and said " His murder was the greatest calamity that ever befell a people; especially will it be felt by the people of the South." He is a learned man and a deep thinker. While he and the General differed widely on many questions, I saw their ad- miration was mutual. Rode out along the railroad to where our engineer corps is bridging the Etowah River. Very few inhabitants in the country. Starved out ; the last sheaf of oats gone from the barn, the last pound of meal from the kitchen, and in the smokehouse the ground has been dug over for the salt that *A new word that Mr. Stephens used many times in regard to the seceded States. 668 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. had dripped there in curing meat. Passed Marietta — the ruins of it — near the base of Kenesaw Mountain, where Sherman fought his battle. Many of the killed were left unburied, or have been washed out by the rain, for parts of skeletons can be seen all about the battlefield. From a dis- tance you can see lines of works and rifle-pits ascending the rugged mountain, in a winding and tortuous course. I had ridden forty-five miles and was tired, but scrambled over the rocks and through the scrub pine to the highest peak where the fine view of the Blue Ridge range well repaid for the rough climb. May ijth. Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Stephens is still here at our headquarters. This morning I walked with him for an hour among the ruins. In one place he pointed out, on a half burnt sign hanging above a crumbling wall, the name of an old friend of his, and continued in a half soliloquy : "I was once a poor boy, here on this very spot ; the kind women of Georgia picked me up out of the street, and gave me an education. All I am, I owe to the people of Georgia. I could not desert my State. I loved the Union, but I followed my State." He said this with a pathos that went to my heart like a bullet. This Vice-President of the Southern Confederacy is no more a rebel than I am. Captain Armitage came, asking for provisions, especially salt, for the citizens in his neighborhood, as they were suf- fering for food, saying: "People never forgot those who were kind to them in adversity." That sounded like the speech of a man. Nothing was said of their having brought adversity upon themselves, and nobody thought of alluding to it. I believe that nine-tenths of these Southern people are glad in their hearts that the national authority has been restored. Early this morning we sent our mail by courier who brought back, among other papers, the farewell address of General Forrest to his troops : "Gainsville, Alabama, May 9, 1865. " Soldiers: — The troops of thisdepartment have been[sur- rendered. I do not think it proper to refer to the causes THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 669 which have reduced us to this extremity. That we are beaten is a self evident fact. The cause for which you have braved dangers, endured privations and suffering, and made so many sacrifices is to-day hopeless. The terms upon which you were surrendered are favorable and should be acceptable to all. They manifest a spirit of magnanimity and liberality on the part of the Federal authorities and should be met on our part by faithful compliance. "In bidding you farewell, you carry with you my best wishes. Without referring in any way to the merits of the cause in which we have been engaged, your courage as ex- hibited on many hard fought battlefields has elicited the respect and admiration of friend and foe. I have never sent you on the field where I have been unwilling to go' myself, nor do I now advise you to a course which I feel myself un- willing to pursue. You have been good soldiers, you can be good citizens. Obey the laws, preserve your honor, and the government to which you have surrendered can afford to be and will be magnanimous. " N. B. Forrest, "■Lieutenant GeneraL"^ Forrest was our most gallant opponent, whom we have fought with varying fortunes for the last three years, through Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. He is a born leader of cavalrymen, the only man left in the Confederacy who need be feared as a guerilla chief. Marmaduke, "Red" Jackson and the smaller fry, eould be stamped out inside of a month by State troops if they turned to bushwhacking. General Sherman's fears are needless, since' Forrest has made honorable surrender. There will be no more fighting. GENERAL UPTON'S FAREWELL. " Before severing his connection with the command, your General desires to express his high appreciation of the bravery, endurance and soldierly qualities displayed by the officers and men of his division. Leaving Chickasaw on the 22d of March, as a new organization, and without status in the Cavalry Corps, you in one month traversed 600 miles, crossed six rivers, met and defeated the enemy at Montevallo, capturing 100 prisoners, routed Forrest, Buford and Roddy in their chosen position at Ebenezer Church, capturing two guns and three hundred prisoners, carried the works in your front at Selma, capturing thirteen guns, 1,100 prisoners, and 670 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. five battle-fla^s, and finally crowned your success by a night assault upon the enemy's entrenchment at Columbus where you captured 1,500 prisoners, twenty-four guns, eight battle- flasfs, and vast munitions of war. You arrived at Macon, Georgia April 21st, having captured on your march 3,000 prisoners', thirty-nine pieces of artillery and thirteen battle- flags. Whether mounted with the saber, or dismounted with the carbine, the brave men of the Third, Fourth and Fifth Iowa, First and Seventh Ohio and Tenth Missouri Cavalry triumphed over the enemy in every conflict. With regiments led by brave colonels, and brigades commanded with consummate skill and daring, this division, in thirty ■days has won a reputation unsurpassed in the service. Though many of you have not received the reward your gallantry has entitled you to, you have received the com- mendation of your superior officers, and have won the ad- miration and gratitude of your countrymen. "You return to your homes with the proud consciousness of having defended the flag of your country in the hour of the greatest national peril, while through your instrumental- ity, liberty and civilization have advanced the greatest stride recorded in history. "The best wishes of your commanding general will ever attend you. "E. Upton, '■''Brevet Major General, Commanding Fourth Division Cavalry Corps'' As soon as the Engineer Corps can finish the bridge at the river the different regiments of this command will march northward. None of us, I suppose, understand what it is to disband a great army. The first regiments preparing to go home. The First and Seventh Ohio, and Tenth Missouri, have just marched past headquarters and cheered the Gen- eral. He made them a little speech. He knows what he has fought for, and his clear-cut statement went straight to the heads and hearts of his soldiers. In every engagement they have seen the result of his strict discipline and constant drill. By their side under fire, on the lookout for the chance to win, and ready on the instant to dash for it ; and in camp always attentive to their comfort and welfare; their enthu- siasm has changed into affectionate regard, so that now it is with a feeling akin to sorrow that they part. Colonel Ben- THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 671 teen, of the Tenth Missouri Cavalry, presented a beautiful tribute from his regiment.* General Upton has written his official report. A number of officers, staff and regimental, are recommended for pro- motion for gallantry during the campaign. Most of them, however, are thinking more about being mustered out of LiBUT.-Coi.. F. W. Benteen, 10th Missouri Cavalry. Captain 7th U. S. Cavalry, July 28, 1860; Major 9th U. S. Cavalry, Deceniberl7, 1882; Retired July 1, 188S; Died June 22, 1898; Brevet Brigadier General, U. S. A. service than of the honors. Camp life has become very irksome. Here in these days of waiting, came two letters bearing the postmark Selma. One, signed Catharine Symmes Mont- * It may be of interest to those of our readers who knew Col. Benteen to learn that Upton once wrote of him as the most gallant man he had ever seen under fire. — Editor. 672 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. ford — heart-broken mother, words and thanks — out of place in a soldier's rude journal, that I shall reverently keep, hop- ing that time may heal the wounds of a cruel war, and — is it too much to hope? — bring the day when North and South shall be again united. The other letter — and I may as well out with it — if sweet Kate be willing, I shall do my part to- ward that happy reunion. She will not give me an answer, she says, "until peace is declared." This afternoon, taking General Upton's farewell order with me, I went over to the camp of the Third Iowa, to bid my old company good-bye. It was not a pleasant thing to do. Lieutenant Battin and the boys were gathered about the improvised tents. George Weiney making an attempt to sing, "The Lady I Love Will Soon be a Bride," and much more to the same effect ; but I thought it did not go off very well. It is very plain that they are all impatient at the de- lay of orders to be mustered out. Colonel — General Noble it is now, is as proud of his old regiment as he well can be. Of the two thousand two hundred and fifty men who have been members of the Third Iowa Cavalry, only a few comparatively remain to enjoy the welcome home. Not one of the number has brought dishonor to the flag under which we fought. This narrative would be incomplete if it failed to record the name of Rev. Jas. W. Latham, the faithful chaplain of the regiment. I do not know to what church he belonged, but he has looked after the sick and wounded, consoled the dying and composed for burial the dead. He knows where our boys fell, and their friends may be assured that their resting-places were hallowed by his prayers. It is not easy to sever the ties that for four long years of hardship, danger, excitement and delight of soldier life, have bound us together. We had talked of the old days, and had called up many incidents of our campaigns, and the time had come to go. My foot was in the stirrup — no more " Pre- pare to mount!" No more "Boots and saddles!" The thought came almost with the sharpness of a saber thrust. "Good-bye, boys ! Good-bye! Good-bye!" At headquarters General Upton and Major Latta have just come in with the word of the capture of Jeff Davis. He THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 673 will be brought here. General Wilson has issued a congrat- ulatory order to the army. A salute of 200 guns will be fired to-morrow morning at sunrise to announce that "Peace is DECLARED." THE LAST NIGHT IN CAMP. I had walked beyond headquarters till I could dimly see the long lines of tents stretching away to the north. A boyish tenor voice somewhere was singing : "We are tenting to-night on the old camp ground, Give us a song to chesr." I knew well their thoughts were turning. When the song ceased, all was still. The sky, down to the horizon line, was crowded so thickly with stars that one could hardly trace "The Dipper." George McCallum came out of his tent to sound "Taps." I stopped to listen. Perhaps he too was thinking it was his last good-night bugle call. The notes rose and fell, and repeated themselves in plaintive echoes among the hills, and floating on until, in other echoes still fainter and more tremulous, they lost themselves among the stars. Bards have gone from the world. Only the musician now has the subtle power to bind as with a spell the hearts of an army of men ; and to-night it may be, touched by that call, their thoughts and feelings attuned to harmony, arose even beyond the stars. Good-night ! May iph. Atlanta, Georgia. I was awakened at 3 a. m. with the word that Mr, Davis had arrived. The shrill whistle brought every one within hearing down pell mell to the railroad depot. General Upton and one of his staff officers were to accompany the train to Augusta. The soldiers detailed as additional guards were building their fires from the debris of the fallen build- ings, throwing on half-burnt signs, door-posts, and window frames, and the blaze showed little knots of them along the railroad track, looking expectantly toward the cars. As soon as the train stopped we went in. The car was full. Mr. Davis and his wife were in the third seat ; next back of them Clay and his wife ; then Postmaster General Reagan, Colonels 674 THE LAST CAMPAIGN. Johnston and Lubbock, aides; Colonel Harrison, private sec- retary; Mrs. Davis's three children and her brother and sister; Lieutenant Hathaway, and others whose names I did not learn, and a number of colored servants. A detachment of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry under Colonel Pritchard, who had captured the party, guarded them. They were captured in Southern Georgia, making their way to the Florida coast. They had a little camp, two tents along side of the wagon, in the pine woods a mile from Irwinsville, and were asleep, when our cavalry dashed in on them. When Colonel Pritchard came up, Mr. Davis was furious. "I suppose you consider this a capture," he exclaimed. "Yes," replied the Colonel. "It is not, it is a //;