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 | Memoirs of the war of secession |  |
General Hagood was directed to select a detail of officers to
accompany and assist him; and given transportation for them
and their horses by rail as far as these roads remain in running
order. This was to the edge of Sherman's "swath" through
South Carolina. Lieutenant-Colonel Rion, Seventh battalion,
Lartigue and Hay of the staff. Moffett and Martin of the staff
and Captain Brooks (Seventh battalion) accompanied General
Hagood; and next morning they started for South Carolina.
The brigade now numbered of all grades present 493 men!
This was the last time General Hagood saw it; or saw the Red
Cross flag floating over armed men in the field. Before his mission
in South Carolina had been accomplished,—before the forty
days had expired—the Confederacy had gone down in blood and
gloom.
Captain Stoney kept a memorandum diary of events after
General Hagood's departure; and the following extracts from it
conduct the history of the brigade through the few days that
remained to the bitter end. They at the same time give such
glimpses of the general course of events, now familiar history,
as were obtainable at the time by a subordinate and show, too,
how in the shadow of approaching doom the ignoble traits of
poor human nature are as perceptible as the heroic.
"March 31st.—General Hagood having left for South Carolina. Lieutenant-Colonel
Rion assumed command of the brigade, being the ranking
officer present. The North Carolina troops, lately brigaded with us,
assigned by division orders to Kirkland's and Clingman's North Carolina
brigades. The division is now attached to Hardee's corps.
"April 4th.—Hardee's corps reviewed by General Johnston. In the
absence of Lieutenant-Colonel Rion on courtmartial duty, the brigade
commanded by Captain Thomas, Twenty-first regiment.
"April 7th.—Corps again reviewed in honor of Governor Vance, of North
Carolina. In the afternoon he made a speech to the brigade of junior
reserves lately attached to Hoke's division, speaking plainly of the critical
condition of affairs, but impressing upon them that with anything like a
proper discharge of duty the cause was by no means hopeless.
"April 9th.—Received orders to have wagons packed by reveille tomorrow;
no intimation of what movement is on foot.
"April 10th.—At 10 a. m. orders to prepare to move. At 11:30 a. m.
marched in a heavy rain; passed through Smithfield and encamped five
miles beyond on Raleigh road. Colonel Graham, Twenty-first, arrived at
headquarters just before we marched, but did not assume command, being
required by division commander, before doing so, to account for his prolonged
absence in South Carolina, whither he had been sent on similar
duty upon which the brigade commander is now detailed. Colonel Gantt,
Eleventh, is absent under similar circumstances. Major Cleland K. Huger,
of the artillery, upon today's march, intimated to me that General Lee
rumors upon the subject.
"April 11th.—Marched fifteen miles and bivouacked five miles from
Raleigh. Troops out of marching condition from even the short rest at
Smithfield; straggled badly.
"April 12th.—Passed through Raleigh at midday. The city was being
rapidly evacuated and immense quantities of stores destroyed and abandoned.
Captain Segus and his company (Seventh battalion) left behind
in city as provost guard. Division encamped on Hillsboro road five miles
beyond Raleigh. Rumors in regard to General Lee assuming an unpleasant
air of probability.
"April 13th.—Marched at 6:30 a. m. Camped four miles from Chapel
Hill.
"April 14th.—Route altered from Hillsboro to Greensboro. Marched
twenty-two miles; but little straggling.
"April 15th.—Division prepared to march at 4:30 a. m., but for some
unexplained reason did not move until 6 a. m. under arms in a heavy rain
during the interval. Our division was the rear of the column; the enemy
following, but not pressing, and not nearer than Chapel Hill. Early in
the day encountered the Haw River swollen with a freshet; crossed with
much difficulty but no loss; a few men were washed away by the current
but not drowned. Three miles beyond the river the direction of the march
was changed to Salisbury. On this road a mill stream was encountered,
about twenty feet wide, but so rapid and deep that the wagons were gotten
over with difficulty. The Allemance, out of its banks, next crossed our
path. A few men had succeeded in crossing by chaining their hands or by
holding on to horses' tails of the mounted men, who half waded, half swam
over, but the wagons were at a hopeless standstill. General Hardee was
on the further bank, evidently anxious for rapid movement and nonplussed
by the obstacle. At length the leading teamster was ordered to attempt
the passage. With a crack of the whip, and a shout to his mules he is in
and under, rises, struggles, and is swept away. Everything was again at
a standstill; the rain was falling in torrents, the river was rapidly rising,
something had to be done, and our lieutenant-general determined to try
to swim another wagon and team across. The order was given, and followed
by the same result. Mules, wagon and teamster were swept down
the stream; and it was hard to tell which was uppermost in the struggle
with the flood. The general's resources seemed now exhausted and he
ordered the destruction of the train. General Hoke suggested that a more
practicable crossing might be found, and he was permitted to seek it. Four
miles higher up we crossed without difficulty at Holt's mill, and the train
was saved. Encamped half a mile beyond the river after a most fatiguing
day's march. Tonight, Colonel Olmstead, of the First Georgia regiment,
tells me positively that General Lee has surrendered. Great God! can it be
true? I have never for a moment doubted the ultimate success of our
cause. I cannot believe it.
"April 16th. March resumed at 6:30 a. m. Roads almost impassable.
To facilitate movement, the division train was divided—each train had its
own wagons in its front with details to assist them along. Marched twenty
miles and encamped with instructions to move at 4:30 a. m. tomorrow
without further orders.
"April 17th. At 12 last night, the order to move this morning was countermanded,
and we remained stationary during the day. Early in the day
it was reported our army was to be surrendered. This rumor was at first
disregarded, but presently began to assume shape and force. The wildest
excitement seized the troops. I rode to division headquarters to learn the
truth. I saw Majors Cross and Adams of the staff, who informed me that
beyond a doubt the army would be surrendered tomorrow. In reply to my
question whether I was at liberty to make this known, Major Adams
replied, `Yes, and you may further say that any one who desires to leave
can obtain a written permit from division headquarters.' I returned to
camp and made the announcement. Colonel Rion immediately ordered the
brigade into line and urged them not to leave. The enemy were now supposed
to be not only in rear, but on both flanks, and it would be difficult to
escape; that if any considerable number left it might compromise the
terms given to those that remained. The men seemed at this time ready
to do anything that their officers advised, to march that night in the effort
to cut their way out, or to remain and abide the issue where they were.
All the afternoon the cavalry were passing us saying they `were going out.'
The infantry soon become almost frantic, and in every direction were
rushing to beg, borrow, buy and steal horses. Disorganization was complete.
Horses and mules were everywhere taken without the least regard
to ownership. Trains were openly carried off after plundering the wagons.
The division supply train was thoroughly stripped. The flags of the
brigade were burned by the men in the certainty of surrender. About dark
an order came from army headquarters to keep the men together, but with
that day the army perished—a mob remained.
"April 18th.—No further development of events. About dark Major
Cross, A. A.-G., came to Colonel Rion with directions from General Hoke
to say to the brigade that there was no truth in the reported surrender.
Demoralization, however, is utter and complete; there is no spark of fight
left in the troops. General Johnston expresses, we are told, great displeasure
at the report. It came to Hoke from corps headquarters, and is
now there denied to have been warranted by anything that passed. Our
remaining supplies of commissary and quartermaster stores are fully
issued, but forage for the animals is failing.
"April 19th.—A strange rumor in camp that Lincoln has been assassinated.
In the afternoon a circular from General Johnston expressing profound
regret at the report of his intended surrender, and positively denying
its truth. Accompanying the circular was a general order announcing
to the army "that a suspension of arms had been agreed upon pending
negotiations between the two governments. During its continuance the two
armies are to occupy their present position.'
"No one who has not seen and mixed with demoralized troops will be
disposed to credit my statement that this announcement appeared unwelcome
to many of the men. They regretted to have to remain in camp a
few days longer, although the difference was between going home as
prisoners of war on parole or as freemen under an honorable peace. This
was undoubtedly the prevailing sentiment with the mass. Others drew
high hopes from the expression underscored in the official copy, `the two
governments.' Recognition of independence was deduced from it, whatever
minor terms might be agreed upon, and when later in the evening a
courier from corps headquarters reported the news that Captain Fielden, an
assistant adjutant-general at army headquarters, had stated that peace
was declared, and upon most favorable terms, we were in the highest
spirits. The impression prevails that the United States have become
embroiled with France in the matter of Mexico, and that our independence
is recognized on condition of an alliance offensive and defensive between
the North and South.
"April 20th.—Nothing definite as to the terms of the impending peace.
Rumor now has Reconstruction as the basis. The universal sentiment of
the brigade is opposed to anything like submission or reconstruction of the
accursed Union. The feeling, I noticed the other day, I am sure arose
from no desire of giving up the Cause, but going home as prisoners of war
included in their minds the sequence of exchange and renewal of the struggle.
"April 21st.—General Hoke returned from Greensboro with various items
of news. We are to return to the Union under the status of 1860, the rights
of property to be respected, and property as defined in each State to be
recognized. All laws passed since 1860 to be submitted to the Supreme
Court, negro slavery to be untouched, the troops to be marched to their
respective State capitals, and there ground their arms; at the capital, too,
each soldier is to take an oath of allegiance to the United States.
"April 22d.—There being reason to think that many of the brigade were
contemplating leaving for home, Colonel Rion issued a circular advising
them to remain to the end. Immediately the whole command collected at
headquarters to hear more fully from him. He addressed them at length.
He stated the position of affairs, as far as known to him, and urged that
their departure would be a violation of the truce, compromising their personal
safety, compromising General Johnston, and finally compromising
their personal honor.
"April 23d.—Seven men of the Seventh battalion and fifteen men of the
Twenty-seventh regiment left for home yesterday and today. The division
is being rapidly reduced in this way. They are going in large bodies and
at all hours without an effort being made to stop them.
"April 24th.—Desertion on the increase throughout the army. Thirty
men and one officer (Lieutenant Brownlee, Eleventh South Carolina), of
our brigade, left yesterday.
"April 25th.—Informed that the truce would terminate at 11 o'clock
tomorrow. Received orders to be ready to move at that time. Men still
"April 26th.—Marched at 11 a. m. May I ever be spared such a sight as
I witnessed when the order to move was given. Whole regiments remained
on the ground, refusing to obey. In the last ten days desertion had reduced
Kirkland's brigade from 1,600 to 300 men; Clingman's and the brigade of
junior reserves from the same cause were each no stronger; Hagood's and
Colquitt's brigades had suffered, but not so much. Now not more than
forty men in each brigade followed Kirkland and Clingman from the
ground. Officers as high as colonels, not only countenanced, but participated
in the shameful conduct. Major Holland, of the North Carolina
troops, formerly attached to our brigade, went off with all his men, and
officers of higher rank did the same. Hagood's brigade here left forty
men; Colquitt's about two hundred. These commands being from South
Carolina and Georgia, are willing to hold together while movement is
towards their homes. I fear a march in another direction would equally
reduce their numbers. For all this demoralization I must hold our higher
officers responsible. All the sensational reports which have so loosened
the bands of discipline originate at their headquarters, and many of them
are playing first hands in the shameless appropriation of public property
that is going on. This last remark applies principally to General Hardee's
headquarters, and much feeling is elicited among the troops by the appropriation
there of supplies intended for and much needed by them. Halted
on the Trinity College road five and a half miles from Trinity, having
marched ten miles.
"April 27th—Remained quietly in camp all day. Rumors rife as usual,
at length culminating in the sad and solemn truth of surrender.
| Memoirs of the war of secession | |