•The peculiarity of this name for a stream so far inland having
aroused my curiosity, I addressed a note to Richard Mcllwaine, D. D.,
president of Hampden-Sidney College, located in the same county,
Prince Edward's, asking him for an explanation, if possible, and he
was kind enough to speedily return the following verj' lucid reason:
"My impression is that the proper spelling of Saylors creek is with a
y. In the last century, there was a family of Saylors in Prince Ed-
ward's county, and my understanding is that the creek took its name
from them." (The corruption of this name to that now used is very
easy and the explanation reasonable.— A. S. R.)
236 NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
through a wood in good order. After clearing the wood it
made a right wheel and moved forward about 200 yards, when
it made a left half wheel. At this time I was ordered to charge
a battery that was in our immediate front, in a piece of woods,
which was firing shot and shell with great rapidity. We move
forward on the double-quick, and soon forced the battery to
limber up and retire. They planted the battery again in a
piece of woods across an open field and opened on us with a
heavy fire, but our advance across the field caused it to limber
to the rear. The men were completely exhausted, having
marched eighteen miles and receiving no rest before entering
the action; if they had been fresh, we should have captured the
battery without any doubt. The men behaved with their usual
gallantry." He also pays tribute to the bravery of the officers
complimented by General Keifer, and mentions the wounding
of Major William Wood.
It was in this fight that Jimmy H., the discoverer of the "hul
ribbel ahrmy" at Newtown in the valley, still further distin-
guished himself by remarking to Sergeant Judah N. Taylor
when the order to fix bayonets and charge came, "Sure, Jude,
I canno' charge whin I have no bayonet;" but Jimmy was
swept along with those who were properly equipped, for no one
knew just how the remonstrant came to be without a proper
outfit. Says an officer of this day: "I went over the field at
Sailor's creek. The dead rebels covered the grounds; about
ten of them to one of our men."
But this affair, however far-reaching in its effects, is only an
interlude in the symphony that Grant is playing for the enter-
tainment of mankind, and on the 7th we pass over the Lynch-
burg railroad at Rice's Station, entering Farmville at noon
very soon after rations had been issued by the enemy. Our
bands give the citizens "Yankee Doodle" and the "Star Span-
gled Banner" as we march through, crossing the Appomattox
upon a pontoon bridge.
The debris and clutter of the flying foe cumber the entire
way, but the reception accorded by the liberated slaves is some-
thing to remember forever. That they were free and that their
saviors were passing, drew from all of them fervent thanks and
prayers. The farmers apparently had not cared to sow much
wheat last fall, and what little they did put in, our beeves were
rapidly cropping. Farmville is a fine village, and we hear that
BREAKING THE LINES, AND SAILOIt'S CUEBK. 237
18,000 prisoners have been taken. Still following the fljing
foe, we march three miles the next morning, and draw three
days' rations. The weather is very warm, made all the more
so by the burning of a rebel wagon-train. A trace of slavery
is seen in the form of a bright hazel-eyed, yellow-skinned boy,
who answers our cjuestions very intelligently, yet says he is a
slave. Negro women are nearly frantic with joy over our com-
ing. Farmville furnishes an abundance of tobacco, Virginia's
peculiar product, and our boys help themselves. They are
greedy, and start away with far more than they can carry.
The roads are strewn with it.
Gardening was a favorite amusement as the army passed
along, for it frequently revealed stores of food and liquors
hidden in the ground. At Farmville this kind of industry was
particularly fruitful. Sometimes the boys divided with the
ofiBcers, and sometimes they didn't, depending somewhat on the
quantity found, and the popularity of the shoulder-straps.
Our direction of the Sth must have been towards the north-
west, for our camp at night is at New Store, and to reach Ap-
pomattox Court House the next day we have to turn southward.
However, though we reach New Store late, our camp is luxuri-
ous to at least some of the Ninth. A member of Company L
dilates on the comforts had from a feather-bed taken from the
house of a reputed rebel captain. Like the Irishman's bedstead,
viz., the floor, our lad laid his bed on the most substantial of
holders, the ground, and under the stars fancied himself at
home again with his unwonted luxury. He says eight such bits
of comfort were taken from the mansion, and in like manner
were placed where the occupants wouldn't get hurt if they
should fall out. But there is no sweet without its offset of bit-
ter, and the next morning our boys were tauntingly called
"feather-bed soldiers'' by those not fortunate enough to get
there first. Still there was warrant for such appropriation,
since these boys in four days and nights had had only twelve
hours' sleep. Sofa-bottomed chairs bestrewed the yard, and
oil paintings hung upon the walls of the rooms, and singularly
enough they were not disturbed, though some books were car-
ried off. Also ablutions were performed in clean, white dishes
by these campaign-stained travelers, who took occasion to re-
mark that if the women hadn't run away, they (the soldiers)
M-ould not have disturbed a thing. There were buildings
238 NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
burned, however, among them one that was claimed to be oi-
to have been the residence of the late General A. P. Hill, and
to have been more recently used as headquarters. As the Ninth
is a very large regiment, it is possible that all did not make
this detour. Indeed, so frequently were detachments called for
to attend to all sorts of duties, it would be particularly difficult
to follow each and every company in its peregrinations.
The sublime and the ridiculous are ever very near each other.
We find a verification of this on the 9th in that the sublime
was indicated in the surrender of Lee and his forces; the ridic-
ulous in the enforcement of General Seymour's order concern-
ing hats. Light-colored ones are positively tabooed, and those
captured are strung upon the bayonets of the guards. A mile-
stone in history is set to-day, for the surrender of Lee marks
the collapse of the cause for which he had sacrificed all his
private opinions and all his expectations, for General Scott had
believed him the man to succeed to the command of the armies
of the United States. Cheers from thousands of throats indi-
cated Union joy, and the tumult is increased by the salvos of
artillery in honor of the event.
Fate is grim and without reason, else this part of America
had not been selected as the climax of the greatest war of the
century. Remote, and without distinguishing trait, it had re-
mained unknown another hundred years had not the exigencies
of the retreat led these armies hither. The name of McLean*
and Appomattox are henceforth to be linked in story, and the
brick house and a])ple-tree are to take their places in the lists
of notables for coming centuries. General Grant in his matter-
of-fact way dispels much of the halo that had, up to the writ-
ing of his Memoirs, attached to the apple-tree. Of course the
relic-hunter had carried it off bodily, but the general says that
General Lee sat for a few moments by the road-side under its
branches, and that no negotiations were had there. The officers
met in the house of Mr. McLean, and there their staff-officers
visited while the chiefs made the compact which resulted in
the surrender of 25,000 worn-out Confederates to the Federal
•Wilmer McLean was living in 1861 on the Bull Run battlefield, his
house there being Beauregard's headquarters. Later to escape his
vexatious surroundings, he moved to this seemingly quiet locality.
It was a strange decree of fate that made his home the very ending of
the struggle.
BREAKING THE LINES, AND SAILOR's CREEK.
239
forces. The enemy had fought aud retreated till there was noth-
inji left for him to do but to lay down his arms and to receive
such terms as (ieueral (irant chose to impose. The latter, de-
termined and relentless in war. was mild and merciful in peace.
The most stupendous of strujj;
passionate manner. The old world had never seen a conqueror
dismissing the thousands whom he had beaten, to their homes
and vocations bearing with them such articles as might con-
tribute to their future well being. In every way, save in the
universal quality of personal bravery, our war was an excep-
tion to all those which thus far had devastated the earth. In
WHERE LEE SURRENDERED.
this lull of hostilities, old friends in both armies are renewing
former intimacies and none are sorry that, when the leaders
separate, it is with the understanding complete. There are
few men living who do not regard that moment when the words,
"Lee has surrendered," were borne to their ears, in that far-
away Virginia county, as the culminating moment of their lives.
They lived y^ars in those few hours of bliss, too intense for
full expression, though they resorted to every possible form of
indication. Nothing, however, in the crowning acts of this day
eclipses the merciful kindness of the conqueror in sending ra-
tions from his trains which had followed hard after him. but
240 NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
the men themselves did not wait for the slower coming of food
from the supply-trains. They, imbued with the same spirit as
that of their leader, emptied their haversacks for the aid and
comfort of those whom they had so recently fought and fol-
lowed. Both sides had learned to respect each other. Says
one "chiel," who would always be taking notes, "The rebels are
as glad as we that it is over, and it is a glad sight to see them
eat." Before we about-face for the return march, we have the
unspeakable joy of seeing the flag saluted by the men who had
scoffed at it for more than four long years, the very banner
which was to hereafter float over a whole nation, one and indi-
visible.
Though the language of General Wright in this connection
may add nothing to the foregoing, it is fitting that it should
have a place in these pages. He says: "Starting at 5 A. M. on
Sunday, the 9th, the 2d Corps was soon overtaken and followed
closely to the vicinity of Appomattox Court House, where the
troops were halted and held ready for any movement, awaiting
the conference then being held between Generals Grant and
Lee. Soon after halting, oflScial intelligence of the surrender
of General Lee's forces was announced to the army, and was
received with great enthusiasm by the soldiers, who looked upon
this as the result of all their privations, and as the virtual ending
of the struggle which had convulsed the country for four years,
in which they had willingly risked their lives and fortunes."'
CHAPTER XXII.
The Danville Raid.
Some of the regiment as wagon-guard start back on the 10th,
on which day, in spite of the recent order, three days' rations
are distributed, possibly on account of recent generosity to-
wards our hungry foemen. The 11th sees us beginning the
backward march, reaching Farmville on the 12th and Bnrks-
ville the 13th, where we camp near the junction for ten days.
Foraging again is the order of the day, and the valley is recalled.
Rain falls at intervals, and boys who lay down dry awake wet,
sometimes drenched. So much so in some cases that stockings
THE DANVILLE KAID. 241
had to be taken off and wiung before boots could be j)ut on.
Trains come tlirou^jh from I'etersburg, and regular rations are
drawn. While here the distressing news of President Lincoln's
assassination* on the 14th is received, and the joy at Lee's sur-
render is lost in the gloom of this terrible crime. The 19th,
twenty-minute guns are fired at headquarters in token of the
burial. Services are also had and General Keifer sj)eaks along
with Colonel Snyder and Major A. S. Wood. All flags are
craped.
While camping here, we see more than a hundred captured
cannon. Seventy of them had been honored with burial, having
headboards with all sorts of names and dates to mark their
resting-place. .Vs one of Sheridan's scouts assisted in the inter-
ment, the deception was readily discovered. There were Ave
*Our late surgeon, Dr. Samuel A. Sabin, was an eye-witness of the
terrible crime, as appears in the following, from a letter to his wife,
dated Washington, D. C, April 15, 1865:
"Washington has been, from the first day I came here, until 10.30
o'clock last night, one constant and continued scene of rejoicing, but
how soon and how suddenly to be changed to the deepest gloom, the
most profound sorrow. Last night I was an eye-witness to the most
appalling tragedy ever enacted in the history of the country. Lieut.
Hoff, formerly of the 9th, is here, and rooms with me, and I proposed
to go, last night, and hear Laura Keene in 'Our American Cousin' at
Ford's Theatre. We occupied orchestra chairs near the stage and
about the middle of the house. Mr. Lincoln, accompanied by Mrs.
Lincoln, Miss Harris and a gentleman whom I did not know (the
gentleman was Major H. R. Rathbone, U. S. A., of Albany, who was
wounded by Booth; the lady, a daughter of Senator Ira Harris of
Albany also. — A. S. R.) entered the upper private box, on the right
hand facing the stage, and you will recollect that the upper box is
pretty high, facing the stage. The audience greeted him with pro-
longed cheers, and in the midst of the act, when he entered, the band
played a national air. Just as the curtain was rising, in the third act,
the sharp report of a pistol was heard in the direction of the pres-
ident's box, and immediately afterwards a man jumped from the box
upon the stage with a drawn dagger in his left hand. The president's
box was draped with flags upon the outside, and as he jumped from
the box he was partially caught by a flag and fell upon the stage, but
not entirely down. As he reached the stage he cried, 'Sie semper
tyrannis,' and immediately ran along the footlights and left the theatre
by a back entrance, where he had a horse waiting, which he mounted
and rode rapidly off before the audience had recovered from paralysis
occasioned by the unwonted spectacle. My first thought was that a
boy in the gallery had fired off one of these large firecrackers
16
242 NINTH NEW YORK HEAVX ARTILLERY.
which we have been hearing for the last week, and that one of the
president's party had been seized with a fit, or had suddenly become
insane, and I ran back towards the door to stop him, supposing, as he
went behind the scenes, he had instead jumped to the floor and was
coming around towards the door. As I got to the door, someone said,
'The president is shot,' and, thinking there would be no surgeon at
hand I might be of service, I ran immediately to the president's box.
When I got there I found everything, of course, in the utmost confu-
sion, some calling for one thing, some for another. As soon as I saw
the wound I saw there was no hope, and another surgeon had stated
the same previously. Some brandy was brought and given, but he
could not swallow. The bullet entered the head behind the left ear
and penetrated the brain, lodging in the same. It seems the man
entered the box on some pretence or other, and immediately fired his
pistol with fatal eifect and jumped upon the stage. The president, of
course, was entirely unconscious, and remained so until he died at
7.30 o'clock this morning. He was carried as soon as possible to a
private residence across the street, where he remained till he died.
Mrs. Lincoln was nearly crazy, and as she followed the body from the
theatre she cried in frantic words, 'Oh, my poor husband; oh, my
poor husband!' I did not accompanj' the body across the street, as I
might have done, dreading to be called as a witness when there should
be an investigation. I shall never forget the expression of the assas-
sin's face when he leaped upon the stage; his face as white as parch-
ment, his black, fierce-looking eyes, his black moustache, the drawn
dagger in his hand and the [to some] cabalistic words, ^ Sic semper
tyrannis,^ — all made an impression upon my mind which can never be
erased. Report says, and I do not doubt the truth, that J. Wilkes
Booth is the assassin. He has been arrested and he is now being tried.
When I returned to my hotel the bar-keeper came in and said that
Secretary Seward and his two sons, Fred and Clarence, had all been
cut to pieces by another assassin. I could not credit it and went to
the secretary's house to ascertain the truth. I found it to be as the
papers state it. I have just learned that Secretary Seward is out of
danger, but Fred is not expected to live, his skull being badly frac-
tured. * • ♦ I assure you it looked very sad to see the president
lying in his box, shot through the head, when but a moment before he
had been in full health and life, laughing at the numerous jokes with
which the piece abounded. I could not, for a long time after I had
seen him, realize that it was the president who was thus, without a
moment's warning, all unconscious of the least danger, murdered by
a foul assassin. ♦ ♦ ♦ i have just come in from the street, and
where yesterday everything was covered with flags and everj'body
was rejoicing, all is covered with crape and everybody is mourning.
When on my way from the theatre, last night, the streets were
thronged with negroes, who were crying and wringing their hands in
the greatest distress. The fence in front of the White House, today,
is lined with negroes and they are expressing their great sorrow at
the loss of their best friend."
THE DANVILLE RAID. 243
Armstrong guns, two mounted on English carriages, and one
Wliitworth. Seven rebel officers are reported shot for tearing
up railroad track between Kichmond and Petersburg. A good,
long and much needed rest is had iu this halt, and the boys get
back to their normal selves.
But Johnston has not surrendered, so Sheridan's old guard
of the valley along with his cavalry set forth to make the trip
to Danville and thus unite with Sherman. The men are used
to marching, and they are nothing loath to undertake the 12a
miles to the North Carolina border. The railroad itself is pro-
nounced the very worst we have seen, just old strap iron laid
on longitudinal sleepers. The only wonder is that it was able
to render the service that it did. Wrecked cars are frequent
objects. It was over this road that Jefferson Davis and his
Cabinet took their hurried ride from Richmond April 3d on
their way to Danville, the last capital of the Confederacy, to-
wards which we are wending our weary way. A considerable
portion of our regiment is guarding wagon-trains, so we are
not marching as a whole. To Northern eyes the country is not
inviting, and we can not help noting the small acreage of grain.
The 24th takes us to the Staunton river at Roanoke Station.
The name arouses memories of John Randolph, who always
affixed "of Roanoke" to his name, and very likely we may have
passed quite near the old home of this descendant of Poca-
hontas.
Once more we are in a land where foraging is possible, but of
course, quite out of order, since Lee had surrendered. Notwith-
standing, fresh pork was not an infrequent diet on this south-
ern ramble. A small fiat-bottomed boat takes us across the
river at daylight of the 25th, for the bridge had been burned.
The negroes are moving in great numbers towards Richmond,
which now takes the place of heaven in their fancies; the face
of the country improves as we advance further south. Planters
wear pleasant faces, but we can not tell what is in their hearts.
Strawberries and blackberries are in blossom. At nightfall we
camp in Halifax Court House; others near Boston Station,
where they entertain at supper and bivouac Jarvis Norman
from Lee's army, exchanging reminiscences. The camp is on
the farm of Dr. Coleman, consisting of thousands of acres.
Colored women, wearing garments just the hue of the red soil
they cultivate, are seen at work in the fields. Hereabouts the
244 NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY AETILLERY.
land is better, and better tilled than in the vicinity of Rich-
mond. There are wheat-fields over a hundred acres in extent.
One party saw a negro laborer whose overseer had stuck a
knife into his -shoulder because he could not cultivate corn
more rapidly. Said overseer had left before we came along.
Since crossing the Staunton river, the negroes travel with us
towards Danville. The 27th brings the different lines together
at the covered bridge which spans the Dan river, unaccount-
ably spared when the rebels departed, and it is like the neck
of a jug, for through it all must pass in reaching the city op-
posite. Not much of a city to Northern eyes, but such it is.
Some of the Ninth were at the bridge at 3 P. M.. but they had
to wait till all were uji. and then passing through, after receiv-
ing the formal surrender of the city from Mayor J. M. Walker
and the city government, we camped on a hillside two or three
miles south of Danville, and very near the North Carolina line.
'Tis said that the Johnny purpose to destroy the bridge was
ready enough, but the citizens prevented. Possibly the dis-
position to surrender was heightened by the fact that a party
of soldiers had already forded the Dan river at the right and
had taken ,ifl(tO prisoners, with millions of projierty, whilf* the
mayor was doing his part at the bridge. Colonel T. W. Hyde,
commander of 3d Brigade, 2d Division, claims the honor of
first entering the city. With genuine Yankee curiosity (he was
a Maine man) he looked up the office of the Danville Register,
and finding forms and type and a part of a page set up, he sent
Moses Owens to complete and {trint, issuing the first number
that evening. The Sixth Corps as long as we remained was a
regular article at twenty-five cents a copy. It was not much,
only a broadside llxlfi inches, but it was funny. Witness some
of its facetiae:
"We have the Wright man in the Wright place."
"Treason can not Hyde itself."
"I met with no opposition except the river, which, by the way,
was running rapidly."
"The citizens were delighted to see us. and many were seen
to cross themselves before our glorious banner." Signed Oweu-
sisko.
Colonel C. S. Porter of the 1st Maine was appointed provost
marshal. Just one-half of the page was given to advertise-
ments already set up, including "Two runaway slaves." The
THE DANVIM.E RAID.
245
rf'I'Tl'iliin ;irinrrii';:,i,i|7'i'«;
§
►J
>
z
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a
&.
o
>"
Eh
O
246
NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
paper was run on a very funnj' basis. If Editor Owens didn't
feel like getting out a new paper, he reproduced that of the
day before. The owner of the paper was joined with Owens
in this venture, and he got more monej- out of it than he had
ever made before. They faked their Northern despatches, and
news agencies were not of the least account. A bit of original
poetry on Sedgwick is given in Miscellaneous chapter. The last
number issued bore date May 16th, and contained the notice of
Jeff. Davis' capture.
Those who liked fun — and who didn't? — tell wondrous
stories of the diversions the place afforded. Certain ones do
not refrain from repeating the following, though the joke ap-
pears to b(; on themselves: They found no end of pleasure in
LAST CAPITOL OF THE CONFEDERACY.
attending the dances which the colored people, in honor of
their newly-found liberty, were giving every night. Somehow
or other the dusky damsels preferred them as partners to the
men of their own complexion. After a while this began to
rankle in the masculine African breasts, and they determined
to rid themselves of their soldier rivals. Accordingly, after
due consideration, they sent a deputation to wait upon the
white dancers, and to tell them "dat de presence of de white
gemmen was offensive to de ladies, for dey couldn't stan' der
odor." This turning on the boys their own oft-repeated slur
on the negroes" alleged scent, was effectual, and they tripped the
THE DANVILLE RAID. 247
light fantastic elsewhere. The last office of the Confederacy
Wiis shown, foi' in tlie Benedict House on Wilson street, eTef-
ferson Davis and bis Cabinet established themselves April 4th,