So910.19-.U>1? # Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/surrerideringreenOOwalk' The Surrender in Greensboro. The enclosed paper is a true copy of the article read before the U. D. C. chapter, of Greensboro. It was intended to be private and was prepared by request, for their entertainment and amusement. A woman from High Point got possession of it, and after removing the objectionable paragraphs to the Northern press, had her version published in the N. Y. Tribune as the original : £ , ft* [ fC*JM+^ Greensboro Chapter, Daughters of the Confederacy : Ladies: — When I promised a compliance with your wishes to give you some personal reminiscences of the spring of 1865, following the surrender of Lee, and its attendant sorrows and trials, I little knew the strain on memory and nerves I was undertaking. For years after the event the recollection of the ex- periences of those sad days was banished to the si- lent vaults of memory, the door closed, keys lost. The conditions of life were so changed, the fearful present was upon us and the contemplation of the daily situation was so absorbing and appalling we gave no time nor thought to the past years of con- flict. We stood confronting new problems of life at every turn, and the solution of these problems seemed hopeless, with the flower of our youth and strong men slain on the battlefield ! Property value- less, no money, and the former slave made eo-equal with his master at the ballot-box to make laws. We were a fallen but unconquered nation in the hands of a relentless foe, whose iron heel on the neck of his victim, thought to grind out the indomitable spirit of a people whom ethically he could never ap- preciate. Never, never should the veil of oblivion hide from our view the studied national insults, the intense hatred and malice of stony-hearted politi- cians. Even the sacred arena of the pulpit was called on to contribute its vituperation on the arch- traitors, and crush the rebellious spirit of the South. Through the long vista of thirty-six years I pre- sume there are few within the sound of my voice who can recall the stunning effect upon the countiw when the news of Jackson's death reached us. The South became shrouded in gloom ; hope seemed to desert the stoutest hearts; men, pale with anxiety, seemed to realize for the first time how much the country leaned on that arm of flesh for victor v. Grant, with his legions, was to the north of us; Sherman, with his merciless hordes, was making the Southern skies livid with his trail of fire over a defenceless country ; Kirk, with his desperadoes, poured like an avalanche on the west, and was more to be feared than the reg- ular army. On their approach all stores of wines and liquors were destro3^ed, silverware and gold coins were buried, meats secreted in garrets at night, lest Yankee gold should tempt the faithful slaves to betray. History alone can tell you of the troublous times of those winters of '64 and '65. General Beauregard and staff came to Greensboro in March, spending several days at Bland wood, Governor Morehead's mansion, speeding on the last 3 of our Confederate troops to join Lee. Suspense was ended on April 9, 1865, when Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomatox. Before leaving Richmond the officials had the wounded and sick sent on to Greensboro, where every available room was filled, and had been full all winter with the sick and dying. The women, to their honor, be it said, ministered to them daily with loving care and sympathy. The Confederate navy and army stores at Richmond were also sent, by the Manassas Gap Railroad, to Greensboro, under the care of Commander Lee, a brother of General Lee. These stores he kindly dis- tributed to the sick and returning soldiers until the surrender of Johnston, when he turned over the lot to the soldiers and citizens to prevent their capture by the Federal troops. Commander Lee was a charming, genial old man, whose patient endurance of army rations enlisted the sympathy of my mother, who begged his com- pany every day for dinner while he was in the city, "to enjoy lettuce and onions." The earth seemed to yield her grateful increase of turnip greens, lettuce and onions. These, with hot cornbread, seemed to be all the starving and uncomplaining soldiers wanted. Mrs. Davis and children preceded President Davis from Richmond, and by invitation spent the evening at Bland wood. President Davis was invited to the house, but declined, "as the Federal troops might burn the house that had sheltered him for a night." Memminger and his wife remained over several days with us for a rest, bringing with them Alexander Stephens, of Georgia, so pale and careworn, but the price was on his head, and we tearfully bade him God-speed. Never can I forget the farewell scene when the brave and grand Joseph E.Johnston called to say farewell, with the tears running down his brown cheeks. Not a w r ord was spoken, but silent prayers went up for his preservation. The Salisburj^ road was filled with the retreating troops — wretched, half-clad, starving and very many shoeless. E3^es wept till the fountain of tears was exhausted. But one fine morning, amid the sound of bugles and trumpets and bands of music, the Federals en- tered Greensboro fully thirty thousand strong, to occupy the town for some weeks. General Cox was in command. He, Burnside, Schofield and Kilpat- rick, with their staffs, sent word to the mayor that they would occupy the largest house in town that night, and until their quarters were established, in charge of Major Howlett, the}' came to Bland wood, which already sheltered three families and several sick soldiers. My father met them courteouslv and received them as guests, a fact which General Cox appreciated, and after placing his tent in the rear of Judge Dick's house he rode up ever\ r afternoon to consult with the Hon. J. A. Gilmer and my father on the conditions of the country. He was a most cour- teous and elegant man, and in delicate ways dis- played his sympathy with us ; no triumph of the conqueror in tone of voice and manner; spoke ten- derly of the misfortunes of war, and in spite of our- selves won our hearts' confidence. Very soon a note was received from the General announcing the arrival of Mrs. Cox and the hope was expressed that "Mrs. Gilmer and Mrs. Walker would do him the honor to call upon his wife." Our superior officers ordered a compliance with his wishes. but what to wear was the perplexing question. An old silk, dating back five years in style, came from the recesses of my trunk, the "skyscraper" was the headgear, shoes and gloves that had run the block- ade and been purchased at enormous figures. Thus equipped, we called upon the 1 ad y from Cincinnati! She received us in Mrs. Dick's parlor in a yellow morning wrapper, was simple in manner, dignified, bordering on stiffness, in contrast with the genial manners of her husband. As you may imagine, the discourse was on very general topics — the skies, the climate, etc., of North Carolina — never an allusion to the events of the last four years ! A grand review of all the troops was to be held on the next Saturday, and a pavilion was built in the centre of the town — the upper story to be occupied by the Federal ladies. By 9 o'clock a four-horse ambulance with outriders was sent with a note from General Cox again " begging the honor of Mrs. Gil- mer's and Mrs. Walker's company with Mrs. Cox to witness the review." Mrs. Gilmer flatly told her husband that she refused to add one more spectator to the pageant, for it was an enemy's bullet which had maimed her only son for life. Violent, decisive words, and very ugly ones, too, were spoken by the other lady, but a peremptory or- der was given and with bitter tears, accompanied by one of our soldiers, she went to the pavilion, to be received so graciously by Mrs. Cox. Sullen, speech- less, vindictive, no eulogy was paid the magnificent pageant, the gorgeous display of new uniforms, glit- tering sabres and bayonets, and all flushed with victory and marching to the music of splendid bands. These troops remained several weeks encamped on 6 the hills around the town, and at sunset each even- ing the practising of the various bands of music would again open the floodgates of tears. But with the morning sun the avaricious desire for their " greenbacks" seized the ladies of the town-; pies, chicken and fruit, beaten biscuit, ice cream and cake poured into the camps. One company sent me a message that "the ice cream was not rich enough — needed more eggs.'' A few drops of tumeric (often used for yellow pickle) covered the difficulty and gave satisfaction. The reorganization of our domestic life in homes and farms came up for consideration. Wages were paid the negroes before the troops left the town, and their behavior was respectful and creditable. The philanthropic North sent out agents to purchase lands for homes, churches and school houses; thus Warnerville sprang into existence. White women came as teachers, and a lonely life they led with their only friends. As the farms were well advanced with the growing crops the negroes remained and received wages and gave no trouble. Sorghum was intro- duced during the war, while coffee, so called, of parched rye and sweet potatoes, refreshed the inner man. It was a sw^eet and heroic service during the war to wear homespun cloth, leather shoes and home-knit stockings, but when all was over and patriotism no longer demanded this sacrifice of self and comfort, behold we had no money with which the wardrobe was to be replenished, no laws to protect person or property. Egyptian darkness covered the land for months until the manhood of the South asserted it- self and adjusted the disjointed conditions of affairs. Maya merciful Providence avert a repetition of such trials to this generation. -4 In the words of Kipling, " Lest we forget — lest we forget," let us teach the generations following us, to their country's honor and valor, there are some fig- ures which must never be forgotten in the history of the battles of America. The South had in the Civil war 600,000 men. The North had 3,000,000, and it required four years to conquer them. When the conquest was completed, universal suffrage was given to 700,000 negroes, against the enrollment of 600,000 white voters. Civilization furnishes no parallel in history to this outrage on the blood of the Anglo-Saxon race. UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 00032770653 FOR USE ONLY IN THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION 28957