[2] Sidney Lanier, later musician, poet, writer, on the secession of Georgia at once enlisted in the Confederate infantry and served through the war except while a prisoner at Point Lookout. He afterwards rejoiced in the overthrow of slavery; and knew that it was belief in the soundness and greatness of the American Union, among the millions of the North and the great North West that really conquered the South. He said “As soon as Lee invaded the North and arrayed the sentiment against us our swift destruction followed.”—Edward Mims.
CHAPTER XXIII
OUR FIRST SIGHT OF PETERSBURG
The advance on Petersburg occurred on April 2d, 1865. It was about 3.30 A. M. when our troops entered the city, and all were anxious to see the city so long besieged and coveted.
Two days later, on the 4th, a party of about twenty-five officers and ladies of the hospital, some well mounted, some in ambulances, started in high exultation for the conquered city. I was happy in being mounted on a beautiful white horse, with a crimson saddle cloth, loaned from United States Headquarters. I wore a dark blue habit with infantry buttons, a fatigue cap with chin strap, riding gloves, and carried a small whip. The horse acted as if trained for a circus, full of antics as a pet dog. In defiance of rein and whip he walked on every stray log, into ditches, or puddles of water in the road, first raising his haunches to feel if I were firm in the saddle, and travelled with a “lope” as easy as a rocking chair, so that after twenty-five miles I was not in the least tired.
We rode over the fields of the last skirmish, torn ground, destroyed entrenchments, the “Cheveaux de frieze,” broken and scattered among clothing, canteens and the general debris of a battle-field. At the outskirts of the city we saw great “gopher holes” dug in the sides of hills, where the inhabitants crowded daily to escape the shells that were constantly falling into the doomed city. In these holes they were safe until nightfall, when firing usually ceased and the weary women and children returned to their homes to sleep until another day. Shots passed through many houses but it was surprising that so little had been destroyed.
GENERAL O. B. WILCOX
Having previously met General O. B. Wilcox, who was then in command of the city, we rode to his headquarters, where I introduced our party. He received us courteously, giving us a mounted escort, that no trouble might ensue while we made a tour of the almost deserted city. The windows were all closed, as for some national mourning. There was only one foolish demonstration, by some young women on a piazza, who made grimaces at our handsome officers, and gyrated their fingers at them in a most remarkable manner. I was sorry and indignant for this petty spite, but our brave men merely smiled without comment.
The houses were generally detached, small and shabby, showing little to interest beside occasional marks made by stray shot. While riding through the town we saw an old gentleman weeding his garden, and I made the excuse of asking for a glass of water, which was politely given. I said to him, “You appear to be taking things very quietly.”