This gallant little fight of these two regiments received honorable mention by Gen. Grant, in his report of the war. He says that their brave and stubborn resistance at this point, checked Lee’s retreat long enough to enable Gen. Ord to get up with his main force, compelling Lee to intrench himself, thus causing great delay in the enemy’s movements.
The regiment, or so many of them as did not make their escape after their capture, remained prisoners until Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House—a period of two days—but time enough for the Rebels to “go through” our boys, stripping them of everything valuable, taking even their hats and shoes. In striking contrast to the treatment they received at our hands after their surrender, when scarcely a Reb was allowed to start on his homeward tramp without a well-filled haversack and canteen.
The regiment at once came back to the division, but in the treaty agreed upon, being counted as paroled prisoners, were ordered to report at Parole Camp, Annapolis as such.
The Rebel Army of Northern Virginia had surrendered. And on that quiet Sabbath evening as the lightning flashed the intelligence from city to hamlet, the church bells rang out the glad tidings over the free North, and the Nation thanked the God of battles that the end for which we had suffered and struggled so long, had come. For four long years had these two mighty armies met in conflict and contested for the mastery.
Their dead lie all along the valley from the Potomac to Lynchburg; they are sleeping where they fell, at Antietam and Gettysburg, on the heights of Fredericksburgh, and through the dark thickets of the Wilderness. They lie in the dark forests’ of the Peninsula all the way up to Deep Bottom, and around Petersburg. Along the tangled morass near Hatcher’s Run, and the Weldon Road, their graves mark the fierce conflict. Brave Old Army of the Potomac, long suffering, gallantly fighting, your reward has come; never again will the boasted army of Northern Virginia meet you in equal conflict; yours is the victory and “fairly won.”
CHAPTER IX.
FROM HATCHER’S RUN TO THE MUSTER-OUT.
On the 12th of April the regiment left Appomattox for Burkesville Junction, the road was filled with “Johnnies” on their way home, and the greater portion of them were heartily glad that the war was over, even though they had to see the flag of the lost cause folded forever.
The next morning we left the Junction on board a train of freight cars for City Point, fifty-two miles distant. At that place we first learned of the assassination of President Lincoln. It excited the most profound grief among all to hear of his death, and in such a manner, just at the close, as it were, of the Great Rebellion. At first it seemed as though it was impossible for us to realize the truth of the report; but it being confirmed by the War Department, we were reluctantly compelled to believe it.
Our men were all greatly elated over the surrender of Lee and the probable termination of the war; which fact only seemed to cause a greater revulsion of feeling at the news of the death of our now lamented President. If he could have been permitted to witness the final end of the great struggle through which we were passing, in which we were endeavoring to sustain the power of our Republican form of Government, and preserve our free institutions; how gratifying it would have been to all concerned. But this was not to be. Nevertheless he passed away, “With malice toward none, but charity toward all.”
Just after leaving Burkesville we met Capt. Chamberlin returning to the regiment from leave of absence, and Maj. Walker, Paymaster, who was on his way to the front to pay the troops in our division.