Drum Taps in Dixie: Memories of a Drummer Boy, 1861-1865
John Stuart Mill · en
Sergt. Robert Cline of our company, who carried the New York State colors
after saving the flag, found that a comrade had been left wounded near the
enemy’s intrenchments and he heroically faced about and amidst the
whistling bullets went up near the rebel works, found his friend and
brought him into the lines across his shoulder. This little incident is
only one of thousands illustrating what one comrade would do for another.
The casualties of our regiment in this affair were: Six killed, 67 wounded
and 74 missing, and some of the other troops’ losses were greater.
It has always seemed very sad to me to think of the many brave men who
gave up their lives with the surrender of Lee in sight. Among the officers
killed on our side was the brave Irishman, Gen. Thomas A. Smyth, who had
long been one of Gen. Hancock’s gallant officers.
Those who were taken prisoners were recaptured two days later at
Appomattox, and a sorry looking lot they were. Every thing of value and
much of their clothing had been taken from them and they had been hustled
about pretty severely. Their rations had been appropriated by their hungry
captors, and they fasted till they got back into their lines.
Comrade Albert V. Rogers, a member of my company, who was a prisoner the
last two days of the struggle, says, that all the Rebs. gave him to eat
was some corn he stole from a mule. Rogers was at this time suffering from
a gunshot wound in his leg.
GRANT’S FIRST LETTER TO LEE.
This letter was sent through the lines of the 2d corps that evening while
we were in contact with the enemy, the troops being but a few hundred
yards apart. There was a truce of one hour and inside of that time Lee’s
reply came back.
During the night the enemy abandoned the works in front of our corps and
at 5 the next morning the bugles of the 2d corps again sounded “Forward,”
and Gen. Humphreys, our commander, was instructed that any negotiations
pending were not to interfere with the operations of his corps.
Early in the forenoon, Gen. Grant’s second letter was brought to Gen.
Humphreys by Gen. Seth Williams, Grant’s adjutant general, and it was sent
through the lines of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry, who were on the rear of
the confederate columns.
We continued the pursuit all day, covering a distance of over 20 miles,
and about dusk, as we had halted for a rest, a rebel officer brought Lee’s
reply to Gen. Humphreys, who sent it by a courier to Gen. Meade, then
several miles in the rear.
The next morning Grant’s third letter to Lee was sent through the skirmish
line of the 2d corps, and all this time Gen. Humphreys, mindful of his
instructions, kept advancing and pushing back the thin line of wearied
confederates, which called out a protest from Gen. Lee, who sent an
officer twice during the forenoon requesting a halt. Gen. Humphreys sent
back word that his orders were such that he could not comply.