Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1911 — STORIES OF CAMP AND WAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STORIES OF CAMP AND WAR

GEN. LEE STILL DETERMINED Major Ransop Gives Interesting Ao* count of Scenes In Tent Night - Before Surrender. In Harper’s, Maj. A. R. H. Ranson gives an interesting account of the scene at General Lee’s headquarters the night before the surrender when he was still determined to strike one more blow. “When I arrived at headquarters, General Lee was In a tent, sitting with General Longstreet on some bundles of rye straw (the groutfd being wet from the rain), at the upper side of the tent, with one candle for a light. I made my report, and the general told me to wait, as he wished to see me. He asked me if I had had anything to eat, and I told him no. He. said he was sorry he had nothing to offer me. He gave me a bundle of straw and told me to sit near the door.

It had been raining all afternoon, and I was quite wet. I was also very tired, so I put my foot through the bridle rein of my mare standing outside, and lying down on the bundle of straw, was soon asleep. “I was awakened by voices, and looking up, saw the colonel I had left in charge of the troops at the bridge standing in the tent. He reported that, the rations had not arrived, and the starving and discouraged troops had all deserted in the darkness, leaving their arms in the trenches. General Lee heard him to the end of his account, and then With a wave of his hand dismissed him. Turning to General Longstreet, he said: "This is very bad. That man is whipped. It is the first time I have seen one of my officers who had been whipped. It is very bad.’ The conversation between the generals was then resumed in low tones, and I again fell asleep. I must have slept for some length of time/ when I was awakened by General Lee’s voice, speaking in loud tones, louder* than I had ever heard from him. He was saying, ‘General Longstreet, I will strike that man a blow in the morning.’ General Lee sometimes spoke of General Grant as ‘that man,’ and of the federal army as ‘those people.’ “General Longstreet replied in low tones, giving the strength and condition of his command, and the strength and position of the enemy, and concluded by saying, ‘But you have only to give me the order, and the attack will be made in the morning.’ Again the conversation was resumed in low tones, and I fell asleep. I must have slept for an hour at least, when again I was awakened by the loud, almost fierce tones of General Lee, saying, ‘I tell you, General Longstreet, I will strike that man a blow in the morning.’ General Longstreet again recounted the difficulties, ending as before, ‘General, you know you have only to give the cffder and the attack will be made, but I must tell you I think it will be a useless waste of brave lives.’ “Thinking I’had been present long ynough at such an interview, I coughed and got up from the straw, and drawing back the flaps of the tent, looked out Into the darkness. General Lee said: ‘Captain Ranson, 1 beg your, pardon. I had forgotten you. Go now and get something to eat and some rest. I will see you in the morning,* “I found my poor mare lying flat on her side in the rain and fast asleep. It was past midnight and very dark, but \ reached our camp, though neither I nor my mare got anything to eat that night. "The morning came, and I listened for the sound Of our attack, but aU was still. There was no attack; our fighting days were over.”

“I Will Strike That Man a Blow in the Morning.”