200 Nortn Carotina Troops, 1861-’65. RETREAT AND SURRENDER. On 10 April we received information that General Sher- man had commenced to move his troops from Goldsboro in the direction of Raleigh. Our army commenced to fall back and on the 11th we camped a few miles east of the city of Raleigh on the present site of the town of Garner, entering the city early on the morning of the 12th. Our rear guard left Raleigh that night and a day or two later we heard the news of General Lee’s surrender. On 18 April, 1865, at the Bennett house, four miles west of Durham, a conference was held between Generals Johnston and Sherman, and terms of capitulation agreed on and signed. These terms were more favorable to us, even, than were accorded to General Lee by General Grant. Upon reaching Washington, President Lincoln having been assassinated in the meantime, they were rejected and General Johnston being so informed, was again on the de- fensive. We resumed the march, passing through Chapel Hill and halting at a point near Greensboro where the final terms were agreed upon 26 April. The army was paroled 2 and 3 May. In crossing the Haw river several of our men were drowned by leaving the ford to reach some fish traps a short distance below and being caught by the swift current and swept down into the deep water below. On reaching Alamance. Creek, we had a novel, and in some respects, amusing experience. On account of heavy rains the stream was much swollen and the current very strong. General Cheatham’s command was moving in front of General Hoke’s Division and on attempt- ing to ford the stream several men were swept down by the current, whereupon the others absolutely refused to move. This halted the entire column, and as the enemy’s cavalry was closely pressing our rear, the situation was becoming critical. General Cheatham rode to the front and learning the cause of the halt, ordered the men to go forward, but, emphasizing their determination with some pretty lively swearing, they doggedly refused to move, whereupon General Cheatham seized the nearest man and into the stream they went. After FirrietaH REGIMENT. 201 floundering in the water awhile he came out and, after re- peating the process for a few times, the men raised a shout and proceeded to eross. Three wagons, one loaded with “hardtack,” one with guns, and one with bacon, capsized and were swept down the river. Some lively diving for the bacon followed, but I guess the guns are still rusting in the bottom of the creek. I am sure none of them were disturbed on that occasion. General Hoke, becoming restless and impa- tient at the delay, adopted a means of transportation which proved at least the resources of a fertile brain. The water was just running over the sandy banks of the stream and selecting a suitable place a short distance above the ford, he moved the head of his column to this point, directed one man to seize his horse’s tail, and another to grasp this man’s shoul- der, and another and another until he had a long line, swam his horse across the narrow stream and discharging his cargo safely on the opposite bank, would quickly return for an- other. The rapidity, with which the men were carried over was astonishing. I don’t know what the final result might have been had we not received information that a short dis- tance.up the stream at Ruffin’s Mill was a broad and shallow ford below the mill, at which we could easily and safely cross. Following the announcement of the second “armistice” were several days of anxious waiting. There was a very large element of both officers and men who were opposed to a surrender and many were leaving in small bands with the understanding that they would afterwards meet at some ral- lying point to be agreed upon. When the final announcement was made that the army was to be surrendered, the scenes were pathetic; strong, brave men were seen to weep like children. Officers everywhere were delivering farewell addresses to the brave men who had so faithfully and loyally followed their leaders and endured hardships and privations without a murmur. If General Lee had been able to hold out until his army and General Johnston’s could have been united as had been agreed upon, and both hurled against Sherman and then against Grant, the result might have been quite different. Would it have been for the best interest of our country and 2 ermteiare sama! “ernresc\ultrrT! eu imeniannantteAneE Nat SAAntil Ser meee aineenN pe ihe a e e PRR E DAMIEN ater nigetenas CEO WAI ae ACE RECUR TO SR RES ERNE APES 20 MONEE MCSE FS (AL NT etl nace rN NSRNEL este nen Sateen ie a .