22 NortH Caroiina Troops, 1861-65.

inspiring speeches. No brigade there made a finer appears
ance than the Juniors. It was the largest brigade in Hoke’s
Division, nearly doubling in numbers Clingman’s, and in-
deed was the largest brigade in the whole army by the official
returns.

THE RETREAT.

On 10 April we began our final retreat. On 12 April we
passed through Raleigh, Hoke’s Division being the rear guard
and our last pickets passed through the town at midnight,
Governor Vance passed out just ahead of us and spent the
night in General Hoke’s tent about seven miles west of Ral-
eigh. We passed through Chapel Hill and the Alamance Reg-
ulator battle ground (of 16 May, 1771) and thence on up to
Red Cross in Randolph, where we halted several days await-
ing the result of the “Bennett House” surrender of 14 April.

In passing through Alamance the streams were much
swollen by recent rains, and there was great difficulty in cross-
ing and many narrow escapes from drowning occurred, espe

cially among the boys.

- The first treaty for surrender, the most creditable thing
in the career of General Sherman, having been disallowed by
President Johnson, we were again moved westward but we
were again stopped at Bush Hill, near Trinity College, by the
news that a final surrender had been made on 26 April.
There on 1 May $1.25 in silver was paid to each one
from general to private and on the next day, what was left
of the command received paroles from the commanding officer
of their respective regiments. By this time the army had
dwindled to a skeleton, the certainty of a surrender and the
unwillingness to be made prisoner having rapidly thinned
the ranks.

On the afternoon of 2 May, 1865, what was left of the
First Regiment of Junior Reserves received their paroles and
quietly dispersed to their respective homes. The regiment
was off duty forever.

We suffered, we fought, we failed, it has pleased some to
call us rebels because we had done our duty, but history will
record the names of the gallant, bright-faced buys of the

SEVENTIETH REGIMENT.

23

North Carolina Junior Reserves on that page where only

those of heroes are written.

Fayettevitie, N. C.,
2 May, 1901.

Cuartzes W. Broaproot.