nd the battalion in the woods near
the main road. Fires were burning, and those who had been fortunate
enough to find anything eatable were cooking. Federal troops were riding
up and down the road and loafing about the camps trying to be familiar.
They seemed to think that "How are you, Johnny?" spoken in condescending
style, was sufficient introduction.

During the day a line of men came single file over the hill near the
camp, each bearing on his shoulder a box of "hardtack" or crackers.
Behind these came a beef, driven by soldiers. The crackers and beef were
a present from the Federal troops near, who, knowing the famishing
condition of the surrounded army, had contributed their day's rations
for its relief. All honor to them. It was a soldierly act which was
thoroughly appreciated.

The beef was immediately shot and butchered, and before the animal heat
had left the meat, it was impaled in little strips on sticks, bayonets,
swords, and pocket-knives, and roasting over the fires.

Though numbers of the enemy visited the camps and plied the men with all
sorts of questions, seeming very curious and inquisitive, not an unkind
word was said on either side that day. When the skirmishers under McRae
entered the camp of the battalion, their enthusiastic descriptions of
driving the enemy and being driven in turn failed to produce any effect.
Many of the men were sobbing and crying, like children recovering from
convulsions of grief after a severe whipping. They were sorely grieved,
mortified, and humiliated. Of course they had not the slightest
conception of the numbers of the enemy who surrounded them.

Other men fairly raved with indignation, and declared their desire to
escape or die in the attempt; but not a man was heard to blame General
Lee. On the contrary, all expressed the greatest sympathy for him and
declared their willingness to submit at once, or fight to the last man,
as he ordered. At no period of the war was he held in higher veneration
or regarded with more sincere affection, than on that sad and tearful
day.

In the afternoon the little remnant of the army was massed in a field.
General Gordon spoke to them most eloquently, and bade them farewell.
General Walker addressed his division, to which Cutshaw's battalion was
attached, bidding them farewell. In the course of his remarks he
denounced fiercely the men who had thrown down their arms on the march,
and called upon the true men before him to go home