but, feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that would have attended the continuation of the contest, I have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen. By the terms of agreement, officers and men will return to their homes and remain there until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed; and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection. With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind consideration of myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell. R. E. LEE, General. On the afternoon of the 12th, Wilcox's division-consisting of Lane's, Thomas's, Scales', and McGowan's brigades -marched through the Federal lines, on their way South. Brigade commanders were placed in absolute possession of their brigades; so, that, although we kept somewhat together, for a day or two, we soon broke apart, each brigade taking the nearest route towards home. It became necessary to dissolve all organization in a few days. Many of the men could not keep up, many of those who remained were irregular, and our roads began to diverge from each other. Just after we crossed Stanton · river, Gen. McGowan bade his troops farewell, and dismissed them to pursue their own courses. Small squads travelled together. The majority of us reached the northern boundary of South Carolina about the 20th or 21st of April. By the 1st of May almost every man of the brigade was at his home, resting from the toils of war, and enjoying, as best he might, that state which certain imaginative persons have denominated peace. NOTE. The following table, compiled from the regimental reports immediately after battles, and from a condensed report made out in February, 1865, will enable the reader to obtain, at a glance, a very accurate idea of the losses of the brigade. It embraces the whole history of the Thirteenth regiment; that of the Rifle regiment until the battle of Sutherland's Station, April 2, 1865; and that of the First, Twelfth and Fourteenth, until March 31, 1865. The reader will be struck with two discrepancies between the table and the reports I have given heretofore, viz.: first, the greater number of deaths from wounds in this table than in my lists; and, second, the greater number of wounds not fatal, in the table, in the First and Twelfth regiments, than in my lists. Both difficulties may be removed, if we will but remember, first, that the reports I give were made out immediately after battle, and therefore that those men who lingered a few days could not be included among the killed; and, second, that many men, reported missing, were, after the reports were given in, found to have been either killed or wounded. For this last reason I have not pretended to give, in the table, the number of missing, or-as it is generally understoodprisoners. Even the regimental commanders failed to obtain satisfactory returns on this point. If, however, I should be called upon for an estimate of unhurt prisoners, previous to the campaign of 1865, I should say that they did not exceed two hundred and fifty. Orr's regt. Rifles. 29 305 334 3 198 201 535 Total................ 101 1,189 1,290 14 1,115 1,129 2,419 3,735 5,025 791 1,125 IN BAT. Officers and Enlisted Men. Officers and Enlisted Men. Officers and Enlisted Men. I have made diligent efforts to procure a list of the disabled men of the brigade, but have failed to obtain any thing beyond the clue afforded by the following table: It is reasonable to suppose that at least five hundred of these were disabled by wounds. and horses crowded and pushed through in horrible disorder. Fortunately-and miraculously, it seemed at the time we had received no injuries from either flames or horses in the bridge; but, when we passed it, a great danger presented itself in the shells, plumping into the middle of the road, and either ricochetting far up the hillsides, or bursting and hurling fragments in every direction. Lane's brigade moved straight up the ridge, and lost men in doing so. We followed the hollow for some distance, before taking the ascent, so that we escaped with an insignificant loss. Indeed, I do not know that any casualties were reported, except the capture of a few who lagged behind in Farmville. We formed on attaining the crest of the ridge north of the Appomattox. Some Confederate guns now replied to the enemy, but with little effect. The last of our rear-guard now quitted Farmville. The enemy's cavalry charged furiously after them down the long, steep hills approaching the southern bank of the Appomattox, firing and hurrahing loudly; but almost all the Confederates escaped across to us. Here the advance of that portion of the Federals ceased; but an attack upon the rear and left flank of the column which had crossed at the High Bridge, now became audible. We were moved, therefore, rather down-stream, to assist in checking the enemy. Our wagon train had by this time. disappeared, moving, with all possible expedition, in the direction of Appomattox Court House. We passed over the wreck of the large train destroyed the day before. The enemy seemed to be ubiquitous. We were instructed. to be prepared to fight on either flank. On our right flank firing was pretty steadily kept up-in our front, (which was the rear of the general march of the army,) a regular battle was going on. Mahone's division was engaged and a portion of Field's. We formed a line, first on the right of our line of march, fronting south, then one fronting southwest, and, finally, one fronting almost directly west. The firing increased in rapidity and extent until three sides were at once set upon by the enemy. saw balls cross, each directly from the front and directly from the rear. Our brigade skirmishers were a good deal threatened, but I believe the enemy never reached them. Confederate cavalry operated in our front. Gary's cavalry I |