An acquaintance in the Federal army saw
it, and speedily had him cared for. An hour afterward his friends were
informed of his whereabouts. I hastened to the house to which he had
been borne. Bending over him, the beautiful Georgia was sobbing
hopelessly, and dropping tears upon the paper, which contained the
words--
_"This is the body of General Mohun, C.S.A."_
The army had surrendered; the flag was lowered: with a singular feeling
of bewilderment, and a "lost" feeling that is indescribable, I set out,
followed by my servant, for Eagle's Nest.
I was the possessor of a paper, which I still keep as a strange
memorial.
"The bearer," ran this paper, "a paroled prisoner of the army of
Northern Virginia, has permission to go to his home, and there remain
undisturbed--with two horses!"
At the top of this document, was, "Appomattox Court-House, Va., April,
10, 1865." On the left-hand side was, "Paroled Prisoner's Pass."
So, with his pass, the paroled prisoner passed slowly across Virginia
to his home.
Oh! that Virginia of 1865--that desolate, dreary land! Oh! those poor,
sad soldiers returning to their homes! Everywhere burned houses,
unfenced fields, ruined homesteads! On all sides, the desolation of the
torch and the sword! The "poor paroled prisoners," going home wearily
in that dark April, felt a pang which only a very bitter foe will laugh
at.
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