Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/321

Rh the results of the war, and as he had foreseen that war would follow secession, he now realized that the conquerors decreed free suffrage, and believed the wisest action of the South would be to accept the consequences. With his accustomed directness and fearlessness of action, he advocated the acceptance of the reconstruction acts of 1867, and urged his fellow citizens to the policy he believed best suited to the country. Of course he suffered from the violent animosity incident to political differences, yet the appreciation of his home people was shown by his election in 1875 to the State constitutional convention, as a Republican from a Democratic county, and though defeated for lieutenant-governor in 1880, his own Democratic county gave him a majority of its votes. In 1865 General Barringer removed to Charlotte, and resumed the practice of law till 1884; at first in partnership with Judge Osborne. After his retirement from the bar he devoted himself to his farming interests, striving to imbue the farmer with ambition for improvement in himself and his circumstances. For this purpose he often had recourse to the press, the last week of his life contributing to the papers an article protesting against the farmers desertion of their homes for the towns. He had abiding faith in the power of the press and in its influence for good. Among his latest pleasures were talking with the old veterans and contributing to the history of the war. In 1881 he wrote a series of cavalry sketches describing the battles of Five Forks and Chamberlain Run, Namozine Church, and other notable engagements, which are preserved to-day among the most interesting and valuable historical data of the war; and again he made valuable contributions to &quot;The War Between the States,&quot; published by John A. Sloane. He was ever interested in history, and zealous of the fame of North Carolina. He wrote sketches of &quot;The Dutch Side,&quot; a history of the &quot;Battle of Ramseur’s Mill,&quot; &quot;A History of the North Carolina Railroad,&quot; etc. On November 19,