Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/456

 450 Southern Historical Society Papers.

which it may be said in passing, had been ordered forward by a military error, and never for a moment had a ghost of a chance of success, were of course nearly all either killed or captured by the formidable line in their immediate front. Those of the Tenth who succeeded in stumbling back over the bodies of their fallen comrades owed their escape to the darkness."

Colonel Waggaman was captured, and with some sixteen others, including Captain I. L. Lyons, was taken to Fort Warren, near Bos- ton, where they remained until exchanged. They were everywhere treated with courtesy, and one pleasant incident, at least, mingled softening remembrances with those of his imprisonment Just before his capture he had thrown away his sword to prevent surrendering it. This was a weapon valuable both for the quality of its steel, its make and the fact that it had been in use by the family for over one hundred and fifty years. At <he exchange, this sword was returned to him by Assistant Adjutant-General Thomas, who had been spe- cially commissioned to do so.

After the exchange Colonel Waggaman was sent back to Louisiana as a recruiting officer, but was shortly afterwards recalled to Virginia by special order of General Lee. He took Stafford's command of the Second Louisiana Brigade. He did brilliant fighting in the second Valley campaign. He was wounded in the forearm at Win- chester, but even while suffering from his inflamed wound continued in command. At Petersburg he led the Second brigade in another desperate charge, and again saw perilous action^when the brigades were covering the retreat.

Then Appomattox and surrender came. There it was Colonel Waggaman's sad honor to surrender all that was left of the 16,000 men who composed the Louisiana brigades. When they had been drawn up in ranks for the ceremony, Colonel Waggaman begged of them the privilege of becoming the depositary of a piece of the brigade's battle flag. This was willingly granted. The flag had to be surrendered, but a piece could be taken from it. With that sword which had saved his life at Malvern Hill he cut a section including the lateral side and two stars. This he has sacredly preserved with the same old saddle-bag and papers in which it was placed, to be transmitted as his most valuable heirloom to his children. Only one person has ever induced him to part with a portion of it. That one was the daughter of his old commander Miss Mildred Lee. He gave her, some twelve years ago, a small piece, including one of the stars, and in return received a splendid portrait of her father.