Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/342

 334 Southern Historical Society Papers.

company and the army, and what should they do ? No officers, no command, but free choice for every man to act on his own sense of right and duty. Never, probably, was there a more curious council of war than that held by members of the second detachment, and presumably by other detachments or messes, consulting together as to what they should do.

A detachment of private soldiers, absolved by their commander- in-chief from further service under his command, met to consider and advise for themselves, whether the war was ended, and what they should do. Stationing a man in the road to watch for and sur- render to the enemy, if he should appear, as momentarily expected, the detachment gathered under the trees, and the situation was sum- marily discussed. After a brief deliberation, it was pretty unani- mously decided that the surrender of Lee's army meant the end of the war, rendering futile the hope of further resistance, as Johnston's surrender must soon follow.

The only thing to do was to go home, or any rate to get away as soon as possible from that dangerous region, in order to avoid a trip to the prison camp at Point Lookout. Some few members of the company, deciding that they were " in for the war," and that it was not for them to judge when it was over, did make their way to North Carolina to join Johnston. It was a matter of individual judgment as to the end of the war. The large majority judged that it was over, and made their way home or to the north side of James river as quickly as possible, where in some safety they could learn the ac- tual state of affairs, and whether the army was really surrendered. The farewells were spoken, and the party broke up into groups, making their way to the river. With a record of which they have reason to be proud, the war service of the first company of Rich- mond Howitzers was closed, and has passed into history with that of the army of which it was a part.

It may be necessary for the information of some readers to add that there were three companies of the Howitzers. The second and third companies were with the main body of the army, and were sur- rendered at Appomattox. C. P.