WHAT WERE WE FIGHTING FOR: NORTH CAROLINA, APRIL-MAY 1865

Samuel T. Foster: Diary, April 18–May 4, 1865

Following the costly battle of Franklin, Captain Samuel T. Foster of the 24th Texas Cavalry (dismounted) had advanced with the Army of Tennessee to the outskirts of Nashville, where the Confederates were decisively defeated on December 15–16, 1864. Foster and his men had then retreated through bitter cold, freezing rain, and snow into northern Mississippi, where in January 1865 General John B. Hood resigned his command. At the end of January the remnants of the Army of Tennessee began moving to the Carolinas, and on March 20 Foster joined Johnston’s forces at Smithfield, North Carolina. Foster’s company was camped near Greensboro when Johnston and Sherman signed their agreement on April 18. He recorded in his diary the hopes, fears, and bizarre rumors that swept through their camp as Johnston’s army confronted “the new order of things,” which in many respects would not be as severe as Foster and his fellow soldiers feared. Despite their apprehensions, Confederate veterans would not have their lands confiscated, nor would they endure lifelong disenfranchisement.

APRIL 18

Still in camp. More clothing issued today, but still not enough. Had Battalion drill today just to see if the men would drill.

Various reports afloat in camp. Some say the surrender is already made— But there is so much news that there is no importance attached to anything we hear— Late this evening an order comes from Genl Johnson which is read out to all the troops announcing that an Armistice has been agreed upon by the commanders of the two armies, but not for the purpose of surrendering this army— This seems to satisfy everybody. Lees men from Va. are passing us every day—one at the time— Every man for himself. It is also reported that Genl [    ] is south of us with 10,000 mounted infantry—which have been sent down there by Genl Grant from his Army since Lees surrender—

APRIL 19,

Moved 1/2 mile today and camp in regular order to remain until the armistice ends. We hear it reported on very good authority that the President of the U S Mr Lincoln was killed a few nights ago in Washington, and that about the same time Seward was shot at and mortally wounded.

It is also reported that the United States has recognized the Confederacy, and agrees to give us all our rights (and slavery) if we will help them to fight all their enemies whatsoever.

Another report is we go back into the Union and free all the slaves in —— years—some fill up the blank with 5 years some 10 and some 20 and so on. All hands talking politics and making peace.

Soon after we arrive at our new camp today some of our men found two barrels of Old Apple brandy burried under the root of an old pine tree that had blown down. One barrel of it was brought to Our Brigade and tapped— Every one helped themselves, and of course some get funny, some get tight some get gentlemanly drunk and some get dog drunk, of this latter class are all the officers from our Maj up. Kept up a noise nearly all night, but no one gets mad—all in a good humor.

APRIL 20th

We are still in camp passing rumors from one Brigade to another all day— Some say that the thing is settled and some say that the difficulty has hardly begun yet—so it goes.

APRIL 21st 1865

Rumor today says we are to go back into the Union, but as that is not the kind of news we want to hear, we don’t believe a word of it. What have we been fighting all these years for? Oh no—no more Union for us.

APRIL 22

Rumor says (this morning) that we will start for home in course of the next 10 days, and the rumor comes or purports to come from those that ought to know.

Later in the day the report is that we go to fighting again, that Genl Johnson can’t make any terms but submission reunion free negroes &c, and we have been fighting too long for that.

I have not seen a man today but says fight on rather than submit.

APRIL 23 Sunday

We have moved camp today 6 or 7 miles, and are nearer Greensboro.

I have been out Visiting this evening and find that we are in a quaker settlement. Considerable talk about the peace question— Rumor says the Yankee Army is being fed from our Comissary to keep them from living off the citizens.

Plenty rumors of the French and the U.S.' going to war. If that is true then we will have recognition or nothing.

APR 24

All very quiet today. No rumors from any source that can be relied upon.

Some think that the big war is about to commence, a war of some Magnitude. France Austria Mexico and the Confederacy on one side, against England Russia and the U S' on the other, and the great battle ground will be in the Confederacy. One plan is for the Confederacy to go back into the Union, then France will declare war with the U S' and land her troops on the C S' Coast where they will have no opposition, and as the French Army advances through the C S' the people will take the oath of Allegiance to France, and our soldiers will enlist under French colors & so on.

APRIL 25

This morning an order is read to the command from Genl Cheatham saying “that Sherman has notified Johnson that the armistice will end and hostilities begin tomorrow 26th inst. at 11 Oclock A.M.” At this announcement every body seems gloomy and despondent.

The supposition is that as we can’t run out of this place we must fight out. We had talked peace so long in camp and had made so many calculations how we were going home &c that it is up hill business to go to fighting again. We have been very loose in discipline here of late, but that will all come out right in a few days of hard marching and some fighting.

Late in the evening the rumor is that another flag-of-truce has gone to Genl. Sherman, and our fate depends upon the answer. Should it come back before 11 Oclock tomorrow, we may not move yet awhile or we may go double quick.

APRIL 26th

Ordered to be ready to move at 11 O’Clock today, but whether we move or not depends upon the answer to the new propositions sent by the flag-of-truce yesterday.

Andy Johnson the now President of the U S’ (no kin to the General) sent back the peace papers sent by Sherman as agreed upon between him and Genl Johnson. Not signed by him nor accepted, as a settlement of the war questions at all. —Saying “that the rebellion must be crushed by the force of Arms, and all the prominent men concerned put to death, and the rest banished or made slaves.”

At 12 Noon we move out and travel 10 or 12 miles in a westerly direction and camp. Some say we are to remain here tomorrow.

APRIL 27

No move today. This evening Muster Rolls are made out and all hands including officers and men draw 1.25 in silver— the first silver larger than a dime I have seen in a long while.

Just before night the following order from Head Qurs is read

Hd Qurs Army of Tenn

near Greensboro N C

April 27 1865

Genl order

NO 18

By the terms of a military convention made on the 26th inst. by Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman U S A. and Gen. J. E. Johnson C. S. A. the officers and men of this army are to bind themselves not to take up arms against the U. S.’ until properly relieved from that obligation, and shall receive guarantees from the U. S.’ officers against molestation by the U. S.’ authorities, so long as they observe that obligation, and the laws in force where they reside.

For these objects a duplicate muster roll will be immediately made, and after distribution of the necessary papers, the troops will march under their officers to their respective States, and there be disbanded, all retaining their personal property. The object of this convention is pacification to the extent of the authority of the commanders who made it.

Events in Va. which broke every hope of success by war imposed on its General the duty of sparing the blood of this gallant army, and saving the country from further desolation and the people from ruin.

J E Johnson

General

APRIL 28th

We had a dreadful night, all hands up and talking over the situation. They go over the war again, count up the killed and wounded, then the results obtained— It is too bad! If crying would have done any good, we could have cried all night.

Just to think back at the beginning of this war—and see the young men in the bloom of life—the flower of the country— Volunteering to defend their country from the Yankee hosts, who were coming to desolate their homes. Men who shut their stores and warehouses, stoped their plows, droped the axe, left their machinery lying idle, closed their law offices, churches banks and workshops; and all fall into line to defend the country.

Now where are they. As for our own Company, Regt. and Brgd.—they can be found at Ark. Post, at the prison cemetery of Camp Springfield Ill. at Chickamauga—at Missionary Ridge —at New Hope Church 27 May 64 at Atlanta Aug 22/64 at Jonesboro Ga at Franklin and Nashville Tenn. Dec/64 and there find the remains of as noble men, and as kind hearted faithful friends as ever trod the face of the earth.

And those men who fell in 1864 even in Dec. 64 sacrificed their lives as freely as did the very first that fell in the war. There was no cooling down, no tapering off, no lukewarmness in those men, but they would brave danger when ordered as fearless of Yankee bullets as if they no power to hurt them. At Franklin Tenn. Dec 1st or Nov 30/64 was the most wholesale butchery of human lives ever witness by us. Those brave men had been taught by Genl Johnson to fear nothing when he made a fight, and expecting the same thing of Hood, were betrayed into a perfect slaughter pen.

Who is to blame for all this waste of human life? It is too bad to talk about. And what does it amount to? Has there been anything gained by all this sacrifice? What were we fighting for, the principles of slavery?

And now the slaves are all freed, and the Confederacy has to be dissolved. We have to go back into the Union. Ah! there is the point. Will there ever be any more Union, as there once was?

APRIL 29th

Men still talking politics, but it is over and over the same thing, with the same regrets for our loss, and end with the same “What does it amount to?”

Later in the day the talk is about going home, by what route, and whether we will have to walk all the way &c &c.

Men are beginning to realize their situation, and are talking about going home to Texas. Our guns have all been turned in, to our own Ordnance officers. And we suppose to save us from further humiliation there has not been a Yank in sight of us yet.

Our Muster rolls went up yesterday for paroles, which will be here tomorrow or next day.

APRIL 30th

It seems curious that mens minds can change so sudden, from opinions of life long, to new ones a week old.

I mean that men who have not only been taught from their infancy that the institution of slavery was right; but men who actually owned and held slaves up to this time,—have now changed in their opinions regarding slavery, so as to be able to see the other side of the question,—to see that for man to have property in man was wrong, and that the “Declaration of Independence meant more than they had ever been able to see before. That all men are, and of right ought to be free” has a meaning different from the definition they had been taught from their infancy up,—and to see that the institution (though perhaps wise) had been abused, and perhaps for that abuse this terrible war with its results, was brought upon us as a punishment.

These ideas come not from the Yanks or northern people but come from reflection, and reasoning among ourselves.

This evening a circular from Head Qurs. announce that Rev. J B McFerrin Our Army Chaplain will preach his farewell sermon to the Texas and Ark. troops tomorrow at 10 O’Clock AM.

MAY 1st 1865

Have just heard the best sermon that it has ever been our good fortune to hear before. Rev. J B McFerrin preached to us out in the open woods, the men sitting on the ground, and the preacher holding one book while the other is on the ground.

His text is Revelations 11th Chapter, and the latter part of the 10th verse “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a Crown of life—” The congregation joined in the singing with their whole souls and for prayer all without an exception knelt down, and for the sermon it held those rough weatherbeaten soldiers spell bound for more than an hour by the eloquence of the preacher— It was a time long to be remembered.

In the evening we receive our parols, which read as follows—

Greensborough

North Carolina

May 2nd 1865

In accordance with the terms of the military convention entered into on the twenty-sixth day of April 1865 between General Joseph E. Johnson Commanding the Confederate Army: and Major General W. T. Sherman, Commanding the United States Army in North Carolina, S T Foster Company “I” Granburys Brigade Consolidated, has given his solemn obligation not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly released from this obligation; and is permitted to return to his home, not to be disturbed by the United States Authorities so long as he observes this obligation and obey the laws in force where he may reside

S M Litchee

Maj & CM U.S.A.

Special Commission

W. A. Ryan

Lieut Col. C S A

Commanding

MAY 3rd

After turning in our guns, and getting our parols, we feel relieved. No more picket duty, no more guard duty, no more fighting, no more war. It is all over, and we are going home. Home after an absence of four years from our families and friends.

Actually going to start home tomorrow or perhaps this morning.

Left our camp surenough at 9 A.M. Came 10 miles, crossed the R.R. at Thomasville, and came 12 miles further towards Salisbury making 22 miles today, and all hands very tired.

MAY 4th

Came to Salisbury today—traveled 20 miles. The Confederate Army will go to pieces here. The South Carolina and Georgia Alabama and Missippi troops will march on foot directly home. The Tennessee Arkansas and Texas troops will turn west from here and cross over the Blue Ridge into East Tennessee, and there take the R.R. for Chattanooga and to Nashville where we will take a steamboat for N. O. provided the Yanks will give us transportation.

We are getting accostomed to the new order of things, but there is considerable speculation as to what will be done with us.

Some think that all the officers will be courtmartialed. Some think they will be banished out of the country.

Nearly every one deplores the death of Lincoln and believes that he would have been the best man for us now.

That things would have been different if he had lived. Some go so far as to say that perhaps we were wrong, and that the negroes ought to have been freed at the start off. While others are still not whiped and evince a determination to fight it out some way, or leave the country, rather than go back into the Union, and be ruled by them; and have to be ground to death by being robbed of all our negroes, and lands and other property—not allowed to Vote nor hold office any more.

We do not suppose, nor expect to be allowed to vote any more, as long as we live. We also expect that all the lands in the Confederacy, will be taken away from the white people to pay their war expenses then given in small 16o acre lots to the negroes.