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Hannah's creek on our march to Smithfield Station. This, per- haps, was the last skirmish line formed on this battle-field, or any other, between the forces of Sherman and Johnston, and soon there- after, when we found ourselves encamped around Smithfield Station, the reorganization and consolidation of regiments and divisions of the army took place.
HOW GENERAL JOHNSTON LOOKED.
Soon after the consolidation of all the commands took place, General Johnston had a review of the army, and once more we began to look like soldiers. I remember how he looked as he sat on his war horse. He seemed from that piercing look to give each soldier as he passed a most scrutinizing look. A few days there- after we were moving towards Greensboro, and on that march some interesting events took place. Lee had surrendered before we reached this point, but we did not know it. A few days before reaching Greensboro, we met an old Confederate veteran; where he came from we did not know, but he had somehow gotten the infor- mation that our army in Virginia had surrendered. His statement was disbelieved, and our general commanding ordered him under arrest. He was turned back, and accompanied us on our march to Greensboro for nearly a day, but other reports coming in from dif- ferent sources seemed to confirm it. He was released early in the morning with apologies.
We had many desertions, and among officers and men there had been an alarming demobilization in all the commands. General Johnston was a strick disciplinarian, and knew that something had to be done to put his army once again in fighting trim. A court- martial had been established, and some cases of desertion were before it. A young soldier, I forget now his command, was tried for de- sertion and found guilty, and ordered to be executed. General Johnston was appealed to, but he only said the sentence must stand. Next morning at 7 o'clock he was to be marched out, and the detail from his own regiment drawn up before him would execute the order, and at the command, one, two, three; fire ! he would pay the pen- alty. A second effort had been made to induce General Johnston for pardon, but he stood firm for discipline, and the execution must proceed. Just as the young soldier was being escorted to the ground, one of the General's aides was seen rushing with lightning speed towards them the execution was stayed; the commanding 'General had just received confirmation of the reports that General
