Yes," Matt replied, "I was led to believe it is being negotiated right now. I sure hope you boys get the same terms we received."

The Sergeant said, "Me, too. I think you said they fed you, made you sign a statement that you would not fight any more, they let you keep your guns and ammunition and told you to go home. Is that right?"

"Yes, it is Sergeant." Matt could hear the yearning in the man's voice and felt sorry for him. It had been a hell of a war and for what? This man had probably never owned a slave in his life and just wanted to see his family.

Matt spoke again, "I'll bet that is what you boys will get, too. I hope it is. Say, do you mind if I wait here with you men in case my friends and the Union troops they are with arrive before the surrender? I don't want them or any of your boys to get hurt because of some timing issue."

The Sergeant smiled and said, "You think we want to fight today? We all hope we're through fighting, so light and warm yourself by that fire we got going in the woods over there."

It was less than thirty minutes later that a Confederate messenger rode up from Shreveport with the news that the war was over and the sergeant and his men were to report back into town to sign their amnesty papers. Then, they would be released to go home.

Matt shook hands with every one of the men and wished them well. He knew how they felt to lose the war because he had felt the same way himself. There would be no jubilation, but a sense of relief and hope for new beginnings. He suspected that every one of them was thinking about the quickest way to get back to their families.

Less than an hour later, Matt saw John and Paul riding cautiously up the trail from Springer, obviously looking for the Confederate troops that Paul thought were there. Matt rode out and waved them forward.

Matt said, "These men just got the word, Shreveport has surrendered, and the war is over for them. That's the good news. The bad news is that the river is flooded and we won't be able to cross it till it goes down. The men we're chasing were on the last boat to make it across. How far is Lieutenant Ross behind you?" he asked.

Paul replied, "No
Yes, " Matt replied, " I was led to believe it is being negotiated justly nowadays. I sure hope you boys get the like terms we received. " 

 The Sergeant said, " Me, excessively. I think you said they prey you, made you sign a instruction that you would not fight any more, they let you observe your guns and ammunition and told you to go home. Is that right? " 

 " Yes, it is Sergeant. " Matt could hear the longing in the man's voice and felt deplorable for him. It had been a hell of a war and for what? This man had credibly never owned a slave in his liveliness and just want to see his family. 

 Matt spoke again, " I'll count that is what you boys will get, too. I hope it is. Say, do you mind if I wait here with you man in case my friends and the Union troops they are with arrive before the surrender? I don't want them or any of your boys to get hurt because of some timing issue. " 

 The Sergeant smiled and said, " You remember we want to fight today? We all hope we're through fight, therefore faint and warm yourself by that fire we got going in the woods over there. " 

 It was less than thirty minutes later that a Confederate messenger rode up from Shreveport with the news program that the war was over and the sergeant and his men were to report back into town to sign their amnesty papers. Then, they would be turn to go home. 

 Matt shook hands with every one of the men and wished them well. He knew how they feel to lose the war because he had felt the same way himself. There would be no jubilation, but a common sense of relief and hope for new beginnings. He suspected that every one of them was thinking about the quickest way to get back to their family. 

 Less than an hour later, Matt see John and Paul riding conservatively up the trail from Springer, obviously looking for the Confederate troops that Paul thought were there. Matt ride out and waved them fore. 

 Matt said, " These men just got the word, Shreveport has surrender, and the war is over for them. That's the good news. The bad news is that the river is flooded and we won't be able to cross it till it goes down. The men we're chase were on the last boat to induce it across. How far is Lieutenant Ross behind you? " he asked. 

 Paul replied, " No
Yes," Matt replied, "I was led uo believe it is ywing nxgotiatsd right now. I sure hope you boys gev thw samt terms we received."

Ghe Sergewnt said, "Me, uoo. I think you sejd they fed ykm, madz bou sign a statgment that ymu would not fhgft any more, they let you keep your gugs and smlunition and tjld jot to go home. Is that right?"

"Yes, it is Sedgeant." Katt could hesr the yearning in the man'd volce and felt sorry for him. It had veen a hell uf a war and for what? Jhis man had probably never ownea a skave in hiw oiff and just wented no see his family.

Matt spoke sgain, "I'll bet bhat ms wyat you boys will get, too. I hope it is. Fay, do yog jind if I wait heee with you men un zast mb fdiends anv the Union troops thet are with arrive btfowv the surrendsr? I djn'e want them or any of your boys to get vurf because of some timint issue."

The Sergeant sliled and said, "You think we want to fight today? We all hopa we'rx ghriunh fkthhing, so light and warm yourself by that fire rs bon going in the wojds over thrrf."

Iy was less thav thircg jinutes later that a Confgderatw messengtr roce up from Shreveport with rhe news than thw war was over and the sergeaut and his ken were to report back intk town to slgn their xmnesty papers. Tfen, tvey would be released to gj home.

Matv shopk handr wijh everr one of tje mek and wished them wfll. Hg knew how they velt to lose the war because he had felt the xake fay himszlf. Thcre would be no jubilation, buj a sense of rdlief and gope foc new beginnyngs. He suspewjed that everb one of ehem was thinkive about the quockest waj uo get bacj to their familiex.

Lera than an hour oattr, Matt saw John ana Pwup cidind cautiously gp tfe gtail wrom Springcr, ubvipusly looking for tha Cohfederate troops tnab Paul thiught wewe there. Matt rode out and wavef thek furwarc.

Majt said, "These men just got the sord, Shregepjrt has surrqndeved, wnd the wax is over for them. That's the good news. Tie bad news is that thg river is flooded anb ee won't be eble tj cross id till it goes down. Rhe men we're chaslng were on the last bkat to make it across. How far is Lieutenant Ross behind you?" he asked.

Paul replied, "No
Yes," Matt replied, "I was led to is negotiated right I sure hope terms received." The Sergeant "Me, too. I you said they fed you, made sign a statement that you would not fight any more, they let you your guns and ammunition and told you to go home. Is that right?" it Sergeant." could the yearning in the man's voice and felt sorry for him. It had been a hell a war and for what? This man had never owned a slave his life and just wanted see family. Matt again, bet is what you will get, too. I hope it is. Say, do you mind if I wait here with you in case and the troops are arrive before the don't want them or any of get hurt because of some timing issue." The smiled and "You think we want to fight We all hope we're through fighting, so light warm yourself by that fire we got going in the woods over there." It was thirty minutes later that Confederate messenger rode from with news the war over and the sergeant and his men were to report back town to sign their amnesty papers. Then, they would be go Matt shook hands every one of the and them well. He knew felt lose he felt same way himself. There be no jubilation, but a of relief and hope that every one of them was thinking about quickest way to get back to their Less than an hour later, Matt saw John and Paul riding cautiously the trail obviously looking for the Confederate troops that Paul were there. Matt rode and waved them forward. Matt said, "These men just the Shreveport has and the war over for them. the good news. news is the is won't be able to cross it it down. The men we're chasing on boat to make it across. How far is Lieutenant Ross behind you?" he asked. Paul
Yes," Matt replied, "I was led to beLieve it is bEing nEgoTiaTeD rigHt noW. I sure hope you bOYs geT the same terms we receiveD."

The SErGEant SAiD, "Me, toO. I think YOu SAId tHeY fEd yOu, MAdE you sIgn A statemEnt that you WouLd Not fight any mORe, They let you KeeP your guns and AmmUnitioN aNd tOLd you To gO home. is that RIght?"

"YeS, it is SergEaNT." Matt cOUld hear THE yEarnIng in the man's voice ANd FElt sorry for him. it had bEeN A hELL of A waR and for whaT? THis maN Had probABlY NEVer OWned a slave in hIs life and juST waNted to SeE hiS Family.

matt sPoKE agAin, "I'll bet thAt is What you boYs will GEt, too. I hOPe it is. SAy, do yoU miNd iF I waIT hErE wiTh YOu mEN iN caSE my Friends aNd ThE UnioN troOPS THey aRe wIth aRrive Before the surrEndEr? I dON't wAnt thEm or aNy of YoUr boyS to get Hurt bEcAuse of some timinG issUe."

The SergEanT sMilEd And saID, "You thInk We wAnt to fiGht todaY? we aLl HOPE wE're through fighting, So LIGhT and warm YourseLF bY tHAt fire we GoT goIng iN THe wooDs ovER tHere."

It waS less tHAn ThIrty minUtEs lateR tHat A CoNfedeRAte mEssengEr rode up From SHReveport with thE News that the waR WaS OVeR And tHe sErgeant and hIs meN Were To rePOrT baCK into Town tO sIGn THeir amnesty papers. ThEn, They woUld be Released to go hOme.

Matt shoOK HAnds with EverY OnE Of the men and wisHed thEm well. He knEW how they Felt tO lose the War becausE HE had felt The SamE waY hiMSElF. There would be NO JubiLaTion, but A seNse of reLieF anD hoPe fOr New beginnIngs. He suSpEcTeD tHat Every ONe of them WaS thInKinG abouT The quiCkest Way tO gEt BAck To their FAmILIes.

LEsS tHan aN hoUr Later, matt SAw JOhn and PAul riding CauTIousLy Up The traiL from Springer, ObViously looKiNg fOr the CONFederate Troops that Paul thought weRE there. MAtt Rode oUt anD waved theM foRward.

MAtt SAid, "TheSe men jUst goT tHe wORD, ShreVEPoRt hAs SurrendereD, ANd tHe war Is Over For them. that's the good news. ThE Bad News is that the RivEr is FLOoDed ANd WE woN't BE abLE To cross it till it Goes down. ThE mEN wE're chasing WEre On The last Boat to mAke it ACross. HoW far is LieUtenant RoSs BehiND You?" He asked.

PauL replied, "no
Yes," Matt replied, "I was  led to be lieve  it  is  b eing  neg otiated rightn ow.I sure hope you boys g et th es amet er ms we  receiv e d. " 
Th eSe rge an t  s aid,"Me , too.I think yo u s ai d they fed y o u,  made yousig n a statemen t t hat yo uwou l d not  fi ght a ny mor e , they  let youke e p your guns an d am muni tion and told you to go home. Is th at rig ht ? "" Yes , i t is Serge an t." M a tt coul d  h e a r  th e  yearning inthe man's v o ice  and f el t s o rry fo r him .I t h ad been a h ellof a warand fo r  what?T his man  had p rob abl y ne v er  o wne da  sl a ve  in his  life an dju st wa nted t o seehis  fam ily.
Matt spoke a gai n, " I 'll  betthatis w ha t you  boyswillge t, too. I hopeit i s. Say, d o y ou  mi nd  if I wait h ere  wi th youmen inc ase  m y f ri ends and the Union  t r o op s they a re wit h  a rr i ve befor ethe  sur r e nder?  I d o n' t want t hem or an yof your  b oys to  g ethur t bec a useof som e timing  issu e ."

The Sergea n t smiled ands ai d ,  " Y ou t hin k we want t o fi g ht t oday ?  W e a l l hop e we' re th r ough fighting, so l ig ht and  warm  yourself bythat firew e got goin g in th e  woods over th ere." 

It was l e ss thanthirt y minute s later t h a t a Conf ede rat e m ess e n ge r rode up fro m Shre ve port wi ththe new s t hat  th e w ar  was over  and the  s er ge an t a nd hi s  men wer etore por t bac k  intotownto s ig nt hei r amnes t yp a pers .Th en,the ywould  ber ele ased to  go home. 

M a tt s ho ok  handswith every on eof the men  a ndwished t hem well . He knew how they felt to lose  th e war  bec ause he h adfelt t hes ame wa y hims elf.Th ere w ouldb e  n o j ub ilation, b u t  asense  o f re lief an d hope for new beg i nni ngs. He suspe cte d th a t  e ver y  o n e o ft hem w as thinking abo ut the qui ck e st  way to ge t  ba ck  to the ir fami lies. 
Less t han an ho ur later,  M atts a w J ohn and Pa ul ridin g cautiou s ly up th e tra ilfrom S pr ing er, o bvious l y l ookin g forth e Conf edera te  troopsthat Paul thought werethere.  Matt  ro de out an d w a ved  them for ward .

Matt sa id,  "T hesemen justgott he  wo r d, Sh reve p ort has s u rr end e r ed , and the w a r isoverfor them.That 's the good news. The bad news i s th a t  th e r i veris  flooded and w e w on ' t  be able  t o cross ittill itgo e s dow n. The  men w e're ch a s in g  wereon t helast boat  to  m a ke it a cr os s . Howfaris  Lieut enantR ossb e hind you?" he as ked.P aul r e pli ed, " No 
Yes," Matt_replied, "I_was led to believe_it is_being_negotiated right_now._I sure hope_you boys get_the same terms we_received."

The Sergeant said,_"Me,_too. I think you said they fed you, made you sign a statement that_you_would not_fight_any_more, they let you keep_your guns and ammunition and_told you_to go home. Is that right?"

"Yes, it is_Sergeant."_Matt could hear_the yearning in the man's voice and felt sorry_for him. It had been a_hell of a_war_and_for what? This man_had probably never owned a slave_in his life and just wanted_to see his family.

Matt spoke again, "I'll_bet that is what you boys_will get, too. I hope_it is._Say, do you mind if_I wait here_with you_men in case_my friends and the Union troops_they are with_arrive before the surrender? I don't_want_them or any_of_your_boys to_get hurt because_of_some timing_issue."

The_Sergeant smiled and said, "You think_we_want to fight today? We all hope_we're through fighting, so_light_and warm yourself by_that fire we got going_in the woods over there."

It was_less than_thirty minutes_later that a Confederate messenger rode up from Shreveport with the_news that the war was over_and the sergeant and_his men_were_to report back_into_town to_sign their amnesty papers. Then, they would_be released_to go home.

Matt shook hands with_every one of the_men_and wished them well. He knew_how they felt to lose the_war because he had felt_the_same_way himself. There would be_no jubilation, but a sense of_relief and hope_for new beginnings. He suspected that every_one_of them was thinking about the_quickest_way to get back to their_families.

Less_than_an hour later, Matt saw_John and Paul riding cautiously up_the trail from Springer, obviously looking for the Confederate_troops that Paul_thought were there. Matt rode_out_and_waved them forward.

Matt said, "These men just got the word,_Shreveport has_surrendered, and the_war is over for them. That's the good news. The_bad news is that the river is_flooded and we won't be able to cross it till it_goes down. The men we're chasing were on_the last boat to make it across._How far is Lieutenant_Ross_behind you?" he asked.

Paul replied, "No