The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-02-06

Je6. Davis Body Servant in
Washington.
That feature Of the war, the intelligent
and trustworthy contraband, who has dis
appeared from public view for the last few
months, reappeared in the city this morn
ing, and his information has been consiG-
cred of so much Importance as to have oc-
cupied many hours of the attention both OF
Gen. Halleck and of the Secretary OF War.
he is full negro, named Jim Dennlson.
otherwise Peinberton, who has been Tor
nearly twenty years personal boIy-servant
to JEFF. Davis, and is well knowcas such by
the old residents Of this city.
He says that Jefferson Davis, in private
conversation. is unreserved in urging the
abandonment of Virginia, as line OF de-
tense no longer tenable. That he has heard
Mr.. Davis, in conversation, with confiden-
tial members of the so-called Government,
declare frequently, tina. Virginia HAD been
used for all il was worth; that i had prov
ed a shield OF immense value, in Tending
off the deyastations Of war from The rice
and cotton Sta.es-whch were the natural
hear. and body polite o. the new Govern
ment. Steps have been already taken on
various pretexts o: their labor being need
ed on the public works, to send al the val
liable able bodied negroes and breeding ne
gro women from Richmond along the rail-
road to Lyuchburg, and also south n INTO
the next base OF defensive operations. But
Gen. Lee, whom jim describes a. looking
very old, with his hair now srow-white, IS
peremptorily opposed TO the abandonment
of Virginia, and declares that Virginia SOL
diers will lay down their arms, i their
State be given up TO the Yankee cespo-
ism. jim does not give these points as
they are here stated. The following being
about fair specimen OF his style Of inform
alton:
The cupula roof of the Presidents EoCse
leaks badly, he says, that during the recent
rain-storm all the tubs from the Kitchen
had to be taken up to save the ceiling OF
the lower floors. Mrs. Davis, who often
says that ii they had known how i was
going, they never would have left WASH
ingtOn with her consent, was calling N ASA
Davis attention to the state OF the roof, ana
asked him to send to the QEar:ernaster's
Department and have it repaired. Massa
Davis, who has grown very Petuient and
irritable Of late, replied: II reckon We
will be ont Of this before other rain storm.
Don't fuss yourself and fret NE abou. these
trif,es.''
The talk is not about going TO Columbia
South Carolina, but to some city il Geor-
gia. Jim heard gentlemen ask Mr.. Davis
at the table, where Alexander Stephens
was, who has not attended Congress this
session, and who is said not TO have Visited
Mr.. Davis house or office for Il year. Da-
Wis replied that, that he had heard tina. Ste
phens had gone to Europe, but had 70.
thought it worth while 10 inquire what had
become Of him.
Jim accompanied Davis n his recent tour
around the Confederacy, and describes tie
following scene as having occurred on the
summit Of Lookout Mountain. Looking
down, one bright day, from the lofty emf
hence commanding a clear view into toCc
States, add very distant view into fifth,
Davis saw the Yankees almost beneath his
feet, across the valley, working like pea
vers on their Notifications. Il have them
now" said he, ''in just the trap Sc. COR
them.'' To which Lieutenant General
Pemberton, who was sitting on horseback
beside him, replied. "Nr. DAVIS, YOU are
Commander-in-chie..a and you are here
You think the enemy are 10 q trap, and can
be captured by vigorous assault. ] have
been blamed for not having ordered a gen
eral attack on the enemy when they were
drawing around their lines OF circuln ALA
ton at Vicksburg. Do you now order az
attack upon those troops down there below
us, and will set you my life that not enc
Cd d-n man Of the attacking column
Will ever come back across that valley, ex-
cept as prisoner
When Davis was passing through North
Carolina, he only stopped at Wilmington
W CoAsuIe Will Oeu. Wultluk. " me tEe!e
he was pressed by a numerous delegation
OF Confederate Office holders to stop IN RAJ
eigh for consultation with Gov. Vance
This he angrily declined. It appears that
the health Of Mr.. Davis is rapidly breaking
down under his neuralgia attacks, in so
much that he can no longer use his only
good eye by candle light. He continues
self on the carpet before the fire in room
otherwise unlghted, and It is fast becom-
ing dangerous for any ore 20 approach
him.
Always Of a violent and tre:ful temper,
this is becoming greatly aggravated by
his misfortunes, and jim describes
him on one occasion as fiinging abou; the
chairs and furniture when SO disturbe d.
About four weeks ago a pistol exploded
in his room when he was loading i, and
the whole family rushed up, feeling con-
fident that, as they had long decided, lie
had committed suicide.
Jim says that Mrs. Davis, in converse
ton with female friends, frequently talks
OF the Confederacy as hopeless, and IS loud
IN regrets fer the lost pleasures OF Wash
ington.
There is no forage except in the Missis-
sippl Department., and the allowance for
Mr. Daviss two horses is two quarts OF
corn each per day, on which, says jim,
they are growing thin. Not long ago Mr..
DAVIS received a present Of twenty tur-
keys, the food for which now comes
from the corn rations Of the quadrupeds,
making them still thinner. A turkey,
jim says lasts the family three days;
NEXT. and hashad ,h n ~; a.sI oay' coAo the
Mr.. Davis receives no company; has no
VINE in his use cellar bu, has several kegs OF
at Wilmington. Jim SAYS that Nj ',avis
told him that the Yankees mad
killed all the people whom they
and that they were all found living nc,
gledy piggledy in hole, their arms cit
OF, and in some cases, their heads bloody
and beaten, protrudiDg from the ground
Jim says he believed this story, until one
of his fellow servants, who could read
told him it Yves a lie to deceive them -
Then Jim determined to leave.
When he did leave, he was hidden in q
hole in the earth at Charles CITY for three
days before he was found by his wife. ,he
last female slave owned by Mr.. Davis, in
the Presidential Mansion. jim wore Ar
OvercOat, and in it the autorranh name ~