The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1865-12-28
The Exodus of the Confederate
Cabinet from DanvfIIe, va.
to Washington, Georgia. 7

enai From the Neso Orleans Bee.1
M. Edstor-Thinking some of your
readers desire to be informed Of the last
dying hours of the late Confederate
Government, | have determined to give
you brief account of the journey of
Jefferson Davis and Cabinet from Dam
vile, Virginia, to Washington, Georgia
After the downfall of Richmond, Dan
vile was selected as the temporary seat
OF government. Admiral Semmes, for
merly of the Alabama, was made briga-
dier general and placed in command of
the defences of Danyille, which were
manned BY naval brigade transformed
into batteries of light artillery, suppor-
ted by one or two battalions of promise
cuous troops, belonging to the Virginia
army, who were absent on furlough at
the time ofthe battles before Peters
burg, and were then returning to their
respective commands. Here, for a
while, the fugitive Government rested
secure, but as soon as authentic infor-
nation was received of the surrender of
General Lee and of his hitherto invin-
chile army, the chiefs Of the different
: p q b
departments packed up bag and bag
gage and hurried away by railroad to
Greensboro. North Carolina. naFo s.
At Greensboro the writer of this ar
tiele was specially authorized to raise a
company of select Mississippians, be-
longing to. the Virginia army, for a
mounted escort to the President. His
life had been attempted three times be-
fore leaving Richmond, and MANY of
the North Carolinians were known to
hate him. On the 18th of April the
Cabinet, consisting of Mr.. Davis, Secre-
taries Benjamin, Breckenridge, Mallory,
Postmaster General Reagan, and the
following named officers belonging to
the Presidents staff, viz: Col. John P.
Wood, Col. Thos, /. Lubbock formerly
Governor of Texas,) Col. VIM. Preston
johnson (son of Gen. Albert Sidney
johnson, and Col. Burton N. Harrison
private Secretary, set outfrom Greens
boro', on horseback, to seek place of
greater safety further South. Two di.
visions of cavalry, commanded by Gems.
Debrill and Furguson, were detached
from Wheelers corps, to protect and &c
guard the front and rear of the distin.
'guished cavalcade. Along wagon train
containing the personal baggage of the
Cabinet, and the most valuable archives
OF the waning Government, also com.
posed part OF the column. We rode
lelsurely along, from twenty to twenty.
i've miles a day, until We arrived al
Charlotte, N. c., where we halted foul
or fye days, during which time Gems
Johnston and Sherman were negotia,
ting treaty of peace, of which Mr.,
Davis approved, and said it was the
only thing that could be done under the
circumstances. Ia iea9o ,.a7pt -
/ Here Mr.. Davis received a. telegram
from Gen. Breckenridge, who had re.
manned behind few days with John.
ston's army, announcing the assassina.
ton of President Lincoln. He ex.
pressed his sincere regrets at this sad
occurrence, and said '"There is nc
event that has happened since the com.
mencement of thewar thatI more deep.
ly deplore than this lamentable assassi.
nation. First, because murders, such
as this, never benefit any cause, but are
calculated to injure; second, the Con
federate Government will be icensured
for completely and participationin this
horrible tragedy; third, in case the
Confederate Government is finally over.
thrown, we could have expected a great.
er leniency and more concessions from
Mr.. Lincoln than / fear his successor
will grant us. " I mention this declara.
tion of Mr.. Davis in order to show tha,
the assertions, made by his enemies that
he knewIof the conspiracy against the
life of ftLincoln, and encouraged it, is .
malignant and willful falsehood. 81
soon as President johnson refused te
approve the treaty authorized by Mr.
Lincoln, and agreed upon by Generals
Johnston and Sherman, the Cabinet sci
out on their journey southwark with all
possible speed. , og.
! 1eKilpatrick's cavalry was close upor
our rear, and the commands of Debril
and Ferguson were greatly demoralized.
We finally reached Abbeville, s. c., on
the 1st day of May, and here the Fed
eral cavalry were but few miles dis
tant from the town. I received orders