Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-05-25
Some Details of jeff. Dayis's Flight.
rresnondence of the CincLnnati Commercial,


CORRESPONDENCE of the Cincinnati Commercial,
NASHVILLE, May IL.
Paroled rebel officers contribute some interesting
facts to the dispatch concerning the flight of JEFF
Davis.
General Dembreli, who commanded the escort,
was engaged in battle near Raleigh, North Car
lima, when he received intelligence OF Lees sur
render; and at the same time, Wheeler got dis
patch from jeff Davis, dated at Greensboro, North
Carolina, calling for one thousand picked men, to
escort him and what remained of the government,
to Washington. Georgia. General Debrell was
accordingly dispatched with the requisite force,
and after march of three DAYS, reached Greens
boro, at which point he found jeff. Davis with his
family, Judah P. Benjamin, Secretary OF State;
John c. Breckinr:dge, Secretary of War; Senator
Burnett of Kentucky; ]. Fl. Reagan, Postmaster
General; Gustavus A. Henry, OF Montgomery
county, Tennessee, and other rebel officials some
Of whom had their families.
jeff. Davis and the rebel officials rode in front,
followed By ambulances containing the women and
children and the specie which currently report
ed among the officers to amount to sll 100000
Ii was put up in heavy iron bound kegs and boxes
The guard OF one thousand men, led by General
Debrell, followed this regal train. At point
about five miles from Greensboro, they encamped,
jeff Davis and family taking up their quarters in a
house in the vicinity. Here the rank and file first
cussed with all the surmses which itnaturally ex-
cited. The boys were exceedingly anxious to know
the destination of their government.
On the following day jeff visited the boys, with
the rebel officials, and made "a soul stirring
Speech" adverting to the disasters that had over
taken their beloved Confedracy, but giving them
every assurance that they were not irretrievable,
and all that was necessary for ultimate success was
confidence in their Government and the undauned
bravery which had characterized the Confederate
army during its asst career.
Upon taking up the line OF march, they rode in
the same order, jeff Davis having by his side young
Colonel Johnston, q son ofGeneral Albert Sidney
Johnston, in whom he evidently reposed the most
implicit confidence
They reached Charlotte, North Carolina. where
they again camped. and Davis harangued the men
again, urging confidence ih them, and dealing in
glowing words of bel patriotism. He appeared
happy and cheerful, took the boysby the hand
ike plebian, and visited the pckets and en-
tered into social conversation with them. lie
would praise their valer in the presence OF the Ia
dies, and call them "the faithful thousand" the
Flower of the confederate army and paid them
other pretty but not substantial compliments
Whileat this point they were joined by Duke,
Ferguson and Vaughn, with their brigades, which
increased the escort to>five thousand men, After
the new corners hld mingled with others, they soon
learned the condition of hngs, and they too, h vi
their conjectures and surmises. Like a pack OF
hungry wolves, Il ey were suddenly reminded tina
the Government was slightly ndeb, ed to them, and
as the treasury at hand, ii e idea of pre-
senting their bills naturally suggested itsefto tlcm
The men would congregate in groups, and their
low muteriHS BODIED no good to the Government.
jeff found 1t necresary to reduuble his efforts to
concilatc them, but his eloqucnce was now being
wasted; but the men obeyed their marching orders,
and followed jeff and specie into South Carolina TO
Abbcvlle. when they again halted, very, much IA
tgued and demoralizcd AT every stopping place
the rebel officials would repair to the best house
they could find and take up their quarters
On the 9th. things began to assume desperate
feature, and jeff foundit polite to inspire his brave
boys with something more than words. The va
riOus commanders were ordered to send in full re
ports OF their men, and then all we're p,id of in
gold and silver. Ii was intended to give each mn
thirty two dollars, but errors in the reports caused
mos, of them to receive less. None got less than
twenty-six dollars. 1t was chiefly Mexican dol
lars. None got over United States half cagl2 in
gold.
In the evening, Duke sent his Adntant General
Captain Davis to notify all his men who wished 20
go west OF the Mississippi river rep TT at eleven
O'Clock on the following morning. AT the ap.
pointed time, all the men reported, but Duke re-
fused to take those who were without arms, and
taking the armed men. left the others to shift for
curses on the Ddse
Duke, and with heavy hearts, went to Washington
Georgia, where they surrendered to General Will
son, together with the brigades OF Ferguson and
Vaughn.
The command Of General Debrcll escorted jeff
Davis to Vienna, village on west bank ofSavan-
nah river, about twenty miles from Washington
where the grand dissolution took place on the 9th
At this point, Breckenridge, Benjamin, Burnett
and several others. took a long, and, perhaps, last
farewell of jeff Davis and his family. The parting
occurred at the dead hour of midnight under the
clear and starry canopy Of heaven, with the bright
beams of full and resplendent moon, shining or
the calm and placid waters of the beautiful Savan
nah. IL mus. have been a sad parting. and the re
Election suggested can hardly be imagined. AT the
hour named, Jeff. Davis and suite crossed the riv
or, and the other portion of the Government gal
loped off, waving their pocket handkcrchieis.-
This scene only witnc ssed by the lonely senii
mel who patroled the camp when il took place. A
body guard of ten men accompanied jeff, with hi:
family and friends. In the morning the command
appr;sed of the fact that their Government haC
deserted them, and that they were now let to fol
low out the bent of their own incnatons The
men mustered themselves out with an honorable
discharge, and marched to Washington.