Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-10-14
I,t,,c Piece of Secret History.

in Washington letter, from winch We
oct at another reason for the sudden or
der of JET. Davis TO Beauregard to
omen on Sort Sumter. General then
Colonel. Lee, it seems, was offered the
Command of the armies Of the Union.
He hesitated. Mr.. Blair writes:
uMy father was authorized by the
President and Mr.. Cameron, Secretary
of War. to converse with General Lee.
and ascer ain whether he would accept
the command of our army IN the held,
The latter was written for, and he met
INV father at my house, where they con-
versed for an hour or more. 1t was a
few days before the ordinance was
nassed. General Lee concluded the
conversation by saying secession was
anarchy. and, added, if he owned the
four million slaves in the Sonth, he
wnuld cheerfully sacrifice them to the
Hoiea: but he did moi know how he
conld draw his sword on his native
State said he would see General
Scott on the subject before he decided. :
But he was caught up by some Nlr-
ginia friends, who lay in wait Tor MN,
and he did not get to see Gen. Scott
I0SsA committee from The Virginia con-
vention, while the General and my father
conversed, were hunting for him through
the city. They met on his leaving the
house. He repaired with them, to con-
sult with the convention, as ] have since
learned, about some mode OF settle
ment."- .f&r -tsi :, 4
The secessionists on this committee,
who were determined to hive no settle
ment, and were also anxious to secure
Lee. saw that action was necessary, ana
telegraphel to that effect to the rebel
leaders. The result was Davis order
to open fire on Sumter and that
uru1y-leuletl old hanger-on OF Cal-
houn. Edmund Rnffin, of Virginia.
fred the first gun. As Lees virginia
confidents foresaw, he went over imne-
diately. General Scott and General
Thomas. who are also Virginians, did not
90 over to the enemies of their country.
Neither did General Philip st. George
Cooke. Neither did General John. w.
Davidson, nor General l.. p. Graham,
nor General William Hays, nor General
John Newton, all of whom were Virgin
ians by birth and education. Nor did
| scores of other officers of lower rank,
all Vireinians, and all faithful TO the
Union. But Edmond Rutfin's first gun
brought down Lee--as his last gun
brought down himself. -.
Ancient Luxury.-The excavations al
Pompeii are going on with an activity
stimulated by the important discoy enes
made almost at every step, and the
Quantities of gold and silver found
| which more than suffice to cover the
cost of the work. Near the temple o.
/ Juno. of which an account was recently
given, has Just been brought TO light {
house, no doubt belonging to some
millionaire of the time, as the furniture
is of ivory, br me and marble. Th'
couches of the triciinium, or dining
room, are especially of extreme rich
ness. The flooring consists of an I'M
mense mosaic, well preserved In parts
and of which the center represents ia
BILE laid out for a grand dinner. In thu
middle, on large dish, may be seen
splendid peacock with his tail spread
ont, and placed back to back with an
other bird also of elegant plumage
\ Around them are arranged Holsters, one
( of which holds blue egg in its claw
a second an oyster, which seems frlcas
seed. as it is open and covered witt
i herbs; third, rat fdrci, and fourth
small vase filed with fried grasshop
pers.
Next comes a circle of dishes of fish
interspersed with others of cartridges
hares and squirrels, while all have theiI
heads placed between their fore feet
j Then comes row of sausages OF 81
forms, supported by one of eggs, oys
tiers and olives, which in its turn IS sur
rounded by double circle of peaches
cherries. melons and other fruit ant
vegetables. The walls of the tricliniun
are covered with fresco paintings o
birds, fruits, flowers, game and fish 9
all kinds, the whole interspeTse5 witt
i flowers which lend charm to the whol'
not easy to describe. On a table %
| rare wood. carved and inlaid with gold
marble, agate and lapis lazula, were
found amphorae still containing wine
and goblets OF onyx. 20 t<ai
Millinery Goods at Wholesale. All oul
city readers, and many OF our country
n II