The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-09
CHE Aorfolk gost.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1866.
LAST DAYS OF THE REBEL GOV
ERNMENT.


some statements relative to the last days
Of the fugitive rebel government which
not being generally known in this sec
ton, will be read with much interest:
| Thinking some of your readers desire
to he informed of the last dying hours oil
the late Confederate government, have
determined to give you a brief account
of the journey of Jefferson Davis and
cabinet from Danyille, Va, to Washing.
ton, Ga. After the downfall of Rich
mond, Danyille was selected as the tenn
porary seat of government Admiral
| Semmes, formerly of the Alabama, was
made brigadier general and placed i'm
command of the defences of Danville,
which were manned hya naval brigade,
transformed into batteries of light artil-
lery. supported 10y one or two battalions
of promiscuous troops, belonging to the
| Virginia army who were absent on fur
| Tough at the time of the battles before
| Petersburg, and were then returning to
| their respective commands. Here for q
while, the fugitive government rested
secure; but as soon as the authentic in
| formation was received of the surrender
of General Lee and OF his hitherto in
vincible army, the chiefs of the different
departments packed up bag and baggage
and hurried away by railroad to Greens.
borO, n. G. at
Greensboro the writer of this art-
Gle 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 marry of
the North Carolinians were known to
| hate him. On the 18th of April, the
cabinet, consisting of Mr.. Davis, Secre-
taries Benjamin, Breckenridge, and
| Mallory, Postmaster General Reagan,
and the following named officers belong
| ing to the Presidents staff, viz: Colonel
john P. Wood, Col. Thos. L. Lubbock,
| formerly Governor of Texas Colonel
VIM. Preston Johnston, (son of General
Albert Sidney Johnston,) and Colonel
Burton N. Harrison, (private secretary, J
set out from Greensboro OIL horseback,
to seek place of greater safety further
South. Two divisions of cavalry, con-
manded by Generals Debrill and Fergu-
son, were detached from Wheeler's corps
| to protect and guard the front and rear
+, of the distinguished cavalcade. A long
wagon train, containing the personal
baggage of the cabinet, and the most
valuable archives of the waning govern
ment, also composed part of the column.
We rode leisurely along, from twenty to
twenty five miles q day, until we arrived
at Charlotte, n. C., where we halted
four or five days, during which time
Generals Johnston aud Sherman were
negotiating treaty of peace, of which
Mr.. Davis approved, and said it was the
Only thing that could be done under the
circumstances.
Here Mr.. Davis received a telegram
from General Breckenridge. who had
remained behind a few days with John
sons army, announcing the assassina-
ton of President Lincoln. He expressed
his sincere regret at this sad occurrence,
and said: "There is no event that has
happened since the commencement OF
the war that more deeply deplore than
| this lamentable assassination. First,
because murders, such as this, never
benefit any cause, but are calculated to
injury; second, the Confederate govern
meDt will be censured for completely
and participation in this horrible trag-
edy; third, In case the Confederate gov
eminent is finally overthrow, we
could have expected a greater leniency
anu tIlofc COilCtssIOuS IIUli MT. lJlncOlil
than, fear, his successor will grant U.S..
| mention this declaration of Mr.. Davis
| in order to show that the assertions made
by his enemies that he knew of the con-
spiracy against the life of Lincoln and
encouraged it were malignant and will
full falsehoods. So soon us President
johnson refused to approve the treaty
authorized by Mr.. Lincoln, and agreed
| , po,, hy Gonaro1a Tohpotnn and har
man, the cabinet set out on their iOurney
south ward with all possible speed.
| Kilpatrick's cavalry was close upon
our rear, and the commands of Debrell
and Ferguson were greatly demoralized,
| We finally reached Abbeville, S. C.. on
the LIST day of May, and here the Federal
cavalry were but few miles distant
from the town. received orders to get
my command in readiness to march on
| the 1st at 10 p. NJ, and fall in the rear OF
the cabinet. / was also instructed not
to tell who we were, or whittier we
were going, to such persons as might in.
quire. Before this time Mr.. Davis
or his attaches did not attempt to
disguise or conceal who they were;
but this was a dark and trying hour,
and discretion was then the better part
of valor. On the ever-memorable night
we rode forty-two miles and the next
morning, after crossing the Savannah
river on pontoon. bridge, we entered
the town of Washington, Ga. During
the latter part of the night Mr.. Davis
rode in an ambulance. He had two ex-
cellent horses, ID a splendid and grace
full rider, and stood the trip remarkably
well. Mr.. Benjamin, on account Of his
corpulency, seemed To be greatly jaded
and fatigued after long ride. On the
morning of May 4, six days before his
capture hearing that he had determined
to dispense with the cavalry force along
with him, went to bid him farewell.
through toa place of safety with the
two divisions of cavalry along with me,
but they have become so much demora
lized by the reports of stragglers and de-
erters from Johnston's army that can
no longer rely upon them in case we
should encounter the enemy. | have
therefore, determined to disband them
and try to make my escape, as a small
body of men can elude the vigilance o.
the enemy easier than large number
They will make every endeavor in theil
power to capture me, and 1t behooves III
10 face these dangers rs men. We will
go to Mississippi, and there rally OF
Forrest, If he is in state of organiza,
ton, and it is to he hoped that he IL; |
not, we will cross the Mississippi rive
and Join Kirby Smith, and there we ca,
carry on the war forever. Meet M
south of the Chattahoochee, as this de
partment has been surrendered withou
my knowledge or consent" He SCENE,