Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-23

were then not known to us. Mr.. Davis
said it was then useless to keep men uu-
der arms who would not fight; criminal to
risk the lives Of men who would fight, to
the bravery of those who would not
Therefore, the command must be winnow.
ed. That he could have been at shreye-
port by that day, but was not willing to
leave the men who were still in the field.
That he supposed that General Johnston
had surreudered-that all the army left in
that department were the commands repre-.
sented in that meeting-that Of them not
more than four hundred could be depend
ed on any further. That he would attempt
to 60 to General Taylor, and if that army
went to pieces, he would cross the river,
and if the cause should be finally lost, he
would feel that he had done all his duty as
be best could. That, called to his place
without his intervention, he would contin-
ue to discharge its duties as long as possi-
BILE. That his contest might have resulted
disastrously, but the cause was not lost;
tho blood shed during four years was not
shed in vain, and under other auspices and
ADLER leaders, would yet succeed.
After considerable discussion it was
agreed that Mr.. Davis, with small escort
should 60 Immediately to Washington,
40 on6 tbop ~, .u,h .0,.. -.
best; that Gen. Breckinridge should take
command of the cavalry there, and move
that nj ght across the Savannah River at
Vienna, where there was pontoon bridge.
This was carried out, and at daylight we
crossed the river. That day was spent in
paying the men actually present per capita
General Breckinridge and the humblest
private sharing alike; each receiving about
$26 in coin.
The statement that at any time upon the
msrch from Charlotte,to Washington any
attack was made upon the specie train is a
mistake. This train was guarded to Abbe.
vile by detachment Of midshipmen, Pres.
ident Guards, and perhaps few other "Vir-
ginia army" soldiers {; At Abbeville it Sas
placed under a picked guard from Dukes
brigade, under the command of Col. Steele,
and from Abbevile to Vienna it was guard
ed by picked body from the whole cavalry,
under the personal command Of Gen.
Duke.
BY this time more definite information
had been received Of Gen. Johnston's sur
render. Gen. Vaughn and his whole COM
mand, Gen. Dibrell, Col. McLemore and
the whole division, except Col. Breckin-
ridge and some fifty officers and men,
equally divided between the two brigades,
aud all save about one hundred and fifty
of Gen. Dukes command, determined to
remain and accept the terms received by
Gen. Johnston. On the 4th, at Washing
ton, Gen. Ferguson's brigade stopped, lcav.
ing General Breckinridge, upon the morn
ing of the 9Th, near Woodstock, Ca, with
one company of about fifty Kentuokians
and Tennesseeans, we'll armed and mounted,
under Col. Breckinridge, aud one hundred
aud Fifty Keptuckians, only tolerably armed
and mounted, under Gen. Duke. The Fed.
erals had possession of Athens, Lexington,
Macon, Augusta; also Of Atlanta, Mariet.
ia, Carterayille and Dalton. also of Mont
gomery, Selma aud Mobile, so that, with
patrols and aeouts everywhere, it seemed
hopeless to attempt any escape. No off.
cial announcement Of. the terms and extent
Of JohDston's surrender had been received.
onthe morning Of the 9th, Gen. Breek-
inridge ordered Gen. Duke and Col. Breck.
inridge to surrender or disband, saying, in.
his manly, unselfsh way, aNot one of these
young Kentuckiaus shall risk his life for
me; / am now only fugitive. aud would
not have a life saved by the sacrifce Of
lives younger, as dear, and perhaps to ebe
more ussfal than my own. I have done
my full duty--I have, nothing left but TO
presevsa life dear and useful to my fami-
y" Accompanied by a few personal and
staff officers be rode down, q BY road, not
nifty minutes before battalion sof Fed-
srai cavalry passed its mouth: Next, NOR.
aing this eammsnd divided, part going TO
PAiten 8 y g surfsndsr, psrt TO: Athens, pats Il
q Angasta N coi6isoionus, tbat Tie failure