Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-10-09

abe for sanguine temperament. lie had
that disposition at once imperious and weak
which demanding that all things must be
as it wishes, believes them 50; and what
the world thought the swollen boasts of
desperafe and failing leader were really the
sincere Illusions of a proud man, who never,
indeed fully realized the extremity of his
cause untif e the iron entered bis soul" in
the c,seu5ates Of Fortress Monroe. In his
strangely deliberate and leisurely retreat
through the Carolinas he had not appeared
for 4 moment to realize that he was u fugi
tive, and.he looked with complacency upon
/ the diserdered fragments of the army that
had gathered on the line Of his fight and
that pursued it with vague and uncertain
design.
An officer who was constantly in his COM
pany in what might be thought days of
anguish and despair to the fallen chief, tes-
titles: Mr.. Davis was apparently untouch-
ed by any of the Generalization which pre-
vailed--he was affable, dignifed and looked
the very personifcation of high and I'M
daunted courage. He yet persisted that
the cause was not lest, although Lee had
surrendered, although Johnston had furled
bis banners without battle, and although
all that was visible of the great armies that
had stood from Richmond to Augusta, on
the dominant lines of the war, were less
than one thousand soldiers, fragments of
brigades that assembled around him at
Abbeville, South Carolina, when he paused
there for a final counsel with his Generals.
In the little town of AbbeviIle, Mr.. Davis
summoned his officers to council. de was
determined to try their resolution and as
certain the spirit of their men. The only
| full Generals who yet attended him were
Bragg, his military adviser" and Breokin-
ridge, lately Secretary of War. There were
| five brigade commanders present at the
| conference. To this small but important
audience, Mr.. Davis addressed himself with
all the powers Of his wonderful and subtle
intellect The old imperious look was yet
in his worn face the eye, transfxed with
neuralgia pain, with its deep recess of light,
shone steady and defiant; the thin visage
was Illuminated by the active mind, and
shone with the animated discourse. He
spoke in the even, silvery tones of his ac-
customed eloquence.
He declared that the dountry was only
suffering from violent surprises and an ex-
aggerated alarm; its resolution would soon
be erect again; the present condition was
that of panic, and patriotism would soon
be aroused when it heard the commanding
and reassuring tones of authority. He in
sisted that the war was not hopeless. The
armies could be reassembed and there
would be new calls for enlistments and new
incentives to the country's service He
said that even the few hundred men he vet
counted around him were enough to pro
long the war until the panic had passed
away, and they then would be nucleus for
thousands more. He urged his officers to
accept his views, and animate their men to
stand to the good cause, whose honor they
had so long maintained, and whose last
hopes they now carried on their bayonets.
His auditors were silent At length thew smoke
one by one each brigade commander stating the
condition and temper of his men, and declaring his
view of the situation. It was q plain unanimous
judgment The war could not succeed, and should |
not be prolonged they could not ask their men 10
struggle against fate which was Inevitable, and |
forfeit all hopes of restoration to their homes and
friends but they would insist that their honor was
involved in securing the escape of Mr. Davis. and
for the accomplishment of this object thew would
risk battle, and put off submission to the last mo
ment- mo- 40 !" exclaimed the unhappy chief in /
passionate accents; will hear of no plan which |
has for its object only my safety Then speaking
slowly and bitterly, with deep and fearful change
settling on bis countenance, he said: All hope is
gone Alas, that should see the day when ali the
friends of the South prepared to consent TO her
degradation" He foltered and sat down in silence:
every one in the room respected him too much to
reply.
Presently, without even gesture of courteous re-
tirement, without any acknowledgment of the com
pany whatever, he rose to leave the room; and it |
observed that he had lost his erect carriage and
defiant port weight of years appeared to have
suddenly fallen on the stricken sufferer The ewes
were uneasy in the pale, pinched face; and so un-
certain and lettering was his step that Gen. Brock
inridge moved to his side and, giving him bis arm
supported him from the room. Not single world
was spoken.