Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-10-10
Jea. p.vl.-ui. Last war ceunon.

v d In Baltimore newspaper, called the
b Southern Home Journal, Mr.. E. A. Pol
lard describes the last council Of wal
Q held by Jefferson Davis. This confer
ence was held in South Carolina, while
Davis was in retreat, and onlys few days
after the issue Of his proclamation OF
April 5th, in which he urged the South
to an unending conflict This proclsms-
tion was issued before the surrender Of
Lees army, IAN event." says Mr.. Pol
lard, (which appeared to determine the
last hopes of the Southern people; to
convince them that further prosecution
of the war was useless, and even crimi-
nal in fruitless consumption Of human
life."
81 Mr.. Pollard adds:
Not so with Mr.. Davis. He was re-
markable for sanguine temperament; |;
he had that disposition NJ once imperi-
Gus and weak, which, demanding that
oil things must be rs 1t wishes, believes
them so; and what the world thought
the swollen boasts OF 4 desperate and
falling leader, were really the sincere i'll
lusions of a proud man who never, in
deed, fully realized the extremity Of his
cause until "the iron entered his SOUP
In the casemates OF Fortress Monroe. In
his strangely deliberate and leisurely re-
treat through the CarOlinas, he had net
appeared for moment to realize that he
was fugitive, and he looked with com
placency upon the disordered fragments
OF the army that had gathered on the
lire of his flight, and that pursued it
with a vague and uncertain design.
An officer who was constantly in his
company in what might be thought days
OF anguish and despair to the fallen chief,
testiiies: "Mr. Davis was apparently I'M
touched by any of the decentralization
! which prevailed-he WAS nffable, digni-
fled, and looked the very personi6 6cation
of high and undaunted courage" He
yet persisted that the cause was not lost,
although Lee had surrendered, although
battle, and although all that was visi-
BILE of the great armies that had stood
from Richmond to Augusta, on the dom
inant lines of the war, were the less than
one thousand soldiers, fragments OF bri-
gades that assembled around him at
Abbeville, South Carolina, when he
paused there for anal council with his
Generals.
In the little. town Of Abbeville, Mr..
Davis summoned his officers to council
he was determined to try their resolu-
ton, and anxious to ASCERTAIN the spirit
of their men. The only full Generals
who yet attended him, were Bragg, his
military adviser" and Breckinridge,
lately Secretary OF War. There were hvs
brigade commanders present at the con-
ference. To this small but important
audience, Mr.. Davis addressed himself
with oil the powers OF his wonderful and
subtle intellect. The old, imperious look,
was yet in his worn face; the eye, trans
fixed with neuralgia pain, with its deep
recess Of light, shone steady and defiant;
the thin visage was Illuminated by the &C.
tive mind, and shone with the animated
discourse. Hespoke in the even, silvery
tones OF his accustomed eloQuence.
He declared that the country was only
suffering from violent surprises and On
exaggerated alarm its resolutions would
soon be erect again; the present condi-
tion WAS tnst Of panic, and patriotism
would soon be aroused when 1t heard the
commanding and feassuring tones fau-
thorlty. He insisted that the war was
not hopeless. The armies could be re-
assembled, and there would be new calls
for enlistments and new Incentives to
the country's service. He said that even
the few hundred men no yet counted
around him were enough to prolong 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
they spoke, one by one, each brigade
commander stating the condition and
temper OF his men, ard declaring his
view OF the situation. II was q plain,
unanimous Judgment. The war could
not succeed, and should not be prolonged;
they could not ask their men to struggle
against fate which WAS inevitable, and
forfeit all hopes Of restoration TO their
homes and friends; but they would in
sist that their honor was involved in Sc
curing the escape OF Mr.. Davis, and for
the accomplishment Of this object they
would risk battle, aud put Off submission
to the last moment.
mo, no." exclaimed the unhappy
chief, in passionate accents; "I 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 his countenance, he said:-
N"All hope his gone! Alas, that should
'fsee the day when all the friends OF the
South are prepared to consent to her deg
radiation" He faltered, aud sat down in
silence; every one In the room respected
him too much TO reply.
Presently, without even q gesture OF
courteous retirement, without any Ac-
acknowledgement OF the company whAtev-
er, he rose to leave the room; and il was
observed that he had lost his erect car
riage and defiant port. A weight OF years
appeared to have suddenly fallen on the
stricken sufferer. The eyes were un-
easy in the pale, pinched face; and no
uncertain and tottering was his step that
General Breckinridge moved 10 his side
nd sstx A. lt a H..
nom the room. Not single wsrd was
spoken,