South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1867-10-25
JEFF DAVIS LAST WAR COUNCIL.

Yves IN retreat and only a few aavs after the Is
sue oi his proclamation Of April s, in which he
urged The South TO an amending conflict This
! Proclamation was issued before the surrender os
Lees army" gu event." says Mr. Pollard
/ "nien appeared TO determine the last hopes Of
the southern PEOPLE; 10 convince them that fur
/ 'lei prosecution Of the war was useless and even
criminal, In fruitless consumption Of human
life" Mr.. Pollard adds:
Not so with Mr.. Davis. lie was re.
marhab!e for sanguine temperament; he
had that disposition at once iinperious aud
weak, which demanding that all things
must be as it wishes, believe them So. and
what tue world thought the swollen boasts
~ desperate aud falling leader were real
y 'he sincere illusions Of proud man who
never, indeed, fully realized the extremity
VI us cause until the iron entered the soul
IN ;he easement Of Fortress Monroe. In
MS strangely deliberate and leisure.y retreat
through the Carolinas, lie had not appeared
Tor & moment 10 realize that he was a fugi-
I'VE, and he looked with com placcncy upon
the dlsordered fragments Of the army that
had gathered on the line Of his fight, and
that pursued 1t with vague and uncertain
design. An officer who was constantly in
Ills company in what might be thought DAYS
oil anguish and despair to the fallen chief.
testities: Mr.. Davis was apparently un-
touched by any of the decentralization which
pTeyalied--hc was affaole, dignifed, and
looked the very personifcatiom of lieh
ard uudaunted courage lie yet persisted
mat the cause was not lost, although Lee
! had surrendered, although Johnston had
turicd his banners without battle, and al
though all that was visible of the great ar
mics that had stood from Richmond to Au-
susta, on the dominant lines Of the war,
were less than one thousand soldiers, frag-
ments of brigades that assembled around
iiim at Abbeville s. c., when he paused
the!e for tnal council with his Generals.
In the little town of Abbevills Mr. Dl-
Wis summoned his officers to council he was
determined to try their resolution, AMI anx-
lous to ascertain the spirit of their men.-
The only full Generals who vet s;:olded
him were Bragg his military adviser and
! breckenridge lately Secretary Of War
There were five brigade commanders rros-
ent at the conference IL his small bat
important audience Mr.. Davis addressed
himself with all the powers IF his wood,r-
tul and subtle intellect. The old, inpe-
rious look was yet in lis worn face, the eye,
transdXei with neural gic poin, with is dep
recess of light, shoue steady and d, d1nt
'he thin visage was Illuminated by tie ac-
ave ruiTd aud shonc with animated dis
course. lie spoke in the even, filvery
I tones Of his accustomed clequeace. He
declared that the country was only slTvr-
Ing from violent surprises and on cxaggcr.
nj IL 7
rect again the present condition VISA that
OF panic, and patriotism would soon be a.
icusod when it heard ihe commanding and
r'aSsuring tones Of authority he insisted
that the war Was bot hopeless The ar
mics could be reass"mbcd. and there would
be new calls for enisimcuts and new incen-
lives 10 The couutry's service He said
chat even the few hundred men yet coun-
ted around him were cnou Ga t. prolong the
war until panic had passed away, ana they
would be a nucleus for thousands more
tie urged his officers TO accept lis views,
and to animate their men to stand to the
good cause, whose honor thoy had so long
maintained, and whose last hopes they now
carried on thcir bayoncts
His auditors were silent At length
they spoke, ono by one, each brigade com
mander stating tue condition and temper
of his men, and declaring his yicw of the
situation. II was plain, unanimous judr.
ment; the war could 10. succeed and should
not be prolonged, they could not ask their
men to struggle against fate which was
encvitable, and forfeit oil hopes Of rcs;ora-
ton to their homes and friend.; but
they would insist that their honor was
involved in securing the escape Of Mr.. Dl-
Vie, and for the accomplishment Of thisob-
jet they would rick battle, and pat of sub
mission to the last moment.
'No, no exclaimed the unhappy chief
IN passionate accents. Il will hear Of no
plan which has for It's object only nv safe.
~ Then speaking slowly and bitterly.
wish a deep and fearful change settling on
bis c1untenaDce, he said All hope il
cone. Alas, that | should see the day
when all the friends Of the South arc pre-
pared 70 consent ~ her degradation. lie
ialtered, and sat down in silence every one
IN the room respected him too much to
reply.
Presently, without cgcn a gesture of
courteous retirement, without any achnowl
ccgment Of ihc company whatescr, hc rose
l'N l'iu dHi 10 was ODacI|t0 lhat
be bad lost bis erect carriage aud defiant
port. \ weight Of years appeared to have
fallen on the stricken sufferer The eyes
were uneasy in the pale, pinched face and
50 uncertain aud lettering was bis step
that General Brcckiuriig3 moved to his
side, and giving him lis arm, supported .
him from tho room. Not a single word
was spoken"
Cr~ T,,,,..,. 90. - 49,,