Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-10-16

eral. well, you see Gineral. thar's feller
in our regiment what hain't done nothin', and
he is q Major and Quartermaster, and II 1t
is all the same to you, 1 would just like to
rank him for onst.' 1t is needless 10 say that
the going ont Secretary Of War instantly
wrote the battle.scared but humble hero q
commission as Leutenant-C Colonel." ~
The Last War Council of President
Davis. s4ii sr's
In the Southern Home Journal Mr.. E. q.
Pollard describes the last councilof wsr held
by Hon. Jefferson Davis. This conference
was held in South Carolina, while Mr.. Davis
was in retreat, and only few days after the
issue of his proclamation of April S, in which
he urged the South to an uuending conflict.
This proclamation was issued before the sur
render Of Lees army, "-an event." says Mr..
Pollard, (which appeared to determine the
last hopes of the Southern people, TO- convince
them that further prosecution of the war was
useless, and even criminal in a fruitess con-
sumption of human life" 7a
Mr.. Pollard adds: .".
Not 30 with Mr.. Davis. He was remarka-
Bile for o sanguine temperament; he had that
disposition at once imperious and weak, which,
de handing that allthings must be as wishes,
believes them so; and what the world thought
the swolan boasts Of desperate and falling
leader were really the sincere Illusions OF a
proud man who never, indeed, fully realized
the extremity of his cause until "the iron en-.
tered his soul" in the caSemates of Fortress
Monroe. In his strangely deliberate and
leisurely retreat throughthe Carolinas, he had
| no, appeared Tor moment to realize that he
was fugitive, and he looked with con,p'a-
cencr upon the disordered 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.
pqnv, in what might oe thought days OF an
guish and despair to the fallen chief, test!ileS
aMr Davis was apparently untouched by
any OF the decentralization which prevailed
he was affabe digni6sd and looked the very
personi6cation of high and undaunted cour-
age" He get persisted that the cause was
not lost, although Lee had surrendered, al
though johnson lad furled his banners &it''
out a b.ttle, and although all that WAS visible
of the great armies that had stood from Rich
mond 10 Augusta, on the dominant liGes of
war, were less than one tlousa:d soldiers,
fragments of hrigadcs tha: assembled around
him at Abbevile, South Carolina, when 10
paused there for final council with bis
Generals.
In the little town Ct Abhev;lle Mr.. Davis
summoned his officers to council; he was de-
termined to ,ry their resolution, and anxious
to ascertain the spirit Of their men. The only
full Generals who yet attended him were
Bragg his ."'.mlitary adviser" aud Brcckln-
ridge, lately Secretary Of War. There were
five brigade commanders present at he con-
ference. TO this small but important audi
ence Mr.. DAVIS addressed himself with al all
the powers of his wonderful, aud snblle intel
lcot Tie old, imperiouS look was yel N bis
worn face; the eye, tra"sGxcd with a'gic
pain with It's deep recess of light, sLoae
steady and defiant; the thin viSage was ilIu-
minated by the active mind and shone with
animated Giscour>e. lie spoke in the even,
silyery tones of his accustomed eloqucnce.
lie declared that the country was only sui,
fcring from violent surprises and an exagggge-
rated alarm its resolution would soon ue
erect again; the present condition was that
of panic, and patriotism would soon be
aroused when it heard the commanding and
resssuring tones of authority. IL insisted
that the war was not hopeless The armies
could be rcassembled, and tnere would he
new calls fur enlistlnenis and new incentives
to the country's service. He said that even
the few hundred men he yet counted around
him were enough to prolong the war until the
panic had passed away, aud they would then
he nucleus for Thousands more. He urged
his officers to accept his views, ard animate
their men to stand TO the good cause, whose
honor they had so long maintained, and Wh.se
last hoLes they now carried on their bayonets
His auditors were silent. 1T length, they
spoke, one by one, each brigade commandci
stating the condition and temper OF hls men
and declaring his view Of the situation. 1t
was plain unanimous Judgment; I nc ."ar
could not succeed and should not bc prolonged
,hey could not ask their men 10 struggle
against fate which was inevitable, and Tor
felt all hopes Of restoration to tier homes
and friends but they would INSIST that 'heii
honor was involved in securing the escape o
Mr.. Davis, aud for the accomplishment o.
tbs object they would risk battle, and put 'l
subm ssion to the last moment.
No, no !" exclaimed the uahappy chlei, II
passionate accents. " [ will hear OF no plaI,
which has for its object only my safety,
Then speaking slowly and bitterly, with
deep and fearful change settling on his c"un
,e ance, he said All hope is gone Alas
TINT should see The day when al tap friends
of the South are prepared to consent TO hei
degradation" He FILTERED and sat down II
silence cvcry one in The room respected hin
too much to reply.
Presently, without even gesture OF coar
teous retirement, without any acknowledg
ment of the company whatever, he rosr 4
leave the room; and it was obserTed that ht
bad lost his erect carriage and defiant port
A weight OF years appeared TO have sudden
Il FILLER on the stricken sufferer. The eye
were uneasy in the pale, pinchcd face an'
80 uncertain aud tottcring was bis step tlia
General Breckenridge moved to his side, ant
giving him his arm, supported him from III
room Not q single word was spoken.
LAwLEssKEss OF SoLD1ERs.-On Saturda..
nioht. Mr.. Law renee Wolf. Of this place, wa