The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-10-01
JEFF DAVIS.


III u NAR A@SttstS' -
Home journal, Mr.. L. "A. Pollard de-
scribes the last council of war held by
Jefferson Davis. This conference WAS
held in. South Carolina, while Davis
was in retreat ,and only5s Few days af--
ter the issue of his proclamation OF
April 5, in which he urged the South
to an unending conflict. This pro-
clamation was issued before the surren-
der of Lees army, "An event, says Mr..
Pollard, (which appeared TO determine
the last hopes OF the southern people,
to convince them that further prose
cution OF the war was useless, and
even criminal in fruitless cousump-
tion of human life."
Mr.. Pollard adds: L.. 81
Not so with Mr. Davis. He was re-
markable for II sanguine temperamenti
he had that disposition aL once imperi-
Gus and weak, which, demanding that
all things nnst be as il wishes, believes
them so; aud what the world thought
the swollen boasts of desperate and
failing leader, were really the sincere
illusions of "A proud man who never, In
deed. fully realized the extremity of
his cause until ''Ihe iron entered his
soul" in the casemates of Fortress
Monroe. In his strangely deliberate
and leisurely retreat through the Caro-
linas, he had not appeared for mo-
ment to realize that he was fuSitiveI
and he looked with complacency upon
the disordered fragments OF the army
that had gathered on the line OF his
flight, and that pursued II with vague
and uncertain design. Is
An officer who was constantly in his
company in what might be thought
days OF anguish and despair TO the
fallen chief, testities: Mr.. Davis was
apparently untouched by any of the
decentralization which prevailed-he
was affable, dignitied, and looked the
very personification of high and un-
daunted courage" He yet persisted
| that the cause was not lost, although
Lee had surrendered, although john
stou had furled his banners without
battle, and although all that was.visi-
| BILE of the great armies that had stood
| from Richmond 10 Augusta, on the
dominant lines OF war, were the less
! of brigades that assembled around him
at Abbeville, South Carolina, when he
paused there for IA final council with
his generals. u.
In the little town of Abbeville, Mr..
DaYis summoned his officers TO council;
| he was determined to try their resO-
| luton, and anxious to ascertain the
spirit of their men. The only full Gem
\ erals who yet attended him were Bragg,
/ his military adviser" and Breckin-
ridge, lately Secretary of War. There
were i've brigade commandersl present
at the conference. To this small but
! important audience Mr.. DaYis address
ed himself with all the powers OF his
/ wonderful and subtle intcllect. The
| old i'm perious look was yet in his worn
face; the eye, transhxed with neuralgia
! pain, with its deep recess OF light, shone
IL hi Wrfa
illuminated by the active mind and
shone with the animated discourse. He
| smoke In the even, silYery tones of his
accustomed eloquence. a
| He declared that the country was
only suffering from violent surprises
and exaggerated alarm; It's resolution
would soon be erect again; the present
condition was that of panic, and patri-
otism would soon be aroused when it
\ heard the commanding and reassuring
tones of authority. He insisted that
the war was not hopeless. The armies
could be reassembled, and there would
be new calls for enIistmentsaud new
4 incentives to the icountry'si service.
He said that even the iew-hundrsd
men he vet counted around him were
enough tolprOlOng the war until the
panic had pRssed'away, and they would
| then, be a nucleus Tor thousands more.
He urged his officers TO accept his
to the good cause, whose honor they
had so long maintained, and whose
last hopes they now carried on thsir
bayonets. g-rf .a..-s.s E..I.gE
His auditors were silent. at length,
they spoke, one by one, each brigade
commander stating the condition and
te IDper OF his men, and declaring his
view of the situation. II was PLAIN
unanimous Judgments; the war could
not succeed and shouldnot be prolong-
ed they could not ask their men TO
struggle against a fate which vas inev-
| liable, and forfeit all hopes of restora-
tion to their homes and frlendsi but
| they would insist that their honor was
| involved in securing the escape OF Mr..
| Davis, and for the accomplishment of
this object they would risk battle, and
put off submission to the last moment.
mo, now exclaimed the unhappy
chief, in passionate accents. will
hear OF noplan which has for it's OBJ
| iect only my safety" Then speaking
| slowly and bitterly, with deep ana
fearful change settling on his counte-
nance, he said: "All hope is gone!
! Alas, that / should see the day when
all the friends OF the South are pre-
| pared to consent to her degradation ~
| He faltered, and sat down in silencei
every one In the room respected him
too much to reply lT-r i..s.sa.i .sra
| Presently, without even gesture oil
courteous retirement, without any ac-
knowledgn.ent OF the company what
ever, he rose to leave the roomI and 1t
was observed that he had lost his erect
carriage and defiant port. A weight OF
years appeared TO have fallen on the
stricken sufferer. The eyes were un-
easy in the pale, pinehed face; aud so
| uncertain and tOttering WAS his step
that General Breckinridge moved to
his side, and, giving him his arm, sup
ported him from the room. Not a sim
| gle word was spoken.
|