The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1867-10-12
JEFF. DAVIS.
His Last War Council.

In q Baltimore newspaper called th
Southern Home Journal, Mr. e. A. Pollars
describes the last council of war held By
Jefferson Davis. This conference was held
in South Carolina, while Davis was in re
treat, and only few days after the issue ol
his proclamation of April 5th, in which he
urged the South to an unending conflict
The proclamation was issued before the sur
render of Lees army, an event" says Mr..
Pollard, Z" which appeared to determine the
last hopes of the Southern people; TO coz
vince them that further prosecution of the
war was useless, and even criminal in a
fruitless consumption of human life"
Mr.. Pollard ADDS
Not so with Mr.. Davis. He was remark
| able for a sanguine temperament He had
that disposition at once imperious aud weak.
which, demanding that all things must be
as it wishes, believes them SO; and what the
world thought the swollsn boasts of a des-
perate and failing leader were really the
| sincere illusions of proud man. who never.
indeed, fully realized the ez tremity of his
cause until * the iron entered his soul In
the easements of Fortress Monroe. In his
! strangely deliberate and leisurefY retreat
i through the Carolinas, he had not appeared
for moment to realize th at he was a fugi-
/ tive, and he looked with complacency 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
/ pany in what might be thought days of an
/ guish and despair TO the fallen chief, testi-
| fes Mr. Davis was apparently untouched
| by any of the Generalization which pre-
vailed-he was affable, dignifed, and looked
the very peFsonifcation of high and un-
daunted courage" He yet persisted that
! the cause was not lost, although Lee had
surrendered, although Johnston had furied
his 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 the less
than one thousand soldiers fragments Of
brigades that assembled around him at Alb
beville, South Carolina, when he paused
there for final council with his Generals.
In the little town of Abbeville, Mr. Davis
summoned his officers to council He 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 Breckin-
ridge, lately Secretary of War. There were
five brigade commanders present at the con
audi
ence, Mr. Davis addressed himself with all
the powers of his wonderful and subtle in
| tellect The old, imperious look was yet in
his worn face; the eye, transixed with neu-
ralgic pain, with It's 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 ae-
customed elOquence.
He declared that the country 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 insisted
that the war was not hopeless The armies
could be reassembied, and there would be
new calls for enlistments and new incentives
to the cOuntrys 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, and they then
would be a 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 main
tanned, and whose last hopes they now car
ried on their bayonets
His auditors were silent At length they
spoke, ore by one, each brigade commander
stating the condition and temper of his
men, and declaring his view Of the situation
1t was 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 insist
that their honor was involved in securing
! the escape of Mr.. Davis. and for the accom-
| plishment of this object they would risk
] battle, and put of submission to the last
moment
:" No, no !" exclaimed the unhappy chief,
| IN passionate accents; :" 1 viii hear of no
! plan which has for its object only my safe
| ty" Then speaking slowly and bitterly,
! With a deep and fearful change settling on
his countenance, he said g All hope is
! gone A las, that should see the day when
all the friends Of the South are prepared to
consent to her depreciation. He faltered
and sat down in silence every one IN the
| room respected him too much to reDiy.
Presently, without even a gesture Of cour-
! teOus retirement without any acknowledge
ment Of the company whatever, he rose to
leave the room and it was observed that he
] had lost his erect carriage and defiant port
/ A weight of years appeared to have suddenly
/ fallen on the stricken sufferer The eyes
were uneasy in the pale, piuched face and
! so uncertain and lettering was his step that
/ General Breckenridge moved TO his side, and.
! giving him bis arm, supported him from the
room. Not single word was spoken.
Painting on GIGss.-Take glass that is
/ perfectly clear-windOw glass will answer
! clean it thoroughly, then varnish it. take
/ care fO have II thoPou0h ~ erooofb ,Iaca =