Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-10-26
Jefferson Davis,

! Iy few days after the issue of his proc
amalion Of April 5, in which he urged
the South to an unendng conflict. This
proclamation was issued before the sur
render of Lees army, "an event." says
Mr.. Pollard, (which appeared to deter
mine the last hopes of the Southern Peo.
/ pie, 10 convince them that further prose-
culion of the war was useless, and even
criminal in frui'ess consumption OF hu-
man life"
Mr.. Pollard adds:
Not so with Mr.. Davis. lie was re-
markable for q sanguine temperament; ne
had that disposition at once imPerlous
and weak, which, demanding tha! all
| things must be as i, wishes, believes them
so; and what the world though! the swoI-
len boasts of desperate and falling lead
er, were really The sincere Illusions of
proud man who never, indeed, fully real
! lied the extremity of his cause until "the
iron entered his soul' in the casemaes
| of Fortress Monroe. In his strangely
deliberate and leisurely re reat through
( the Carolnas, he had not appeared for a
moment 10 realize that he was fugitive,
and he looked with complicency upon
the dsordered fragments Of ihe army that
had gathered on the line Of his flight, and
,ha, pursued it with vague and uncer-
tain design.
An officer who was constantly in his
company in what might be thought days
( of anguish and despair 10 the fallen chief,
testifes "Mr. Davis was apparently un-
touched by any of the generalization
which prevailed-he was afable. dign-
! fed, and looked the very persoDlicalion
of high and undaunled courage" He
yet persisted that the cause was not lost,
although Lee had surrendered, although
Johnston had furled his banners without
a battle, and although all that was visible
/ Of The great armies that had stood from
Richmond to Augusta, on The dominant
I lines Of war, were less than one thousand
soldiers, fragments of brigades that as
semblcG around him OF Abbeyille, South
/ Carolina, when he paused there for fl
nal council with his generals.
In the little town of Abbeyille, Mr.. Da-
Wis summoned his officers to council; be
was determined 10 try their resolution, and
anxious TO ascertain the spirit OF their
men. The only full Generals who yet
attended him were Bragg, his military
adviser" 9nd Breckenridge, lately Secre-
tary of War. There were five brigade
commanders present al the conference.
/ ~ IL :, email Lut i'm nnrIont ouJioprp Mr.
/ Davis addressed himself with all the pow
ers of his wonderful and subtle intellect.
, The old, imperlous look was yet in his
worn face; the eye, transfXed with neu-
ragic pain, with its deep recess of light
shone steady and delianI the thin Visage
was Illuminated by the active mind and
shone with the animated discourse. He
spoke in the even, silssry tones Of his
accustomed eloquence.
lie declared that the country was only
suffering from violent surprises and eX-
aggerated alarm; lis 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 reassuriug tones Of authority. tic
| insisted that the war was not hopeless.
The armies could be reassembleG, and
there would be new calls for enIistments
and new incentives TO the cOunlry's ser
vice. lie said that even the few hundred
men he yet counted around him were c.
nough TO prolong the war until the panic
had passed away, and they would then
L. -, 10, tLo ,b bOuronIs uOrp He
urged his officers 10 accept his views, and
whose honor they had so long maintained,
and whose las, hopes they now carried
on their bsyoneis.
His auditors were silent. Al length,
they spoke, one by one, each brigade
commander stating the condition and tenn
per 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 10 struggle against a late
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 accomplishment of this
! object they would risk battle, and put oil
submission TO the last moment
"No now exclaimed the unhappy
chief, in passionate accents. 81 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 :"All
hope is gone Alas, that | should sea
the day when all the friends Of the South
are prepared 10 consent TO her degreda'
! ton - He fallered, and sal down in ST.
lence; every one in The room respected
him 100 much 10 reply.
Presently, without even gesture oil
courteous retirement, without any ac-
kno wledgment Of the company whatever
! he rose TO leave the room; and it was OBJ
served that he had lost his erect carriage
and defiant port A weight Of years sP-
peared 10 have fallen on the stricken SUI
ferer. The eyes were uneasy in the pale,
pinched face; and so uncertain and totter-
! ing was his step that General Breckin-