The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-24

ing the dust of contempt upon him.
NORWOOD.
The Flight and Capture Of Mr.. Davis.
By HON. 8. R. MALLORY.
From the West Florida Commercial.
At 2 o'clock in. the morning Mr.. Davis
was aroused by another scout, who de-
clared that he had left the enemy only ten
miles off, and that they would be in the
town in two or three hours.
This intelligence infused energy through
out the little party. 1t was composed Of
men, however, familiar with real no less
than with rumored perilS; men who had
faced danger in too many forms to be rea-
Oily started from their propriety; and pre-
parations were very deliberately made
with such force as could be mustered to
pay due honor to his enterprise.
Several hours elapsed without further
intelligence of tho enemy's movements,
and at half.past in the morning the party
rode out of Collesbury towards Abbevile,
expecting an encounter at any moment,
! but Abbeville was reached without seeing
an enemy.
At Abbeville the fragments of disorgan-
lied cavalry commands which had thus
| far performed in some respects an escorts
duty were found to be reduced to hand
full Of men anxious only to reach their
homes as early as practicable, and whose
services could not farther be relied on.
They had not surrendered nor given a
parole, but they regarded the struggle as
terminated, and themselves as relieved
| g., .tb J,tr tn tbnir nfEpnrc the
Confederate States, and, with few excep-
tions, determined to fight no more. They
rode in couples or in small squads through
the country, occasionally "impresslng.
mules and horses, or exchanging their
wretched beasts for others in better con-
dition; and, outside Of deep and univer-
sal regret for the failure of their cause,
usually expressed by the remark that "The
old Confederacy has gone up" they were
as gleeful and careless as boys released
from school.
Almost every cross-road witnessed the
separation of comrades in arms, who had
long shared the perils and privations Of a
terrific struggle, now seeking their several
homes to resume their duties as peaceful
citizens. Endeared to each other by their
ardent love for common cause-a cause
which they deemed unquestionably right
{ and lust, and which, surrendered not tt
convictions Of error, but to the logic
of arms, was still as true and just as ever
their words Of parting, few and brief, were
words of warm, fraternal affection pledge
of endless regard and mutual promises
to meet again.
From information gained here it wa
royo1rv MAKING dc
monstration but whether to capture Mr.
Davis, or simply to expedite his departure
from the country, could not be determined
The country, or at least those familiar VIII
military movements at this period, nave
doubtless long since satisfied themSelye!
upon this point. ~
To suppose that Mfr. Davis and his staff
, embracing some eight or ten gentlemen
, all superbly mounted, and with led horses
could ride from Charlotte, N. c., to Wash
, ington, Ga, by daylight over the high
! roads of the country, their coming heraldec
miles in advance by returning Confederate
! soldiers, without the cognizance and con
; sent of the Federal commanders, whose
) cavalry covered the country, would be tt
, detract from all that was known of theil
activity and vigilance.
| Political considerations adequate to &C
!; count for this unmolested progress may
: readily be imagined; whether they lnflu
&C. uuUuu 1t 10 only known to thooo who hot
, the direction Of public affairs at the time
But be this as it may, Mr.. Davis's progress
} could not we'll have been more public ant
conspicuous. :,
l Mr.. Davis, who was more generally
, known by the soldiers than any other mar
in the COnfederacy, was never passed by
them without cheer or some warm OF
} kindly recognition or mark of respect
The fallen chief Of a cause for which they
had risked their lives and fortunes, and
lost everything but honor, his presence
never failed to command their respect, anc
to add tone of sympathy and sadness tc
the expression Of their good wishes for hi:
future. They knew not his plans for the
: future, nor could they conjecture what
fate might have in store for him buttheir
hearts were with him, 60 where he might
who, when other hearts were sore afraid
still hoped on and fought "while CLEANED
the sword of noble Robert Lee" graSped
his hand without the power of giving voice
to thoughts which their tear-g listenine
eyes revealed. OF such men were the
great masses of the Confederate armies
composed. Firm and ipfexible in theil
convictions of right, and yielding not theil
convictions, but their armed maintenance
of them only to the stern arbitrament. O
war, they may be relied upon to observe
with inviolable faith every pledge and duty
| to the United States assumed or implied
} by their submission or parole.
At Abbeville Mr.. Davis was again urged
by his friends to leave the country either
} from the southern shores of Florida or by
crossing the Mississippi and going to Mex
leo through Texas; but though he listened
quietly to all they had to say upon the sub
iect, and seemed to acquiesce in theil
views, he never expressed decided vii
linguess or readiness to do so.
To some of his friends it was apparent
that his capture was not specially sought
by the military authorities, and that he
had but to change his dress and his horse
and to travel with single friend, to pas
unrecognized and in safety to the sea shore
=. and there embark. Hitherto, as has beer
already said, his coming along his Sc
lected route was known to the people mile
in advance. Schools were dismissed tha
the children might, upon the road side
greet him. Ladies, with fruits and flowers
! 0r,uontad with tears of SymDathy were