The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-10-23
Flle Irtelligenccr JOB 0mcc.
JOB WORK or ALL KINDS

with the destinies of whole communities;
suddenly found himself without a single
soldier at his command, and hunted tu-;@
gitive.in peril of his life!
In the little town of Abbevillc Mr.. Da.
Wis summoned his officers to council; he
was determined to try their resolution.
and anxious to ascertain the spirit of the
men. The only full generals who yet at
tended him were Bragg, his military ad--
viscr," and Breckenridge, lately secretary
of war There were five brigade COM
manders present at the conference. To
this small but important audience MIR:
Davis addressed himself with all the
powers of his wonderful and subtitle in:
tcllect. The old, imperious look was yess
in his worn face; the eye transfxed with:
neuralgc pain, with its deep recess OF
light, shonc steady and defiant; the thin
visage was Illuminated by the active
mind and shonc with the animated dis:
course. He spoke in the even, silvery
tones of his accustomed cloquence; one
of the greatest orators of modern Times,
excclling in the powers of statement or
narration, Ingenious even to sophlstry,
Joining a winning and persuasive manner
to words cured from the choicest resources
of language, he now tried all his powers
in this critical opportunity. IIe declared
that tho country was only suffering from
violent surprises and an exaggerated
alarm; its resolution would soon be erect
again the present condition wasthat OF
panic. and patriotism would soon be
aroused, when it heard the commanding
and rcassuring tones OF authority. Ao
I insisted that the war was not hopeless.
The armies could be rcassembled, and
there would be new cabs for enlistments
and new incentives to the countlys ser.
vice. He said that even the few hundred
mon he vet counted around him were
enough to prolong the war untilthe panic
had passed away, and they would then
be a nucleus tor thousands more. Lie
urged his officers to accept his views, and
animate their men to stand to the good
cause. whose honor they had so long
maintained, and whose last hopes they
now carried on their bayonets.
His auditors were silent. At length.
they spoke, one by one, each brigade
commander stating the condition and
temper of his men. and declaring his:
views of the situation. 1t was a plain,
Unanimous Judgment: the war could not
succeed and should not be prolongedj.
they could not ask their men TO struggle
against a 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 ac-
complishment of this object they would,
risk battle and put OF submission to the
last moment.
:sNo, no" exclaimed the unhappy chief,
in passionate accents, ri will hear of no
plan which has for its object only my
safety Then speaking slowly and Bit
tcrly, with deep and fearful change set
tling on his countenance, he said "a u
hope is gone Alas, that should see the
day when all the friends of the South arc
prepared to consent to her degradation" J"
EIe faltcrcd, and sat down in silence {;
every one in the room respected him too
mueh to reply.
Presently, without even a gesture of
courteous retirement, without any ac-
acknowledgement ofthc 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 ap-
pcarcd to have Suddenly fallen on the
stricken sufferer The eyes were uneasy
in the pale, pinchedface; and SO uncertain
and totterng was his step that General
Breckenridge moved to his side, and giving
him his arm, supported him from the
room. Not q word was spoken. ;.
1t is a true and delicate philosopher,
who, exploring scene Of despair, says !:
1.-The sentiment that attends the sudden
revelation that all is lost is silently gath
Eercd up into the heart: ltis too deep tor
gestures or for words. The voice perlshes,
the gestures are frozen, and the spirit OF
man flies back upon its own center"
( CHARLESTON, October is.