The New York herald., 1869-08-27

Circumstances Attending the Captare et J.ner-
son Davis-Letter from John II. Reaamu, exc
Confederate Postmaster General.
PAiEsrISE, Texas, August le. 1868.
find the following passages In what purports to
be speech delivered IN the Convention Of Texas Oh
the 9th OF January, 1885, by Judge L. ID. Evans, un
der the heading, in large letters,
''rnEy WANT AN EMPIRE.n
"0n the fall OF Richmond, Jefferson Davis started
the Confederate treasury WESTWARD, deludng hiu-
self with the dream OF u trans Mississippi empire.
be caught with his baggage wagons In the
awkward plight Of being under his we's cloak.
trains and struck for the seaboard, when, after
days ride, hearing tnat the Confederate forces
safety Of his family. he returned. ! suspect that
Davis feared FOR the safety of his Confederate
Where T.'i had MagrHdcr been able to Keep his army
together, a nucleus for the material OF war would
have enabled him TO continue the struggle"
The speech containing these passages was exten-
svey circulated through Texas last spring, and was
sent to myself ana others here then INTENDED 70
but, IN the hurry OF business neglected to do So.
new batch OF these speeches is now being circulated
through the State, and am favored with second
crop On the first paragraph OF the above have
only to say that on the ial oi Richmond President
Davis dld not start deludng himself With the dream
of trans Mississippi empire" lie left Richmond
with the hope OF uniting the armies Of Generals Lee
ana johnston and with the fnrther hope, after thus
armies OF Generals Sheridan aud Grant before
eosu oy GSq aS be Sone s occSp tSs at go"i i
defensive line which might DC chosen alter the
sion. Desperate as the fortunes Of war tnen were
for the conIederacy, he had not abandoned the hope
OF carrying on the struggle east of the mississippi
on Lhe second paragraph have to say that Mr. Davis
and Cabinet and stan officers left their baggage
wagon and all their personal baggage except such
as each took for himself IN MS saddle bags AZ Abbe-
VILE s. q. The tram which carried such supplies as
were taken from that to Washington Ga, and what
n fa.t RI Ttsn.. rV n
under the escort OF the remaining cavalry troops.
And this train wen. no further than the latter place.
Some days alter leaving Washington Mr. DAVIS was
captured in the southern part Ol that Stale. Wnie
at Danville Va, he learned OF the surrender OF Gen
eral Lee, and shortly after he left Charlotte, N C he
learned of the surrender OF General johnston SO
Is seen he was "caughC with his baggage
render or the armies in that part Of the conlederacy
that had tram TO return TO- and that he did not
nen for tile first time learn of the disoanong OF me
Confederate forces the induceMent t0 his return
to his trains
have moi seen Judge Evans since November, 1885.
and do not remember or believe that ne ever asked me-
the question he puts III this paragraph And am
sure could not nave made him the answer he puts
Mr.. Davis family left Richmond IN March, perhaps
In the early part Of that month Richmond was
evacuated on the "a Of April. He did not his family
after they left Richmond, until little before day
light the 7th OF May, when he, happening 70 near
companied by a lew faithful trends had gone to
their relief. He and those friends travelled with MS
The next morning i they Separated but from inaccu
rate iniorlnaton as roads, again by accident
sSge@e1 @ IN s ana me
aud were captured at daylight the. next morning
the 10th Of May. AS he mad NOT previously seen his
family after they lett Rchmond, there was no re-
on the third paragraph have to say that Judge
Evans suspicious tnat Mr.. DAVIS feared more Tor
the safety of his Confederate Treasury than for his
family is mental speculation, without the sup
port OF facts Inc Confederate treasure at WASH
SS5 coo aOla. some $4,000 or $4,000 in silver
CON- about tine same amount In silver bullion, and
between 5000 900 and S70O000 in Confederate Irea
sury notes. The silver coin was paid to the troops
who were there, 80 much to eacn man aud 0niceg
without reference TO rank rs II was too bulky and
nc0nyenient, undcr the circumstances when sur
tories at Bermuda, Nassau or Liverpool, For tie
same reason, the silver bullion was turned over u
was left at Washington In an ordinary warehouse.
The gold was placed In the hands OF two oiilcera
OF the Confederate Navy, then tnere, with astruc-
lions to convey IT, as soon as this could safely 20
| done, to one of the repositories above named
While IN prison saw statements IN the New York
papers that amounts OF gold and silver bullion cor
responding with the above had been captured Dy.
| the federal forces. Before leaving Washington
directed the Acting Treasurer TO burn the Confcde-
| rate Treasury notes above named, the prcsencs
Of the secretary Of war, General Breckinridge ana
| Mr. Davis was captured nearly week after this
In Southern Ge1rsla ana, tnereore, @ Judge Evans.
for his family are as baseless truth as they ere un
manly and ungeneroas In inference.
These passages IN tnat speecn seem @ 10 nave M neen
the exploded story OF Mr.. DAVIS being captured ia
female attire. with bags OF gold upon HIM invented
aud used at first to excite against him feelings OF
rid1cne and contempt and now, after the lapse OF
nearly four years revived In Texas and pressed into
service the purpose OF arOusng unjust suspicious
| against former Confederates and TO be used as
means of showing to the people OF Texas that they
ought TO divide the present state into several In
order 10 guard against the designs attributed by
Judge Evans 10 Mr. Davis and Others, at the time OF
ss M o1 e,nns II r. Se facts presentoS Dy jua
Evans Tor this purpose are ludcrous what must Ds
thought Of his loge ana Of his reapec, or te ntsi
llgence Of the Dcdy ho was addressing, ana Oh rua
| people 10 whom lhs speech Is sentS
IN hs Connection nT m NJ y. fgn. Uy wh"n l 20 as saes os
heretofore been made pubic, as FAR as KNOW anu
| part or winch is only known TO him and myself
| In coming through South Carolina, lie aud myself
rio inv aiiead OF company, passed cabin on Tho
| roadside, when nc asked q woman VINO was standing
In the door for drink of water. On ahiiny IT I"
! him she said 'Arc you President Davis ~ On his
replying in the anriuaiye she said 10 hiDi, pointing
| "1nat Is your nalncsake; we call him lef Davis."
lie took from his pocket gold coin, apparently me
slze of TIM &C dolar piece or sovereign and, hand
V II to her. told her 10 give It TO the little boy
ing to me as he rode OF that that was his last PIECE
OF coin winch he had KEPT as sort OF keepsake IN
account OF its beng coin seldom seen IN .iis col
subsequently, when IN company with several
mchers OF his Cabinet, the subject OF tnsir finances
| was mentioned, and their poverty was mace among
themselves, the subject oi passing amusement W
Dayls TOOK out his pocsetbook aud counted, tbnS
about $40 dollars in Confederate Treasury nots.'
then Almost enbirely worthless, ana SAID, angnugN'
tbat was Ms fortune la money. uc s''h 80 y,
tnat i was n source of qualification rather than or
regret that himself aud nearly al tne memper " n,s
Cabinet mad sacrlced their private fortunes ~ ths
struggle ior tho liberty OF the people. VIII Az"
add that when II wa dotorn'ned. after sne su',sh,
| arr nj Ien,rpl johnston, to transfer tue heii of
nliitary Operations TO tho west OF the Mississippi
one oi MS Cabinet told Nj. DAVIS tnat nc nad money
| enough 10 lake tlem both across that river
! These facts are given TO show the injustice whlch
mas peeu done to one whose hopes ana thoughts an
| energies were all wholly devoted 10 the cause Thea
| 40 dear 10 u.s. In which he was engaged; and wis.
| amidst hrs ai-engrossing public duties ana fcspon-
slbl.itiea took no Thought 0l MS prNd~ fortune or
Of his personal safety.
| am perpuaded ihat the wise, and good aud
! honorable, even among those who thought HIN
wrong In his auppor Of the cause of Southern inde-
pendencc and inperlled their lives in opposing hn
! on the battle 1cii, WIN accord 10 him sincerity of
convictions as to the righteousness OF the cause Ia
| which he was engaged, Integrity of purpose ana
tnnsA nrnai nalltics OF head ana heart MniCh AttAA