Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1869-02-05

vaguely expected it, and practised against
the moment Of its announcement.
He nervously prepared at his house his
private baggage, assisted by Mrs. Davis, and
be never venturcd in the streets until, under
cover Of the night be got unobserved on the
train that was TO convey him from Rich>
mond. He did not forget the gold in the
Treasury that, amounting to less than forty
thousand dollars, it had been proposed some
days before, in Congress, TO distribute as
largesses TO the discontentcd soldiers but
Mr.. Davis had insisted upon reserving it for
.exigencies, and it was now secured in his
baggage. He did forget his sword. That,
a costly present from some Of his admirers
in England, bad been sent to the Richmond
Armory for some repairs it was abandoned
to the FIRE there. The last seen Of this relic
Of the Southern Confederacy was twisted
and gnarled stem Of steel, on private exhi>
bition in lager.beer saloon in Richmond,
garnished with certificate that it was what
remained Of jeff. Davis sword, and that the
curiosity might be purchased for two huns
dred dollars. Whether the retailer Of lager
has yet disposed Of bis treasure VIC do not
know.
Mr.. Davis was accompar led at the first
stage Of his fight by bis family, some Of his
personal staff, aud three members of lis Cab
met: Gen. Breckenridge, Secretary Of War
Mr.. Benjamin Secre. airy of State, and Mr..
Reagan, Postmaster General. The party
jonrneyed without accident or adventure TO
Danyille sitting mostly in moody silence, as
the train shrieked through the night that a
few miles further was being torn by explo-
sioHs, through whose fitful chasms of light
Lees army marched as into impcnetr..ble
darkness. Arrived a. Danville Mr.. Davis
issued q proclamation out Of place there.
inaccessible to the army, and which would
have been much more ftly made before he
had abandoned the post Of danger in Rich
mond. But the exaltation Of spirits be OBJ
tanned af;el having passed the boundary ol
danger, and got On the side Of supposed per
sonal safety, did noa long survive. In . few
days afterward came the news Of Lees sur
render; and the President and his party
again sadly turned their faces to the South
Gen. Breckenridge being dispatchedto Gen.
Johnstons lines only to bring back to the
party on their route the sorrowful news OF
his surrender, and to increase the disnay CT
their flight.
Mr.. Davis was the first to rally from this
dismay. When he and lis companions had
left Richmond it was in the belief that Lee
could avoid surrender but few days longer,
and with the intention, as we have already
said, Of making their way TO the Florida
coast and embarking there for a foreign
land. In the meditations Of his journey,
however, through North Carolina, the fugi>
tive President appears to have conceived the
alternative # venturing to the southwest,
within reach Of the forces Of Taylor and For
rest, in the hope OF reviving the fortunes of
the Confederacy within limited territory.
He suggested the alternative to Gen. Breck-
enridge, as they travelled together, after the
news of Johnson's surrender, bnt received
only an cvasive reply; the latter not sharing
his hopes, but unwilling to mortify them by
. candid declaration Of opinion. Mr.. Davis
was remarkable for asanguiue temperament,
but il was that which we observe in weak
characters, "hoping against hope" tickle,
tiaring, extrayagant, rather than that prac>
tical energy which renews itself on disaster
and conque.s fortune. The vision he had
conjured up Of limited Coniederacy around
the mouths OF the Mississippi might have
looked plausible upon paper, but it was fa>
tally defective in omitting the moral condi>
ton Of the South. The unhappy President
had not yet perceived that he Lad lost the
faculty Of inspiration, that the Southern peo
pie we're in despair, and that, wherever be
might go, he would fnd their countenances
averted, their hopes abandon ed, and their
thoughts already committed to submission.
But be was to realize very shortly how NOR
ally deserted and practically helpless he was.
His first discovery OF il was at Abbeville.
South Carolina, where occurred one Of the
most pathetic scenes in history, over which
the tenderness and charity Of some Of the &C
tors have been disposed to draw the curtain,
committing its sorrows to secresy.
Mr.. Davis reached Abbeville on the first
Of May. So far be had been accompanied
by the fragments Of five brigades, amounting
in number to less than one thousand men,
and reorganized into two battalions, at the
from, and in the rear Of long train which
signslled his fight and foolislly obstructed
bis effort at escape. Thsre were already
painful evidences Of the decentralization Of
the escort, and the story told almos, atevery
mile, by stragglers from Johnson's COM
mand, was not calculated to inspire them.
At Abbeville Mr.. Davis resolved upon
council of war. 1t was composed of the Eve
brigade commanders, and Gen. Braxtou
Bragg (for the year past the "mili;ary advi>
ser" OF the Preside,t) was admitted to this
last scene of the deliberations Of the Losr
CAUSE.
In the council Mr. Davis with more than
his acct stoned facility and earnestness, in>
spired BY hope, but without volubility or ex-
travagance. He made statement of sur
passing plausibiity. The South, he declar
ed, was suffering from panic; it yet had
resources to continue the war; it was for
those who remained with arms in their hands
TO give an example to re-animate others;
such an act of devotion, besides being the
most sublime thing in history, might vet save
the country, and erect again its declining
resolution. 1t is but necessary" be said,
shat the brave men yet with me should re
new their determination to continue the war;
they viii be q nucleus for rapid reiaforcee
nation for the whole country" No one Of
the council answered him at length; the re-
plies Of the comma anders were almost sunk
to whispers; the scene was becoming pain>
ful F; aud it was at last agreed that each in
his turn should announce his decision. Each
answered slowly. reluctantly, in the Mega
tive the only words added we're that though
they considered the war hopeless, they would
not disband their men until they bad guard.
ed the President to place Of safety.
NO. exclaimed Mr.. Davis, passionate>
". . will listen to no proposition for my
safety. appeal to you for the cause Of the
country" Again he urged the commanders
to accept his views.
: We were silent" says Gen. Basil Duke,
one Of the council, for We could not agree
with him, ind we respected him too much
to reply"
Mr.. Davis yet stood erect, raised his hands
to his head, as il in pain, and suddenly ex>
claimed, "au hope is gone !" added hauehti-
~, " ! see that the friends Of the South are
prepared to consent to degradation ! and
then sweeping the company with proud
and despairing glance, he attempted to pass
from the room.
coXcLrDED NEXT wEEK.1
A few Of the bus ness men Of this city
God save the make voted against the