The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-30
"REMINISCENCES OF THE LATE GEN.
BRECKENRIDGE.
TSt. Touis Republican1

When the nows Of the evacuation Of Rchmon,
and the capitulatiOn of the remnant of Lee
army at Appomattox Court House reached Gen
Breckinridge's headquarters, it was Determines
in council OF war, at which Gen. Jos. E. Johns
ton presided, that any further resistance to tn,
over helming forces Of the Federal armies
would be useless effusion of blood on the par
Of the Confederates, who were already circum
vented by the enemy, and suffering for food. II
was at this period, about the middle of April
1865, that Gen. Breckenridge, after a perilous
ride Of over a thousand miles on horseback
evading the Federal cavalry.
In his figh through North Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Florida, he at last succeeded in reach
ing the mouth OF the st. Johns River, where he
was joined by Col. Wilson Of the Florida cavalry,
J. Taylor Wood, ex- Commander of the Confed-
| crate privateer Tallahassee, and Capt O'Toole,
all of whom, together with his body servant, a
negro boy, volunteered to accompany him to
| CUBA. Securing a small boat Of only one ton
burthen, and but eighteen feet in length-the
only means of transportation at their command
these voluntary exles bravely launched their lit
tie craft on the treacherous waters of the Gulf OF
Mexico. After eight days of adventure and alter
nate calm and storm, during which their supply
OF water and provisions gave out, they were at
length hailed off Salt Key, on the northwest
coast Of Cuba, by brig bound from Cardenas to
New York.
Passing themselves off as fishermen from Flori-
da, they procured some supplies and proceeded
on their way, and on the 18th of june 1865. the
party reached the port Of Cardenas, in The island
OF Cuba, without nautical instrument to guide
them over the trackess waters in that frail fish.
ing boat. The party was Hospitality received by
the Spanish Governor of the place (Col. Bardaiij
to whom Gen. Breckinridge presented his sword
and the arms OF the party. These were imme-
diately returned and the Inequalities Of the city
rendered them. The party remained two days
at Cardenas, during which dinner and serenade
were given to Gen. B. by the few American sym-
pathizers residing at the place special train
was placed at their disposal, and, accompanied
by the writer and guard of honor deputized BY
the Governor, the party proceeded to Havana.
When the train reached Regla, on the opposite
side OF the bay, a large number of people were ut
the depot, ANXIOUS to catch glimpse OF the fam
took US across the bay was never known to carry
30 many passengers as she did on that occasion.
The tall, so.diery figure of Gen. B., clad in his
battle worn uniform Of gray lowered above the
crowd as he stosd on the bow Of the boat gazing
at the magnificent spectacle presented by the
thousand OF ships of all nationalities, among
which were the Confederate ram Stonewsll and
other smaller crafts still floating the stars and
bars. wealthy Cuban planter, an acquaintance
OF the writer, extended most cordial Invita- on
to the general to make his headquarters with
him while in Havana. Many other pressing in.
vltatiOns OF q similar character were extended |
but Gen. B. co1rteously declined to accept any
demonstrations, either publicly or privately. /
After stoppiDg about week at the Hotel Gu
children, who were at q school there. From
there he went to Europe, and returned to Ken
lucky in 1867, where he lived quietly and uuos-
tentatiously uatil death closed his honorable ca
reer on the 18th Of May 1875. Being disfran-
chised and prescribed by the indicative and par
tisan policy of Radicalism, he could not consist
emily with his highssense of honor, participate |
in public affairs. Being an alien, as It were. in
his own country, he felt and felt keenly the
wrongs that have been heaped upon the Souta
for the past ten years. He did not raise his
voice nor WELD his pen in behalf OF himself or
the cause he so nobly defended, because he could
not have done so with honor except as freeman.
Whatever judgment the historian of the future
may pass upon the other leaders of the Confed-
crates the sincerity of the motives and the nobl-
iiy OF the conduct Of Breckenridge can never be !
impugned. His fame is the nations heritage; |
for good and impartial men of all political creeds
throughout the country will unite in honoring
the memory of Kentucky's lsmented son, than |
whom an ADLER statesman, more chivalrous SOL |
der, or heightened gentleman has seldom, if |
ever, figured in the history of his country. Az
the rancors engendered by the war give way to |
kindlier feelings his memory will become blight
tr, for his was
Zone of the few, the immortal names
That were not born to de-
ST. LOUIS, May 20, 1.75. C.