Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-05-04
Breckenridge and Jones.
What Two Distinguished confed<
crate Officers Knew About
Farming.
Lexington 10 Dispatch.

Lexington (hy.} Dispatch.
We have just come into pos-e
session of an interesting anec-
dote of two gallant major gen.
erals of the late Confederate
service, which has never before
been published, which is too
good to be lost, and which IL
illustrates the fact that great
minds, as we'll as our own, may
be mistaken sometimes concern
ing "hemp" and other products
of the soil. The war was over,
the clash of arms had ceased,
and the bitter. asperities of the.
times were passing away. The.
courtly general, John @. Breck~
inridge, who had distinguished
himself on many battle-felds,
as we'll as in the Cabinet eoun--
ellis, then exiled himself in q
foreign land, had returned from
Europe and Canada to his Old
home and friends in Lexington.
He settled down to private pur-
suits, and was visited by the
good and the great from all sec
tions. Among others, there
came from the tobacco regions
of Virginia the gallant Gen.
James G. Jones, between whom
and the ex-Confederate secreta--
ry of war there existed warm
est ties of personal friendship.
He reached Lexington at a time
of profound peace, and General
Breckenridge extended to him
the hospitalities of his house.
The citizens We'd with each 9th
er in showing respect to the dis
tinguished Yirginian. Among
other improvements, the fair
grounds were being repaired
and put in trim. In carriages
and vehicles, accompanied by
citizens on horseback, General
Jones was taken 10 Ashland, to
the fair grounds and to various
other points of interest, Gener-
al Breckenridge being at his
side as companion. 1t was du-
ring the summer season, and
our prolific fields and bluegrass
pastures wore their loveliest
garb, On one of these excur-
sions they passed field of lux
uriantly growing hemp. A halt
was made.
"Gen. Breckinridge," said
Gen. Jones, pointing his cane
over toward the hemp field, II
am utterly surprised, sir, to see
rich, level land like that in sight
of your courthouse, here in this
wealthy country, lying idle and
going to rank weeds in that
manner. Is it because the en-
ergies of your people are para
lyzed, or has the disruption Of
your labor system prevented
you from procuring hands to
cultivate it and make it profita-
ble?"
"Weeds, indeed!'' replied
Breckenridgewitha merry twin
kle in his eye. "Why, my dear
general, that is growing hemp;
the most profitable crop we raise
in this part of Kentucky, from
which bales, bagging, rope, etc,
are made" /" i.H
A merry laugh followed iii
which General Jones himself
joined right heartily. Thepar-
ty proceeded on, chatting pleas
antly, until they came to a large
field in an enclosure, thickly
set with a gracefully waving
grass. Another halt was made.
"General Breckenridge, "queried
Jones, II am curious TO know
what luxuriant crop that sand
whether it could be successful
ly grown in my State" "Why.
general" responded Breckin-
ridge, in the utmost sincerity,
"that is millet; it is another of
our most profitable crops for
which we are famous. 1t is Il
most prolific and nutricious
grass; horses, cattle and sheep
can snbsist upon it throughout
the winter with scarcely any
other food" -a
Just as Gen. Jones was be-
comingmostfavorably impressed
with the virtues Of the ex-sec-
retary's "millet," an audible and
suppressed laugh was heard
from the party who had been
lisening. The two heroeslooked
around when one of the party
filed with mirth, and who knew
more about such things than
either of them, pointed over to
the field Of "millet" Breckin-
ridge had been so layishly ex~
tolling, and exclaimed: "Gen-
eraI Breckenridge, that Is fox
tail!' A hearty and continued
laugh arose from the party, Ell