The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-18
THE FALL OF RICHMOND.
How sIr. Davis and His" Cabinet Received
the News of the Disaster.

the News of the Disaster.
Hon. John Fl. Reagan in the Philadelphia Times. ]
The statement has been made by Gen.
Wilson, as it has been made in many
other newspaper articles, that "On the
first Sunday in April, 1865, while seated
in St. Paul's Church, in Richmond, JEFF
ferson Davis received telegram from
Lee, announcing the fall Of Petersburg,
the partial destruction of his army, and
the Immediate necessity of fight" On
that point I make this statement: On
the Sunday referred to went by the
War Department on my way to church.
When at the department was informed
of two dispatches just received from
Gen. Lee, stating briefly the circum-
stances which made it necessary for
him to withdraw his army from
its position in front Of Richmond
and Petersburg at o'clock that
evening, and that it would be necessary
for the government archives and public
property to be removed at once. On re-
ceiving this intelligence, not knowing
that Mr.. Davis had already received it,
I walked towards his residence, which
with him about it, and on the way met
him and Gov Lubbock, Of his staff. We
three thenswalked on to the executive
office. He then assembled his cabinet
and sent for the Governor of Virginia
and the Mayor Of Richmond. Directions
were then given to prepare the public
archives for removal, and measures were
considered and directions given to Sc
cure, as far as practicable, good order
and safety to persons and property
in the city until it should be surren-
dered. In this paper it is also said that ::
"Although he (Mr. Davis could not
Irr P<xr, k,sr
intelligence. it appears that he did not
receive it with self-possession or dig
nifty, but with tremulous or nervous
haste; like a weak man in the hour OF
misfortune, he left the house OF worship
and hurried home, where he and his
more resolute wife spent the rest of the
day in packing their personal baggage. +"
And it is added that, those VINO are
acquainted with the personal character
Of Mrs. Davis can readily imagine with
what energy and determination she
must have prepared her family flight"
etc. and that they may believe, too,
that although heartsick and disgusted,
there was nothing irresolute or vacil-
lating in her actions"
| would express my surprise, II l
could be surprised now by anything of
this kind, that such statement should
come from any respectable source.
Now, the truth is, Mr.. Davis did not,
with tremulOuS and nervous haste,
hurry home to his more resolute wife,"
From where I met him he went directly
to the executive office, where he re-
mained nearly all day, and, IL I remem-
ber right, part OF the night, looking
after and giving directions in relation to
public affairs, and seeming to take no
notice Of his private matters. He did
not f, rrh bis yuifa unit h
her in preparing for fight, for neither
she nor their children were in Rich
mond, nor had been for three or
four weeks before that time. And I
am sure there is no man who saw
Mr.. Davis on that trying occasion
but was impressed with his calm
and manly dignity, his devotion
to the public interest, and his cour-
age. It is apparent that one object of
this statement is to try to produce the
impression that Mr.. Davis, in the hour
of extreme peril, had forgotten his great
Office and trust, and descended to the
care Of his personal baggage, while the
Confederate government was dissolving !;
show that, on this great occasion, he
was irresolute, tremulous, nervous and
wanting in self-possession and dignity.
Nothing could be further from the
truth; and / venture the statement that
there is no one who saw him then, or
who knew his character, who would not
unhesitatingly contradict such a state
ment; and / venture the further sug-
gestion that neither of these charges
will ever be sustained, nor will any at
tempt ever be made to sustain them by
any legitimate or trustworthy evidence :;
and that no man will make such charges
vIS< h.r. r.& 9<x,
gard for his own reputation.