The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-09-14
THE FALL OF RICHMOND.
How mr.. Davis and His Cabinet
Received the News OF the DiSnS-

How mr.. Davis and His Cabinet
Received the News OF the DiSnS-
ter.
Hon. John II. Reagan In the PhIla. Weekly Times
The statement has been made by Gen.
eral Wilson, as it has been made in many
other newspaper articles, that Ga the
first Sunday in April, 1865, while seated
in St. Pau's church, in Richmond, JefTer.
son Davis received 4 telegram from Lee
announcing the fall Of Petersburg, the
partial destruction Of his army, and the
immediate necessity Of flight" Ga that
point | make this statement: On the Sun.
day referred to, l went by the War De.
partment on my way to church. When
at the department | was informed Of two
dispatches just received from General
Lee, stating briefly the circumstances
which made it necessary for him to with
draw his army from in front Of Rich
mond and Petersburg at Z o'clock that
evening, and that ii 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,
l walked toward his residence, which
was few hundred yards of, to confer
with him about it, and on the way met
him and Governor Lubbock, OF his staff.
We three then walked on TO the execu.
tive Office. lie then assembled his Cabi-
net and sent for the Governor Of Virgin
ia and the Mayor Of Richmond. Direc-
tons were then given to prepare the pub.
lie archives Tor removal, and measures
were considered and directions given 10
secure, as fsr as practicable, good order
and safety 10 persons and property in the
city until it should be surrendered. In
this paper il is also said that, although
he (Mr. DNvis) could not have been en-
tireIy unureparcd for this intelligence,
it appears that he did not receive il with
selt.Posession or dignity, but with trem-
ulous and nervous haste; like 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 reat Of the day in packing their
personal baggage" And il is added that,
"Those who are acquainted with the per.
sonal character Of Mrs. DAVIS can readi.
ly imagine with what energy and deter
minatiOn she must have prepared her
family for flight" etc. And that, "They
may believe, too, that although heartsiCk
and Disguised, there was nothing vaccil-
lating IN her actions"
l would express my surprise ii IcOuld
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 in" tremulous and ner-
vous haste, hurry home 10 his more res.
dilute wife" From where | met him he
went directly TO the Executive office,
where lie remained nearly all day and, If
| remember right, part OF the night,
looking after and giving directions in re.
lation TO public affairs and seeming TO
take no notice Of his private matters.
He did not go 10 where his wife was, or
act with her in preparing for flight, for
neither she or their children were in
Richmond or had been for three or four
weeks before that time. And ! am sure
there is no man who saw Mr.. Davis on
that trying occasion, but was impressed
with his calm and manly dignity, his de.
votion to the public interest, and his
courage. 1t ia apparent that one object
OF this statement is to try to produce the
impression that Mr.. Davis, in that hour
OF extreme peril, had forgotten his great
Office and trust, and descended 10 the care
Of his personal baggage, while the Con-
federate Government was dissolving; and
that another Of its objects was 10 show
that, on this great occasion, he was irres.
dilute, tremulOus, nervous, and wanting
in seli.possession and dignity. Nothing
could be further from the truth; and i |
venture the statement that there is no
one who saw him then, or who knew his
character, who would not unhesitatingly
contradict such astatment, and l venture |
the further suggestion that neither Of
these charges will ever be sustained, nor
will any attempt ever be made to sustain
them by any legitimate or Trustworthy
evidence; and that no man will make
such charges who has respect for truth,
and a just regard for his own reputO.
ton.