The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-10

bhe PRESIDENT, he set off on his Journey to-
ward the southwest
Il How long or how far they had proceeded I
am unable to state with precision certainly,
however, not more than day Or two-when
they learned from some persons met with on
the way that
| MRS. DAWES AND HER PARTY
were In danger Of being attacked by some
marauhlng banditti, composed Of deselters
and stragglers from both armies, who were
proWling through the country.
lThe Presidents family, it should be un-
derstood, had been sent by his direction,
several weeks earlier, from North Carolina
southward, and after a delay of some days at
Abbeyllle, South Carolina, had passed
through Washington, Georgia, only day
before his own arrival there. They were
| travelling in ambMlanCes, or wagons, under
escort OF a few paroled Confederate soldiers
Aiming to reach East Florida, their route
| diverged from his own, being more to the
southwark and less to the westward
On receipt OF this intelligence Mr.. Davis at
| once changed his course. Four of his small
escort had already been detached to- assist
and protect quartermaster's train going to
With the remaining six and the gentlemen of
his personal staff already mentioned, he
struck off in the direction of his family, in
tending to see them safely through the i'm
journey. Riding rapidly and without halt
ing, they came near midnight, to a ferry,
where they learned that his family had not
crossed and must have taken another route
Here Capt. Campbell reported the horses of
his men to be exhausted, and proposed to
wait until morning. The President, unwll-
ing to wait, and attended only by
his staff and two coored servants,
pressed on by bridle-path to
the road which it was thought Mrs, Davis's
they encountered q party of men on foot. but
with number of brides and other suspicious
articles, who, on being questioned, said they
belonged to the Thirty-sixth Alabama regf-
some woman and children We're encamped not
far off. It was afterwards ascertained that
these men were of the band OF marauders
who had been heard Of The moon, which had
shoone brightly, during the night, was just
sinking below the tree-tops, and the dark hour
that precedes the dawn was probably what
they were waiting for.
. Riding on little further, the President
WIS challenged by Il sentinel U1nguaTdi III the
woods, whose voice he recognized at once as
that Of his private secretary, Burton n Har-
rison, Esq, who had accompanied Mrs Davis
and family and was now keeping watch for
their protection from imminent peril.
Mr.. Davis remained with his family two
days, until he had reason to suppose that
they had passed the range of immediate
danger. On the evening Of the second day
(which was the ninth OF May preparations
were made for departure Immediately after
HlGIlblall, when Vol, w JOuIlSJDn returned
from q neighborng village with the report
that band OF $50 men were to attack the
camp that night. The President, with abiding
confidence in and attachment for all who had
been Confederate soldiers, did not doubt that
if any such were in the party, they would de-
sist from the attack one his appeal to them,
and even take sides with him in case of con-
nict with others He REMAINED, therefore
fully confident of his ability to protect his
family.
Meanwhile his horse, already saddled, with
his holsters and blanket in place. was in
charge OF his body servant, and himself was
lying clothed, booted and even spurred, wb 4, |
a little after daybreak, the alarm was given
his feet and stepping out of the tent he saw at
once, from the manner in which the assai- !
ants were deploying around the camp, that
they were trained soldiers, and not irregular |
banditti, and returning he 50 informed Mrs |
Davis
AS we have said, the Presidente was already |
fully dressed He hastily took leave. of his |
wife, who threw over his shoulders a water
proof cloak or wrapper, either as protection
from the dampness of the early morning, or |
in the hope that it might serve as q partial
disguise or perhaps, with wOman's ready and
rapid thoughtfulness, of it's possible use for
both these purposes. eNr. Davis also directed
q female servant, who was present, to take an
rection Of the spring his horse, on the other
side of the camp, being cut off from access by |
the interpositon of the assailants.
He had advanced only a few steps from the |
door Of the tent when he was challenged by
mounted soldier, who presented his carbine
aud ordered him to
SURRENDER" o o
The answer was: 81 never surrender to a
band Of thieves" The carbine was still pre-
sented, but the man rcfrained from firng-it ,
is but fair to presume from an unwlingness
to kilIOhis adversary-while the President |
l.. ",
desperation or foohardy reckIessness, but of
deliberate I@,,pose ] take the risk of going
perhaps a little beyond the limits of the au-
thorzed use Of informa9on obtained in the
freedom of personal coSidence, in stating
that, with the rapid process of thought and
formation of design which sometimes takes
place in moments Of imminent peril, Mr.
Davis recalled an incident of his own expe-
riencc tbat had occurred many years before
On the Yield of Buena Vista, while riding
horse could ascend, he was fired at and
missed by the whole front rank Of a squad
ron of Mexican cavalry on the crest
"a the bank above. Remembering this,
was 50 near as to be considerably
above him, he had little apprehension of being
hit, and believed that, by taking advantage Of
5ho excitement, of the shot, he naght easily
lip him from the saddle and get possession
If hShorse. The feasibility of this design
was not to be tested, however, for at this
Davis, seeing only his danger
md animated by a characteristic and heroic
to share it, ran forward and
brew her arms around his neck, with some
none Of the parties present would be able to
'epeat correctly The only hope of escape
lad depended upon bringing the matter to an
issue, and, seeing that this was
low lost, the President simply said, Goods
will be done as he quietly turned back and
seated himself upon a fallen tree, near which !
camp fire was burning. {
While these events were occurring, there :
lad been Sharp tiriHg around the camp It D,
appeared afterward that the assalants had !
,cen divided into two parties, and eapproach- ,
ng from different directions, had cncoun- ,,
cred and fired upon each other by mistake, :
Filling and wounding several of their own I
men. In the confusion consequent upon this, :
omc Of the Confederate party escaped I
mong them Col. Wood, who afterwards ac- :
0m naDied Gen. RrecIiiuridge in his nerilnus !.