Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-18
Gales aud Sketfhes.
JEFF DAVIS DREAM.

Ihe following Dream OF Jef. Davis, APP
peared in print the next year after the begin
ming of the civil war. 1t is interesting read.
ing, and we reproduce it w
One day short time ago, while sitting in
a hotel in Richmond, Va, total stranger TO
every one in the city, | took up daily paper
for the purpose of passing away an idle hour,
and for my further comfort, seated myself
in the recess of bay window, and was thus
wholly hidden from the view OF any who
might chance to enter the room, and had
but Just become interested in the latest news,
when heald the door of the room open and
tho footsteps OF two persons approaching.
They seemed to be talking confdentially to-
gether, and | thought it nay duty to make
known my presence by some sign, 80 that I
might not hear anything not intended for
my ear, but on peering into the room, imag-
Inc my surprise when | recognized in the oc-
eupants, JEFF Davis and his traitor friend,
Toombs of Georgia. | hestated no longer,
but settled myself back in my seat and bent
every energy to listen to the conversation,
which was carried on in low tone.
But, said Toombs, Mr.. Davis you must not
give way to the vagaries of your brain.
Come, tell me all about this wonderful dream,
and my word for it, you will feel better after
the recital. Davis, rising, turned the key in
the door, and resuming his seat close by
Toombs, gave the following version of the
dream that disturbed him. Said he, had
party of friends to supper last night, who
prolonged their visit to a late hour. l ate
heartily during the evening and experienced
strang feeling of heaviness before retiring.
My room, you know, is well supplied with
large windows, and the night being splen-
did one, lay on my back gazing on the heay-
ems sparkling as it were with diamonds, and
ruminatng ON the destiny of the Cenfeder-
acy. How long l continued thus, know
not, but stealing over my senses, as 1t ap-
peared to me, instantly came clearer per-
ception of our cause from the beginning.
thought myself in Washington, in that same
room where we all met that night to perfect our
plans for the destruction of the great repub-
lie. thought that you were there, Toombs,
and Breckenridge, and all the rest, and |
seemed to live over again the closing scenes
which were enacted in Congress, and was
startled from the contemplation by low,
deep. solemn voice close by my pillow, say =
ing, jefferson Davis-Jetferson Davis ~
This was the beginning. started and looked
around to see who it was that spoke in those
awful tones, and cold chill Of horror crept
over me as ] saw dim, shadowy figure dis
appear in the distance. Presently my gaze
became fixed, and before me passed the whole
| Southern land, one State after another
| Maryland heaving and tossing AK upon the
waves of the ocean, doubling which way TO
| plunge Virginia had smiling exterior, but
the most deadly, damning hate ranking in
| her heart Georgia, crazy with the enormous
weight Of her sins and her passions, anxious
to give them vent in the warm blood of the
northern heart and so passed they all, one
after the other, the last appearing still more
hellish than the first. No sooner were these
ended than by some singular change in my
position, imagined myself standing on the
top of Bunker Hill. and once more the pano-
rama OF the States was presented before me.
This time it was of the North. But why
enter into the details of this vision, for saw
them in all the beauty of their free system :;
| the children on their way to school, the old
| farmer in the field and the scholar in his
study All this passed rapidly before me.
and felt fire in my heart, that to my dis
ordered brain threatened to consume me en-
tirely. Again the scene changed, and
found myself on height overlooking Charles
| ton harbor, Just at that moment the Star Of
L
to the starving garrison within. | saw the
shot fired, forcing her return, and my heart
sunk within me as heard that deep, solemn
voice close beside me say, jefferson Davis,
Jefferson DAVIS this is your preparation for
the halter - Again, | saw another fleet sail
to the relief of Sumpter-saw the lombard
ment and is final fall. Once more imag-
ined myself standing on the summit Of Bunker
Hill, and the whole North lay spread out at
my feet, and, my God the change that had
come over this land Where, from this very
spot and extending out to its fartherest cor
ner, there was hurrying to and from-men
shouldering their muskets and all tend
ing to one point, Washington. My eyes
fairly blazed from my head, when from the
clear blue sky above me, heard once again
the mysterious voice ringing in my ears,
jefferson Davis behold the armed le-
gions of the North; see the agony of part
ing see the misery and desolation that are
to follow Jefferson Davis, this is your
work ~ My limbs trembled as heard these
words uttered in those awful tones MY head
reeled, and | fell headlong from my position.
At this point, JEFF. Davis stopped talking
and wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
Toombs remarked that it was a most wonder
ful dream-most wonderful, when Jefferson,
resuming, said, thought that my fall was
not sudden, but that occupied some months
In my descent, and during those months
could see McClelan's Anaconda tightening
its folds all around the Confederacy, and l
felt the certainty that all was lost, that we
would be crushed in one common destruction.
saw the capture of Forts Henry and Donel
son, and thrill of horror crept over me as
saw that traitor to the North and South,
Floyd, stealing away in the darkness of the
night, leaving the rest to destruction. Along
the lines [ saw our armies possessed of fear
full dread, flying from Nashville and Colunl-
bus ; saw the battle of Pea Ridge, and almost
in the twinkllng of an eye, the Great Army
of the Potomac, in all its mighty proportions,
appeared before me and felt that all was
lost. Again the solemn voice rang in my
ears, jefferson Davis, Jefferson Davis thy
doom is sealed-meet thy reward !" No soon
er were these words uttered, than in the dis
tance heard an unearthly shouting and yell
ing that grated on my feeling like red-hot