National Republican., 1881-04-26
REBEL "REMINISCENCES.
Some OF the Inner Life offhe CSnfederacy
by One Who Was There.

In conversation, prompted by NEIL
| ton of JEFF. Davis forthcoming memoirs promi-
nent officer of the late Southern Confederacy re-
lated to representative of the Tribune the follow
ing personal "reminiscences of the war:
AZ was,' he said appointed on the foreign af-
| fairs committee by the confederate congress L
voted for the abolition of slavery a matter of
military necessity, but it was only supported by
few members from the Border States, which had a
minor interest in the matter. A border committee
| met over a confectionery store in Richmond. The
| chairman of it was Atkins, member of Congress
| from Tennessee. At one time we had scheme 10
make Lee dictator of the whole cOnfederacy, and
| committee was sent to the camp to see Lee.
| When they had stated their proposition he said:
"'Gentlemen, am so hard pressed with the
duties now have that if any more duties were
added they would break me down. So great are
my responsibilities and my danger that when
say my prayers night and morning it is as much
as can do TO keep from asking God every day to
bring the ball that is to close my accountability.
There is way said Lee, to turn. am afraid to
leave my lines with my army and march South,
because there is nothing 10 eat wherever may CO.
The country is empty-empty of men, empty OF
food,
Just before our lines were broken at Peters
burg took dinner with several officers, and Cen
eral Lee there related that Mr. Davis had the day
go over to Richmond, journey both ways of a
day, or nearly so, to have a conference. Lee re-
piled that the necessities of the army every mo-
ment were such tina. he could not go away; that
he expected an attack every moment To this an
swer returned that Mr. Davis still insisted on
seeing Lee that day. Lee replied that he would
not be responsible for what happened in his alb
sence; that only the very gravest occasion would
justify his going. Davis infexibly replied that
General Lee must come and said Lee, telling this
story, when got together there was no business
or question of any more moment between US
than might bring two old women together. Mr..
Davis had merely determined that I should
come no matter what the consequences were.
"a report has been circulated in Missouri that
General Grant offered his services to Sterling Price
and Claib Jackson against the Union
"Now, at that period was the secretary of both
Jackson and Price. l slept with Claib Jackson
during all that period preceding and about Sc
cession. wrote his proclamations as Governor of
the State. If General Grant had ever written
letter offering his services to Missouri the letter
would have come to me- and there never was any
such letter, and have SO replied to inquiries ad
dressed to me. have also said there was want
of responsibility in the party making the state
ment. Sterling Price was one of the best soldiers
in the United States. He beat Lyon at the mill
tary game and killed him. No man loved fighting
more than Price. can fken him TO nothing but
one of those freight locomotives you see standing
in the depot with the fires out-an ugly mass of
metal stupid to look st. and without apparent life
or power until you light fire under it, and then
1t will drag trains of cars mountain tops That
was General Price"