The Portland daily press., 1881-06-08
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 8.

ceived by him from Gen. Sherman, and asked
for instructions l have neither his Telegram
nor my reply, but can give it substantially
from memory. 1t was that he should retire
with his cavalry and as many infantry as could
be mounted on draught horses, and some ligh
artillery, the rest of the infantry to be disband
ed and place of rendezvous appointed. II
was unnecessary to say anything of the route
as that had been previously agreed on and sup
pies placed on il for his retreating army. This
order was disobeyed, and he sought another in
terview with Sherman, to renew his attempt
TO reach an agreement for termination of hos.
tilities."
JoHNSToN'S SURRENDER.
Then came the surrender on the same terms
as had been accepted by Lee; "but" remarks
Mr.. Davis, ''the condition of the two armies
was very different. Lees supplies had been
cut off, his men were exhausted by fatigue and
hunger, and he had no reinforcements in view,
Notwithstanding the immense superiority in
numbers and equipments of the enemy pursu-
ing, he had, from point to point, fought them
IN rear and on both fianks and had, the day
before his line of retreat was closed, rejected
the demand for surrender, and only yielded to
ii after bis starving little army had been sur
rounded by masses through which he tried to,
but could not, cut his way" prolongation
Of hoStilities and an exhibition to maintain the
struggle would, thinks Mr. Davis, have led the
United States authorities to do as Mr. Lincoln
had indicated, give any terms which might be
found necessary to speedily terminate the ex-
listing war
BE was even, in case of last resort, in favor
OF transferring the remnants of the Confeder-
ate armies to the west bank of the Mississippi
there uniting with the armies of e. K Smith
and Magruder 10 form an army, which in the
portion Of that country Astounding in supplies
and deficient in rivers and railroads, could
have continued the war until our enemy foiled
in tbs purpose of subiugaton should in ac-
cordaBce with his repeated declaration have
agreed on the basis of a return to the Union,
TO acknowledge the constitutional rights of the
States, ana by convention or quasi treaty to
guarantee security of person and property
HIS CAPTURE.
Regarding the circumstances of his own cap
ture Mr.. Davis writes graphically. The "wa-
terproof' story he disposes of in this way:
As II was quite dark in the tent, picked up
what was supposed to be my raglan water
proof, light overcoat, without sleeves; it was
subsequently found to be my wifes, so very
like my own as to be mistaken for it; as
started my wife thoughtfully threw over my
head aud shoulders a shawl. Ihad gone per-
haps 10 OK 20 yards when a trooper galloped
IN and ordered me to halt and surrender, to
which gave defiant answer, and, dropping
the shawl and raglan from my shoulders, ad-
yanced toward him. He levelled his carbre
at me, but L expected if he fred he would miss
me, and my intention was, in that event, to
put my hand under his foot, tumble him off on
the other side, spring into his saddle and at
tempt to escape. My wife, who had been
watching. when she saw the soldier aim his
carbine at me, ran forward and threw her
arms around nae. Success depended on instan-
taneous action, and, recognizing that the OPP
portunity had been lost, turned back, and
the morning being damp and chilly, passed on
to fire beyond the tent"
DAVIS ON LINCOLN
The story that Mr.. Davis, on hearing at
Gllrlnffa- Whila q nriG0nar of ho
tion OF Lincoln, read the telegram "exulting-
ly' he denounces as false. Rather, he handed
the telegram to an influential citizen of the
town with the remark that it was "sad news"
OF Lincoln Mr.. Davis writes: "For an enemy
so relentless in the war for our subjugation we
could not be'expected to mourn; yet, in view
oil Its political consequences, it could not be
regarded otherwise than as great misfortune
to the South. He had power over the north
ern people, and was without personal malig-
nifty toward the people of the South. His sue
cessor was without power in the North and the
enjoyment of malignity toward the Southern
people, perhaps the more so because he had
betrayed and deserted them in the hour of
their need.'
The charge, made at the time, that Davis
was privy to the plot to assassinate Lincoln is
denounced as "slanderous'' Mr.. Davis en-
beavers by documentary evidence to prove
that WirZ, who was hanged for barbarous cru
elites to Union soldiers at Andersonyille was
approached by agents of the United States gov
ernment in an attempt to implicate the Con-
federate President in cruelties to soldiers.
Here Mr.. Davis says with bitterness: 1.-THE
subject is noticed in these pages only to show
the desperate extremities to which the agents
of the government of the United States pro-
ceeded in order to compass my ignominious
death. Three principal measures were re-
sorted to for the accomplishment of this object
the charge in the case of Wirz above men,
toned, the fabrications in the case now under
dT.d fhn nj .,,1,,
treatment inflicted upon me while prisoner
in Fortress Monroe, ,,