The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-11
:" .-El ----17- --.E-1
VIEWS FROM APPQI1dTTOx.
AoW the Fugitive Confederate CHIEF Heard
0fIoes Surrender

0f Iee's Surrender,
/ D. Coleman in Phil. Weekly Times.
Ater my hot haste from Appomat-
tox J was much worn, but as soon ma
reached Danyille, Hthe late capital of
the Confederacy," General Walker ]oi
me to the house where Davis was din
! ing. took Q seat on @ sofa and tho
PRESIDENT came and took d scat beside
mo, General Walker having taken a
chair near by us. AS soon az we were
thus seated, President Davis again
/ bowed his lead to me as O signal for
me to proceed. l then, in MS few
words as possible, gave him O. flIl
statement of the information I had o.
tanned of General Lees surrender.
During my recital of this information.
PRESIDENT Davis rested his elbow on
the Side OF the sofa and kept his band
on the side OF his brow, listening with
The profoundest attention, but uttering
not word, either of comment or in
curry. After | had finished tho telling
of my terrible news, he still ant for q
lew moments resting his brow upon
lis hand, as If in profound meditation.
Presently, still without one word Of
comment upon the news Ind brought
MN or of inquiry as to further par
ticulars, he turned to General Walker
alid mysclfiD a most courteous mani
ner and inquired whether we had
dlned. The General replied that he
had, but ] had not. III fact had not
tasted food since leaving Mr.. Payne's
tRat morning at sunrise, and had rid
den over fifty miles since. "Thcn, !"
said President Davis to ME, "walk in
captain, and take some bread and
meat with me-" As he said this he
arose from his scat on the sofa. I did
likewise, thanked him for his invita-
ton aud followed him as he led the
way to the dinner table. On entering
the dining-room found seated at q
table q number ofgentlemcn who were
members OF the Presidents official
fainily. including several Of his cabi-
net ministers, but there were no ladies
present. lie invited me to II seat at the
table, took a seat himself and recon.
menced eating. He seemed to be pro-
foondly meditating all the, time, and
when addressed by any Of the gentle
men around him, always made very
courteous replies, but in the fcwest
Yords possible, and took no part in
the conversation. On rising from the
table, however, he accompanied me
back to the reception room, where we
re)oined General Walker, who had
been waiting for me. We resumed
our seats in tho reception room as DO
fore. and then President Davis turned
to me and made the most careful and
special inquiries touching tho ncwa I
had brought him and all that l had
seen and heard during my expedition
to the lines Of the army. All these in.
qniries l answered fully and explicit
ly. When he had gotten through
questioning me and seemed ready TO
close the interview, arose 10 leave.
as did General Walker also. As |
was taking leave of him | said: "Mr.
president, If there is anything further
can 90 to serve YOU, please command
me-" AS said this llc seemed for the
first time to exhibit any emotion, but
nc answered me with considerable
feeling, saying: "Ah, Captain, fear
there will be but few now who would
make such an offer" With this we
shook hands and General Walker and
l LEFT the President and saw him no
more.
That night at half.past ten O'clock
al! the Confederate officials left Dam
vile, taking the archiyes of the gov
ernment with them, and went south
Wardly BY wAr OF Greensboro N. G..