The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-10-11
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Jefferson Davis.
The Confederate Chief Witnesses a Repre-
sentatiOn of the Battle Of Shiloh at New
Orleans,

Describing the recent representation
of the battle of Shiloh at New Orleans
the Picayune of that city says:
The most striking, because the most un.
expected, episode of the entire affair wa;
the presence of the illustrious chief of the
Coniederacy, Jefferson Davis. The play
which illustrated the fateful history of the
mighty exploits of Caesar was acted before
Cesar himself.
Mr.. Davis, drawn by some invisible thread
of destiny to New Orleans was unexpects
edly aspectator of this striking panorama Of
Southern history. lie had come over to
the city on business, and was met by his
friend PAYNE, of Payne, Kennedy & Co.,
and brought out to the West End. When
the gentlemen who had charge of the en-
tertainment discovered the fact, they es-
coIted the President to Astredo's Hotel,
where dinner was about to be served for
them, and seated him at the head of
the table. The affair was entirely i'm
promptu, and no speeches were made.
At the table were, besides the illustrious
guest, Generals A. P. Stewart Glynn and
Legardeur, Colonels John w. Glenn, +. W.
Gibson and j. A. ChalaFon, Mr.. Payne, and
several officers of the Generals staff. There
was the schief of the Confederacy and high
dignitaries of its armies, and side by side
with them were ex-Federal officers. Gener-
al Stewart said it was reconstruction
indeed, and some empty sleeves silently put
their signatures and seals to the compact of
peace and fraternity. 1t was sacramental
supper of eternal peace and fraternity
During the meal hundreds of old soldiers
came in to take the hand of their chief
Mr.. Davis was extremely bright and hap
py-looking, and he talked with his usual
force and power, but there were no speeches.
After supper was the battle, and to see it
the ex-President was posted on the gallery
at the Crescent Building. The gallery was
a garden of girls set in rows and tiers, and
beaming with beauty and grace. The cos
tunes, mostly white, were brilliant in the
electric light, and these fair women en-
vironed on all sides the man who had been
one of earth's loftiest in his day.
When the firing began the old war chief
was aroused to mnre than ordinary interest,
and when the old time thrilling music of
t'Dixie" mingled with the historic "rebel
yell" and the roar of cannon and the shout
ing of captains, and the rushing of the host
to the conflict rose and rang and ragged and
mounted, and filed the atmosphere with the
8Tu0d anu iuieEuaI QiH VI war; the olu man
rose to his feet. his bosom heaved, his breath
came thick and hot, his lips were compressed.
his eyes famed, and once more he was
one Of the monarchs of men, ruler
of nation, chief of grand and victorious
armies; one of the arbiters of the destinies
of mighty peoples. Once more be was king
in the midst OF his triumphs; his flags were
unfurled and his armies were afeld. In
moment one wave of his feeble hand had
swept away the cobwebs of twenty years,
and the past was again the present. 1t was
for moment only, for the fact that all was
mere show by a small company in tiny
theater before few thousands of the mil
lions who had owned his rule rushed into
view, and the curtain went down, the lights
were eKtinguished. and the mighty pagean-
try of the past passed swiftly into the gloom
and shadows that swallowed up all, and left
only grand but feeble old man alone re-
manning of all that moved men and shook
a continent twenty years ago.