The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-30

story or the flight or General Brock
fnridge and Judah r. benjamin.
rI,cxsonv,,,e fila, T,mes.I

II Il generally known that General
Brcckinridge left the country by way OF
Indian river Immediately after the surrcn-
der, arriving In Havana. while Mr.. Ben
jamin, though leaving by way of Tampa
and the waters below, made his landing In
safety at Nassau, New Providence. After
the separation OF the members OF the Con-
federate Government in Georgia from Pre-
sident Davis, at the time OF the surrender,
General Breckenridge rode on horseback
to Florida under the name OF Colonel
Cabel. He had with him beside his
son Colonel Wood, who was n nephew
OF President Zachary Taylor, and
another officer named Wilson, all OF whom
had been members OF the Generals stan.
On entering Florida from the Georgia line
immediately north OF the town OF Madison
they reached the house OF Thomas LIV-
ingston, who soon conducted them 10 the
plantation OF General Finegan. WORD was
at once sent TO Captain James Tucker, who
resided not far from Madison and was
neighbor OF General Finegan, to come to
the house OF the latter, to which he came,
and was introduced to the party, and in-
formed Of their purpose 10 leave the coun-
trv. General Breckenridge presented the
fine horse which he rode TO General Fin
cyan: his son went to Jefferson county 10
stay awhile with Captain James Tucker "a
son OF Captain Tucker, Sr., first mention
ed). General Breckenridge accepted the
use OF Captain fuckers carriage, and Cap
tain Tucker accompanied him in il on the
way TO East Florida. his colored coachman
driving.
The two officers Of the Generals staff
and a faithful colorcd servant man OF Gen
,.,,r II horses
they came into the State on the same route.
The party went about seven miles south OF
Madison to strike the BelIamy road. In
the carriage was the General himself and
the colored driver. The team Of the coach
was, of course, 4 par Of good horses. On
the road they overlook countrywoman
and q little girl walking. Captain Tucker
asked the General ii he would have any
objection to taking The two up to help them
on their way for few miles. OF course
they were at once given place in the car
rage. The old woman became very in
ouisitve, and asked the General il he was
a president.
The General answered. "No."
She asked, "Then you are general ?"
He answered, "No, no general; only a
private soldier, lar away from home"
The keen eyes and questions OF the old
woman became so searching as to embar-
rass him little. and the General diverted
her by kind inquiries about the little girl,
whether she could read, etc.
She said the little girl could not read.
The General then gave the child five
one-dolar gold-pieces and told her mother
to send her to school with il as far as it
would 90.
Captain Tucker escorted the party to Mr..
Haile's plantation, near Gainesville, and
there, putting them into a position TO be
escorted further, he babe them adieu and
returned home.
At MOseley's ferry, on the Suwanee, they
encountered another old cOuntrywoman i'll
a house near at hand. who became quite So
cial with the party, and told them that "Old
Benjamin " had passed that way a few days
before, and had taken meal there. He had
arrived alone on horseback, rather late for
the meal. Mr. Benjamin had asked the
man of the house for the meal, and he had
replied that it was pretty late, and he did
not know whether the old woman would
be willing to cook another. Mr.. Benjamin
said that he had the gold TO pay for it, and
the meal was soon smoking on the table.
Gold was rare charm in those days on the
Bellamy road.
When the old lady told the Breckenridge
party that cold Benjamin" had passed
there few days before, upon being asked
how she knew him, she replied that while
he was eating she was looking over an old
pictorial paper which had somehow got
through the lines, and in it was a picture
Of some of the "great rebels" as they
were called, and among them was one
printed 81. p. Benjamin.
"Fll he shot," said the old woman,
: while | was lookin' at the pictures and |
o0kin' up at the man eatin' his supper, if |
could help noticin' the likeness, and | |
vas soon sure that the man eatin' supper |
vas old Benjamin himself. That's how ! |
know he has been here, and you all comm |
slong in this way reminded me of him.