The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-21

his family 10 place OF probable security.
He desired. however, 10 keep them as near
a. might be TO the position General Lee In
tended to occupy when Obliged TO withdraw
from the lines around Richmond and Pc
tersburg. Charlotte, North Carolina. was
selected for the purpose; and ] was. re-
quested TO accompany Mrs. Davis and the
children on their journey.
We started from Richmond in the eve
nlng of the Friday before the city was
evacuated. The President accompanied us
10 the cars, and after the ladies had taken
their seats, but while we were still at the
station OF the Danyile railroad awaiting
The signal for the train to move, he walked
a short distance aside with me, and gave
his final instructions in nearly or quite
these words.
"My latest information from General
Lee is that Sheridan has been ordered to
move with his cavalry TO our right flank
and TO tear up the railroad; he is to remain
there. destroying as much OF the railroad
as he can. until driven of by Hampton or
by the lack Of supplies; he is then to reioin
Grant i'm front OF Petersburg II possible;
otherwise, 10 20 10 Sherman i'm North Caro-
lima After establishing Mrs. Davis at
Charlotte, YOU will return 10 Richmond as
soon as you can"
GOODBYE TO RICHMOND.
Bidding goodbye to the President, we
rot away from Richmond about 10 o'clock.
II was special train. Our party consisted
Of Mrs. Davis, Miss Howell (her sister, the
four children. Ellen (the mulatto maid-ser-
vant), and James Jones (the mulatto coach
mani. With us were also the daughters OF
| ~ 10
siry. on their way TO South Carolina, I'M
der the escort OF Midshipman James VI.
Morgan. That young gentleman was then
engaged TO Miss Trenholm, and aiterward
married her. There were no other passen-
gers, and the train consisted OF only two or
three cars. In one Of them the coachman
had the two carriage-horses recently pre-
sented TO Mrs. Davis by several gentlemen
of Richmond. She had owned and used
them for several years; but during the pre-
ceding winter the Presidents household
had felt the pressure OF the "hard times
even more than before; he had sold all his
own horses except the one he usually rode;
and being i'm need Of the money they would
fetch, Mrs. Davis had, some time after
ward. sold them also through a dealer.
| The afternoon of the sale. however, they
| were returned TO the stable with kind
letter TO her from Mr.. James Lyons and
number of other prominent gentlemen, the
purchasers, begging her TO accept the
| horses rs a gift in token of their regard.
The price they had paid for the pair was.
think. l2,000-a sum which dwindleS
somewhat when stated TO have been IN
| Confederate currency worth at that time
only some fifty for one in goldJ, and rep
| "A In,
| STALLED.
| If illustrates the then condition OF the
RAILWAYS and means OF transportation IN
the Confederate States-that after proceed
| ing twelve or fifteen miles our locomotive
| proved unable to take us over slight up
Grade. We came 10 dead halt, and re-
manned there all night. The next day was
we'll advanced when Burkeville Junction
was reached, and | there telcgraphed to
the President the accounts received from
the battle between Sheridan and Pickett.
II was Sunday morning before we ar
rived at Danvilie. While preparations
were making there to send on our train
toward Charlotte. Morgan and | took a
walk through the town and made visit 10
the residence OF Major Sutherlin. the most
conspicuous house in Danyille. The train
cot off again by midday. but did not reach
Charlotte until Tuesday. At Charlotte we
were courteously entertained for day or
1.-TWO by Mr.. Wei, an Israelte merchant OF
the town.
Communication had been 50 interrupted
that we did not hear Of the evacuation oil
Richmond until Mrs. Davis received tele-
gram, on Wednesday, from the President
at DanyiIle, merely announcing that he was
there.
DANylILE.
As soon as / could do 20. and when we
had comfortably established Mrs. DAVIS
and her family in the house provided for
Them. | returned to Danville and joined the
President. With several members OF his
Cabinet, he was a guest at Major Sulber-
Inns bouse. where | arrived late in the eye-
ming and spent the night.
4 report coming in that the enemy
: cavalry was approaching from the wesi'
ward, the hills around Danyille, where
earth-works had already been thrown up
were manned by the officers and men thai
had constituted the Confederate navy ~
= and near Richmond; and command Of The
l force was given 10 Admiral Semmes (of the
Alabama), who was made u brigadier-gene
raj for the nonce.
, PLIGHT.
The several bureaus OF the War Depart
ment. and perhaps several OF the other de
partments, had arranged quarters for them
i selves i'm the town, and were organizing
: for regular work. A separate and comma
: dious house had been provided Il think by
the town authorties) as a headquarters FOL
the President and his personal staff; anC
MIR. NJ. II. CLARK, our chief clerk, had al
ready established himself there and wa
q Getting things in order. Ii was only The
[ next afternoon, however, after my return
: 10 DanviIle that the President received !
communication informing him OF the sur
render by General Lee OF the Army o
| Northern Virginia, and gave orders for al
J.. Immediate withdrawal into North Carolina
Under his directions we set TO work a
: once 10 arrange for railway train 10 con
. vey the more important officers Of the Gov
eminent and such Others ~ could be 90
7 aboard. with our luggage and It's much ma
e ,erial rs il was desired TO carry along, in
h Guiding the boxes of papers that had be
:, longed 10 the executive Office in Richmond
:. with the cooperation OF the officers Of tn
u Ouartermaster's Department, the train wa
with difficulty got ready; and the guard
4 piaced upon il excluded all persons IN,
: material not specially authorized by me 4
I 90 aboard. OF course multitude was anX
: ious TO embark, and the guards were KEEP
busy in repelling them.
RICHMOND HORSE.
), AsI stood in front OF our headquarters
sunerintending the removal OF luggage an
boxes 10 the train two officers rode uI
= their horses spattered with mud, and aske
o for the news. / told them OF the surrer
der of General Lees army, and inquire
who they were.and whence they had come
| NJ. LII ridden from Rlchm0nl AN