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

obligation 10 account to the owner. | said
| should he glad to have The horse, and
would cheerfully assume all responsible
ties. The Colonel rode of, but returned in
a short time. He had tried to get on the
railway train. but found he couldn't do IL
without an order from me; whereby he re-
marked that II would furnish such an or
der he would accept my proposition about
the horse. The arrangement was made i'm
mediately, and the Colonel became pas
senger on the train, which also conveyed
my horse, with Others belonging to the
President and his staff.
THE HORSES OWNER.
That horse did me noble service, and
became very much attached to him. Long
afterward | ascertained the owner was Mr..
| Edmond, OF Richmond. with whom | had
conversation on the subject when was
there attending upon the proceedings in
the United States Court for the release OF
Mr.. Davis from prison upon bail. | re-
lated the adventures Of his steed, and
offered to pay for him, but Mr.. Edmond
promptly and very generously said he
could not think OF taking pay for the
horse; that the loss was but an incident OF
the loss OF everything else we had all SUI
fered in the result Of the war; and that ms
inquiries had been made only because the
animal was a great pet with the children
and they were all anxious to know his late.
SOUTH BOUND.
We moved southwark on. think.
| the day following the council OF war held
with General Johnston, starting from
| Greensboro in the afternoon. The PfeSl'
Al. tint Il n
mediate staff, and some members OF the
Cabinet, were mounted. Others fodc III
ambulances. army wagons, or such con-
yeyances as could be got. Almost at The
last minute | was told | must provide an
ambulance for Mr.. Judah j.. Benjamin,
Secretary OF State. His figure was not wei
adapted for protracted riding. and he had
firmly announced that he should not mount
horse until obliged to.
BY good fortune | was able to secure an
ambulance; but the horses were old and
broken down. Of a dirty-gray color, and
with spots like ily-biteS all over them and
the harness was not good. There was No
choice, however, and into that ambulance
got Mr.. Benjamin, General Samuel Cooper
| (Adjutant-General, and ranking officer OF
| the whole army, Mr.. George Davis (o
North Carolina. AttOrney-GeneraD. and
Mr.. Jules st. Martin, Benjamin'S brother
in-aw.
| AFRAID OF MR.. DAVIS.
| During all the march Mr.. Dayii
was sngularly equable and cheerful; h
seemed TO have had a great load taken from
his mind. to feel relieved Of responsibilities
and his conversation was bright and agree
able. He talked OF men and OF books
particularly Of Walter Scott and Byron; o
horses and dogs and sports: OF the wood
and the fields: OF trees and many plants
of roads. and how TO make them; Of tn,
habits Of birds. and OF variety OF othel
topics. His familiarity with, and correc
taste i'm, the English literature Of the las
generation. his varied experiences in life
his habits Of close observation, and his eN
traordnary memory, made him charm
Ing companion when disposed to talk.
Not far from Charlotte | sent forward ;
courier with letter TO Major EcholS, the
quartermaster OF that post. asking him L
inform Mrs. Davis Of our approach, and Il
provide quarters for aS many OF us n pos
sible. The Major rode out to the outskirt
Of the town, and there met us with the in
formation that Mrs. Davis and her famil
had hastily proceeded toward South Caro-
lima several days before. He didn't know
where she was to be found; but SAID sh
had fled when the railway south a
Greensboro had been cut by the enemy
cavalry. The Major then took me asid
and explained that, though quarters colil'
be furnished for the resi- OF us, he had 4
vet been able TO find only one person will
ing to receive Mr.. Davis, saying the pconl
generally were afraid that whoever enter
famed him would have his house burner
bv the enemy; that, indeed. il WAS under
stood threats to that effect had been mad
everywhere 10y Stoneman's cavalry,
There seemed 20 be nothing 10 do but t
20 to the one domicile offered. twas on Oh
main street Of the town, and was occupie
by Mr.. Bates, man said to be OF northern
birth. bachelor OF conyiyial habits. tn
local agent Of the Southern Express Com
pany. apparently living alone with his ne
gro servants. and keeping sort Of "Ope
house." where broad. wel-equippcd side
board was the most conspicuous feature
! the sitlmtion-not at all seemly place 10
Mr.. Davis.
Mrs. Davis insisted upon starting Will
out delay for the Sea-cOast tc get out OF IN
reach Of capture. II was finally decided
, make our way TO the neighborhoOd OF Mad
, son. Florida, as fast ~ possible, there
determine how best 10 get To sea.
SMALLPOX.
We started the morning OF the secon
= day after | arrived at Abbeyille. and la
moi reached the Savannah river when II ";
: reported that smallpox prevailed IN Il
= country. All the party had been yaccinate
E except one of the Presidents childrei
!, Hating at house near the road, Mrs. ID
/ Wis had the operation performed by IL
\ nlanter, who got fresh >cab from the ar
e Of little negro called up for the purpos
e AT Washington we halted for two nigh
: and the intervening day. Mrs. Davis an
her family were comfortably lodged in Il
town.
Near the town was a quartcrnaster
camp, where selected three or four arm
wagons, each with a team Of four zoe
:, mules. and the best harness to be got.
driver for each team and several supern
!, meraries, friends OF theirs. were recrul'
r there.
! II was nightfall when these arrangement
! were completed, and Immediately move
:, my teams and wagons 10 separate biyou
o i'm the woods, apart. wise precautlo
n for during the night some men on the W;
= 70 their homes in the far southwo
;. Graded" the quartermaster's camp al
. carried of all the best mules found there.
y Colonel lIarriSon's paper goes on to M
= rate Mr.. Dayi.'s oyertaking his family
+ their projects to get to the Trans-Nississi
" nj DEPARTMENT: their troublous journe
; ings. ALWAYS expecting TO be taken by Il
!, enemy. and finally how they were ca
= tured-of which much has already bee
l. written.
Colonel Harrison says that when "a
, tured The President had on a waterprO
:, cloak. He had used II. when riding, a
- nrotectjon against the rain during the nig