The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-05-16
5 MO-. 81
his Goth birthday, was task which
would have discouraged many an au.
thor 20 years younger, yet he made
no pause until the last chapter was in
tho nnhlic horo hands

| 'N "A9So"'oSC" houy al ous
thor 20 years younger, yet he made
no pause until the last chapter was in
the publishers hands.
NORTH AND SOUTH. !.
He asked me about my Southern trip
where I had been, whom I had
met. and what opinion I had formed
OF Tire sentiment of the masses; and
when l answered that the North and
South seemed more closely united
to-day than at any other period in
our history, he expressed deep graf.
ification. ''It is a grand and pro-
gressive country" he said, "and the
better the people understand each
other the better for our future as d
country"
He asked me regarding the senti-
ment of the North, and l believe +
answered truly when l told him that
rancor and bitterness had died out
of the hearts of all but demagogues
and malevolent politicians.
"That is right" he replied, ''and
trust that no untoward event will
sever the growing cordial relations
ABBOTT WAR.
BY and by we drifted into the sub
ject of war. 1t was Mr.. Davis who
gave Gen. Mcclellan his first up.
ward steps, and it was Mr.. Davis
who appointed Gen. Meade to the
Lake Survey, and was criticised
sharply for his selection. He be.
lieved that McClellan's campaign
against Richmond, had he been per.
mitted to carry it out as planned, and
received the hearty support of the
War Department, must have resulted
disastrously to the Confederates.
II knew Mcclellan, Meade, Hum
pbrey and nearly all the Federal
Generals" said Mr.. Davis, s'and
many Of them were my proteges. AL.
though they were fighting my ar
mics. | could not resist feeling of
pride in seeing so many of the young
men had helped advance winning
fame and proving all that had been
predicted"
l asked him to name the best Fed
eral general, and he replied.
"There were two--McClellan and
Meade. Mcclellan was grand en-
gineer and great general; Meade
was a steady fighter, and his move
ments were more of an enigma to
Lee than those of any other Federal
General"
OLD ACQUAINTANGEs.
AS we talked of this and that the
names Of generals, statesman, gov.
errors and government officials
came up, and many of them proved
10 be old acquaintance of Mr.. Da-
'ls. In years agone be and Ben
Butler were on the best social terms.
md it was the same with several
'ther present governors of Northern
States, and with various generals
Who won their laurels in war. The
x President had a kind word and a,
good wish for each and every one,
md he seemed to believe that those
Who had made their mark were en-
,irely deserving of their success.
HIS CAPTURE.
In the State. library at Jackson
Mss, is crayon portrait of Mr.
Davis as he appeared when cap
,ured. / asked him if it was cor
'ect. and he replied:
II will tell you exactly how it all
occurred. had lain down without,
'emoving a garment. l had high
cavalry boots, pantaloons tucked in
o the tops, n gray blouse and soft
lat. Upon the alarm being given I
tepped out of the tent and saw a
federal cavalryman 30 or 40 feet
way. He ordered me to halt. At,
he same moment Mrs. Davis threw
yer my shoulders folded shawl. I
aw that my only chance of escape
vas to secure the horse of the Fede-
al. / advanced straight upon him.,
ceiling that he would fire at me, but
believing that he would miss his
arget. Had this occurred, there
you'd have been struggle for the
possession of the horse. AS I ap-
'roached the soldier be lowered his
airline as II to shoot, and at the
anne moment rushed up and threw
Ter arms around me. The soldier
'esitated moment, turned his wea-
on aside, and I walked backed to-
he fire and stood there until made
prisoner"
LUNCH.
Two hours passed swiftly by as we
alked, but before permitting me to
lepart Mr.. Davis ordered A lunch
nd was again the host instead ofthe
historian. One who takes him by
be hand and looks into his kind face
must respect him. One who sees