River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-02-15
THE LATE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The Escape of Breckinridge and Ben
jamin at the End ofthe Rebellion.


The Escape of Breckinridge and Ben
jamin at the End ofthe Rebellion.
Jacksonville lila Times.
1t is generally known that General
Breckenridge left the country by the
way Of Indian river Immediately after
the surrender, arriving in HavanaS while
Mr.. Benjamin, though leaving by way OF
Tampa and the waters below, made his
landing in safety at Nassau, New Ptoyi-
dence.
After the separation Of the members
of the confederate government, in Geor-
eia, from President Davis at the time oil
the surrender, General Breckenridge
rode on horseback to Florida under the
name Of Colonel Cabell. He had with
him, besides his son, Colonel Wood, who
was nephew of President Zachary Tay-
Tor, and another officer named Wilson,
all of whom had been members of the
Generals staff On entering Florida,
from the Georgia line Immediately
north of the town of Madison,
hey reached the house of Thomas Liv-
ingston, who soon conducted them to the
plantation of General Finegan. Wood
was at once sent TO Captain James Tuck
er, who resided not far from Madison,
and was neighbor of General Finegan,
TO come to the house of the latter, to
which he did. and was introduced to the
party, and informed of their purpose &c
leave the country General Breekin-
ridge presented the fine horse which he
rode to General Finegan, his SON went
to jefferson county to stay awhile with
Captain James Tucker "a son of Captain
Tucker, ST., first mentioned). General
Breckenridge accepted the use of Cap
tain fuckers carriage, and Captain
Tucker accompanied him in it on the
way to east Florida, his colored coach
man driving.
The two Officers of the Generals staff
and faithful c0lored sefvant-man of
General Breckenridge rode the horses
on which they came into the state on the
same route
The party went about seven N lies
south Of Madison to strike the Bellamy
road. In the carriage was the General
himself and the colored driver. The
team Of the coach was; of coarse, pair
of good horses. On the road they over
took a countrywoman and a little girl
walking. Captain Tucker asked the
General if 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
carriage. The old woman became very
inouisitive. and asked the General if he
was a president.
The general answered ono"
She asked: Then you are genefal?'
He answered: mo; no general, only
private soldier, far away from home"
The keen eyes and questions of the
old woman became 80 searching as to
efnbarrass him d little, and the general
diverted her by kind inquiries about
the little girl, whether she cotf!d read,
etc.
She said the little girl could not read.
The general then gave the child five
ore dollar gold pieces and told her
mother to send her to school with it as
far as it would go.
Captain Tucker escorted the party to
Mr.. Halle's plantation, near Gainesville.
and there; putting them into a position
to be escorted farther, he babe them
adieu and returned home.
AT Moseley's Ferry, on the Suwanee,
they encountered another old country
woman In a mousse near NJ lidHu, wiz
became quite social with the party, and
told them that "old Benjamin had
passed that way few days before and
had taken meal there. He had ar
rived 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 cd
woman would be willing to cook anoth.
er. Mr. Benjamin said that he had gold
to pay for it, and the meal was soon
smoking on the table.
Gold was rare charm in those days
on the Beliamv road.
When the old lady told the Breck.n-
ridge party that "Old Benjamin" had
passed down there a few days before.
upon being asked how she knew him,
she replied that while he was eating
she was looking over an old pictorial pa
per, which had somehow got through
the lines, and in it was picture of
some of the great "rebels," as they were
called, and among them was one printed
~. P. Benjamin.
"I'll be shot," said the old woman,
"whle / was lookin' at the pictures and
lookin' up at the man eatin' his supper,
il could help noticin' the likeness, and
was soon sure that the man eatin, sup
per was old Benjamin himself That's
how / knew he has been here; and you
all comm along in this way reminded
mo IF him