Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-06-13

forty years, that Toombs was born
a soldier. Mr.. Stephens once told
the writer that had ToOmbs COM
the Army of Northern Vlr-
ginia he would have achieved
Southeran independence in the
second year of the war. Toombs
is still alive, enjoying a green old
age, at his home in Washington,
Wilkes county, Ga, respected for
his abilities and virtues, which are
not obscured by eccentricities and
Bobadillike utterances as to public
matters. r. NJ. 7. Hunter, of Vir-
ginia, who had seen long Federal
service as member of the House OF
Representatives and Senator, and
had long been prominent as a
Presidential candidate before seces-
sion, was Toombs's successor in
the direction of the Confederate
Department of State. He is still
alive. Mr.. Walker retired from
the War Department after a few
months service. When Sumter
was fired on, he was credited with
having made a boastful speech, in
which he promised the exultant
citizens of Montgomery that the
confederate flag should soon float
from the Capitol at Washington
Mr.. Walkers friends always denied
that he made any such declaration,
but it was telegraphed to the North
ern press and stimulated the war
feeling of the North. That Mr..
Walker never used the language
quoted appears to be established
by the disclaimer of the Southern
Government of any other than
purely defensive measures. To
extort recognition of its indepen-
dence, not to invade Northern soil,
was the constantly avOwed pur-
poses at the initiation of hostilities.
Even the assault on Sumter was
declared to be defensive measure,
as the fort was in Southern waters
and within the jurisdiction Of a
State belonging to the Confed-
eracy.
Those days of 1861 were full of
passion and fervor in talking and
deed as preparation went on for
the battles of the approaching
Summer. Beauregard and Sumter
were names talismanic of Southern
valor and confidence. The creole
General was deemed a mirace of
warlike prowess, and men wanted
no better pledge of the military
administration of the Confederacy
than was given in the thrilling
story of JEFF Davis and his Mis-
sissippi Rifles at Buena, VISTA
Popular temper was jauntily ex-
pressed by the message of the
telegraph operator at Montgomery
following the surrender Of Fort
Sumter:
"Davis's answer was rough and curt
Sumter IA ours and nobody hurt
With Psixhsn, mortar, and petard
We tender old Abe our Beauregard."
When Walker retired from the
War Department lie was succeeded
temporarily by Mr.. Benjamin,
transferred from the Attorney
Generals Department. Mr.. Ben
,jamin was succeeded by George w.
Randolph, of Virginia, a descendant
of Jefferson. His administration
was able, but his health was feeble
and he retired to give place to
James A. Seddon, of Virginia and
at the close of the war John G.
Breckenridge, Of Kentucky, was at
the head of the War Department.
Walker is alive, a successful lawyer
in Alabama, while Randolph, Sed-
don, and Breckenridge are dead.
Mr.. Benjamin has now joined the
silent majority. His wonderful
career at the English Bar is fresh
story in the public mind. When
the Confederacy dissolved in the
woods of Georgia Benjamin, Breck-
inridge, and TOombs escaped
separately to Europe, whence the
two latter eventually returned to
the United States.
Secretary Mallory was a gentle
man of charming disposition, of
abilities, and Of varied
information, making him most
agreeable companion. There is no
reason to suppose that a more sue
cessful employment of the limited
naval resources of the South could
have been made than Mr.. Mallory
made. Yet he was lampOoned with
put limit by the Richmond Exami-
ner, the leading paper of the South,
and bitterly assailed by the enemies
Of the Administration in Congress,
conspicuous among whom was the
ate Henry S. FOote, once Jefferson
Davis's colleague in the Federal
Senate and his successful cOmpeti.
,Or in the race for the Governship
If Mississippi in 1851. This was
Turing the gloom following the
numerous and consecutive Confed.