National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-12

to evory mans criticism; but OF him, too,
/ have personal knowledge not meant for
publication, but to become part of the
"Traditions Of the Civil War" which the
Grand Army Of the Republic will pre-
serve.
In the summer Of 1863, when Vicksburg
surrendered to Cen Grant, he dispatched
me with q sufficient force to catch or drive
bact the confederate army under Gen.
Joseph l.. Johnston, which had been as
scmblod for tho relief of the beeagnered
garrison. That army took refuge Ia
Jackson. Miss, which | closely besieged.
Some Of tho foragers Of the army found
In tho garrett Of tho house OF Mr.. Joe
Davis, brother TO Jefferson Davis, box
containing his private papers and brought
il to camp. Hearing that papers Of
Mr.. Davis wero being scattered about for
autographs and as souvenirs, / sent for
tho box and had II brought to my
bivouac, and held 1t In my personal pos
session from about July Is to Aug. .,
1863. During that time | examined some
of the contents, consisting Of largo num-
ber of letters addressed to Mr.. Davis dur.
ing period of ten years, including the
time whom Montgomery, Ala, was tho
capital Of the confcdcraoy, with marginal
notes of his hand and rolls of memoranda
and notes In his handwriting Of speeches
made or to bo mado. This box was sent
to Con. Grants Adjutant General RAW
linsJ in VicksburR, with request TO
send II on to Washington along with my
letter, which is of record, dated Camp on
Big Black, Aug. 6, 1863. Col. X. N.
Scott, who has charge of tho records Of
the war-union and Gonfcderate-writos
mo of recent date that his private papers
had been returned to Mr.. Davis by Secre-
tary of War McCrary. All | wish hero TO
remark is that sent 1t ns IL came into
my possession, oEcept that l withdrew
and sent TO the authors three several let
ters written to Davis, at Montgomery,
by officers of undoubted loyalty, which
feared might compromise them II thoy
fell into unfriendly hands, because at
that day the name OF MIR. Davis was
anonymous with treason.
Again in 1864, when we were in possess
lion of Atlanta, Ca, l saw familiarly a
great number Of gentlemen of that state,
with whom l copversed freely. They
spoke openly and unreservedly of the
tyranny OF the confederate authorities In
Richmond, and Of Nr. Davis particularly.
He was tho head OF the government, the
commander-in-chiof of its armies. His
character was an clement In the problem
Of the war for putting down the rebellion,
In which at the time was an important
factor. Tho cost Of tho war was then o
matter of intense interest to Mr.. Lincoln,
Mr.. Stanton, Mr.. Chase, and other lead
ers In Washington. On the 10Th Of Sep
teniber, 1864, telegraphed TO Con. Hal
leck, in Washington; "Gov. Brown has
disbanded his militia TO gather the corn
and sorghum of the state. i havo reason
10 believe he and Stephens want to visit
inc, and havo sent them hearty invi-
tation." Two days later | received from
President Lincoln this dispatch: II feel
great interest In the subjects of your dis
patch mentioning corn and sorghum and
tho contemplated visit to you" On the
same day i answered him direct by
telegram: ~ will koop tho department
fully advised of oil Developments con-
nected with the subjects in which you
feel interested. Mr.. Wright, former
member Of Congress from Rome, Ga,
and Mr.. King of Marietta, are now going
between Gov. Brown and myself
have said to them that some of the poo
pie Of Georgia are engaged In rebellion,
begun In error and perpetuetod in pride
but that Georgia can now save herself
from the devastations Of war preparing
for her only by withdrawing hor quota
out Of tho confederate army and aiding
me to expel Hood from the borders of the
state; In which event, instead Of deyast.
ating the land as We progress, will keep
our men 90 the high roads and commons
and pay for the corn and meat we need
and take. I am fully conscious Of the
delicate nature of such assertions, but II
would be magnificent stroke of policy
II we could, without surrendering prin,
ciple or foot of ground, arouse the
latent enmity of Georgia against Davis
al ~
Gen. Halleck among other things: "Jen
Davis is at Macon" Again, on the Goth
telegraphed to Gen. Grant at City Point
Hood is now on the West Point road
twenty-four miles south of this, and
draws his supplies by that road. JEFF
ferson Davis ia there to-day, and super
human efforts will be made to break my
road" Promptly came MIR. Lincoln't
answer: "You say JEFF Davis is on visit
to Gen. Hood. | judge that Brown and
Stephens arc the objects of his visit" Ny
answer to him OF the 2sth follows: 20
have positive knowledge that Mr.. Davii
made speech ut Macon on the 22d, which
mailed to Gen. Halleck yesterday. Il
was bitter against Gen. Joe Johnston ant
Gov. Brown. The militia arc on fur
Tough. Brown Ia at Milledgeville tryinI
to get u legislature to meet next month
Dul nG 10 W oSb uhlNu3 III
with other governors. Judge Wright hai
been here, and Messrs. Hill and Nelson
former members of congress, are here
now. VIII go to meet Wright at Rome
and then go back to Madison and Mil
ledgeville."
would not quote these dispatches OK
cept they have again and again beer
published in the Report of the Commit
tee on the Conduct of the War" and il
my own memoirs Of ten years ago snC
never disputed as to these facts.
/ certainly shall not reveal how ker
trace of Mr.. Davis in September, 1864
and obtained reports Of his speeches o
Columbia, Macon, and Palmetto Station
These ought oil to be, and doubtless are
10 tho public archives at Washington.
Mr.. Lincoln, with his wonderful 90
gacity, saw that JEFF Davis's visit t.
Georgia in September, 1864, was rathe
ON account of Stephens and Brown thai
Hood. He was statesman; l mer
soldier, who watched the desperate NOV
for its military chances, and / was abso
lutely convinced that Davis then sus
pocted the fidelity OF Stephens and Brow
to him as tho head and front of tn
Richmond Confederacy," for it ha,
ceased to be confederacy of "Soveroigl
States"
Tho secession" OF 1861 had becom
Separate state action" in 1864, and Davi
was opposed to it as ho well might be
See his letter to the Georgia senators
page 20l, American Annual CyclopRdip
1864. Had Georgia withdrawn in 1856
the eonfedoracy would have collapsed a
bubble, and Georgia, South Carolint
and North Carolina would have escape
tho devastation which necessarily fol
lowed. When in Atlanta l had posses
sion Of vast amount of captured letter
and newspapers which enabled me
trace the current of public opinion in tn
south which was as much an element {
force rs that Of muskets.
have now before me m original lei
ter from Alexander IL. Stephens, vic
president Of tho southern Gonfederacy, I
HsTschell V. Johnson, Of almost equf
fnme, dated CrawfordsVille, Ga, April
1874 too lonp-sixtoen papes-to