The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-18
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Personal Appearance of the Old Man-How
He Ranked the Confederate Generals.

He Ranked the Confederate Generals.
Beauvoir (Nliss.) Letter.
The train waited few minutes, when out of
a grove and around corner, came vehicle,
driven by Its single occupant. An old phaeton,
and old horse, and very old man made up the
outfit The old man sat bolt upright in his
seat, holding his arms stif1y at right angles, a
rein dangling from each hand. The general eff
upon the seat and the reins hung to
its inanimate hands. But this effect was sud
denly lost when the vehicle stopped in front of
the station steps. A black boy ran to the
horses head and the old gentleman stepped
from his place with a greater show of alacrity
than moment before, would have seemed pos
sible The thin figure Strengthened to its full
nelght, of more than six feet, faced about and
walked with firm military step toward the
train. The conductor shouted, ''All aboard" a
whisper ran through the train: "Thats JEFF
Davis" the bell rang, and we were off
1t was indeed no other than JEFF Davis,
bound for his first trip to the exposition. My
fortune was to be in company with gentleman
whe knew him intimately, having served as
colonel in the confederate army. He went for
ward at once to meet Mr.. Davis, escorted him to
the seat opposite our own, and. after the brief
ceremony of introduction requested him to sit
entered at into conversation.
While they talked l had time to
notice Mr.. Davis's face and manner The form
er, shaded by large SLOUGH hat, showed itself
beard was not whittier than the countenance it
barely covered, and the forehead was marked
with deep drawn burrows. The lips were tightly
drawn, but easily relaxed into very pleasant
smile, or for the utterance of question or reply
His hands were clasped in front of him upon his
cane. and | noticed that the fingers twitched
involuntarily as he spoke. The conversation
seemed of so much mutual interest, and was
withal. SO pleasant to hear, that we had gone
some distance before I ventureG to break in
upon him. finally asked him for his health.
Il am not we'll" he said, ''by any means. IL
fact, have just arisen from bed. This cold
damp winter has given me sciatica and have
suffered great deal"
us the trouble permanently
quite to the contrary. Ordinarily / am
without being robust, in very good health but
North and South and it has told on me-"
My friend here broke in to inquire of mutual
friend, an officer in Maryland regiment. The
officer was long since dead, as were many of the
rest whose lives formed topics for the converse
ton. Mr.. Davis spoke warmly in praise of the
| courage of this one or the gallantry of that,
warming into enthusiasm at the recollection of
days of the war. His memory seemed unim
paired as to names, persons and dates, and my
friend who is much younger man, had often
to refer to the elders store of "reminiscences to
brighten up his own reeollectlons of Things that
occurred within his personal observation, but of
which Mr.. Davis had only heard or read.
Whom" my friend at length asked him,
whom do you consider to have been the great
est general in the Confederacy2"
Without q moments hesitation he replied,
"Albert Sidney Johnston was the greatest man
in civil or military prowesS that supported the
Southern cause"
Greater than Lee or Jackson9"
He simply waved his hand and replied, 81
have said he was the greatest of them ALL
"And who, OF all the men you have met, i'm
pressed you as the greatest statesman
John c. Calhoun, beyond doubt or perad-
venture. had the greatest mind that have come
into contact with"
/ tried to lead him around to the Sherman con-
troversy, but he fought shy of the subject
II have no doubts or scruples on the subject
he said, except as to the means by which /
shall put my answer before the country. The
people-my friends at least-know my senti-
ments and know what will say when the time
comes. But it is likely that 1 shall seek some
sort of official publication. as upon the floor Of
Congress, instead of through the medium of any
newspaper channel. Until such time enough
has been said"
The train drew into the city, and Mr. Davis.
sitting at the window, was drawn to notice the
manifold activity within his view. There were
numbers of people along the road at every
station, and at the foot of Canal street, espe-
cally large crowd; but though the late chief
tain sat in plain view, / noticed that no one
seemedto recognize him or to make the slightest
demonstration OF his account The same was
true when he finally stepped from the platform,
and after a courteous farewell to US and an in
vitation to visit Beauvoir took carriage and
rode away.
Have the people Of the South forgotten this
man? Is his face unknown to his very neigh
bors9 Is twenty years the measure of all fame
or notoriety ! asked myself these questions as
the carriage sped up Canal street and dsap-
peared from view.
He was bound for the home of Mr. Payne,
who has been Mr. Davs's broker and city agent
for forty years With him the latter always
lodges on his visits to New Orleans, declining all
offers of hospitality from whatever other source