Little Falls transcript., 1886-01-29
Jeff Davis Would Not Pray.
Baltimore Letter.

! Vu1Ae tllo TWO armies unQoF IoQ6r
al Grant and General Lee were con.
fronting each other below Petersburg,
President Jefferson Davis became so
exhausted by overwork that he deter.
mined to rest for g. few days. His
steward was worthy German nam.
ed Egggling, who before the war con-
| Quoted a f1ourishing nursery business
| near Richmond. The President noti-
fed Egggling of his purpose to take a
rest, and directed that all visitors be
excluded until further orders. Mr..
Eggling and his assistants carried out
their instructions, and Mr.. Davis Sc"
renely enjoyed his rest.
One night at about 10 o'clock there
was q strong pull at the front
doorbell. Mr.. Eggling answered
the call, and on opening the
door found standing outside
venerable gentleman who gave his
name and said he wished to see
the President on business of great i'm
portance. Mr.. Eggling Informed him
that the President had retired, and
could not possibly be seen until next
morning.
"But, my dear sir" said the caller,
who gave his name as Mr.. A., lit will
be too late then. I wish to try to
save the lives of two German desert
ers from the other side who are con-
demned to be shot at sunrise as
SPIES"
The mention of the nativity of the
doomed men touched a sympathetic
chord in Mr.. Eggling's heart, and he in
vited Mr.. A. to a seat in the hail After
hearing the main particulars ofthe ar
rest and sentence OF the supposed spies,
Mr.. Eggling became interested in their
deliverance. He accordingly left Mr. A.
in the hall, and went upstairs to Mr..
Davis chamber. He opened the door
noise}essly and moved on tiptoe across
the carpeted floor toward the bed,
fearing that Mr.. Davis would be asleep.
The gas was burning dimly. Mr.. Da-
Wis happened to be awake, and asked
his chamberlain what he wanted.
"Mr. PRESIDENT" said Eggling, II
have been in your service q long time,
and have never, ,as you know, solicited
any special favors from you"
Mr.. Davis admitted that.
II have one to ask now," resumed
Egggling, "and l hope you will not re-
fuse it," He then requested that Mr..
A., who was waiting in the hall down
stairs, be allowed to come up to the
chamber to see him on urgent busi-
ness, involving the lives of two inno-
cent soldiers.
The president consented, and in e
short time Mr.. A., accompanied by Egg
ling, presented himself before the presi-
dent, who remained in bed. After
short preliminary conversation Mr.,
A. made known the object of his visit,
which was to secure q reprieve for the
two men until the charge against
them could be further investigated.
President Davis asked various ques-
tions, and, when informed that the
sentence OF the drumhead court mar
tial had been approved by General
Lee, declared that he could not and
would not interfere. Mr.. A. became
importunate, and Mr.. Davis so far re-
Tented as to agree to think over the
matter for an hour, at the end OF
which Mr.. A. would receive his final
decision. Mr.. A. then withdrew, and
at the appointed time returned to the
chamber with Eggling. The President
courteously informed his guest that
he had considered the matter fully,
and could not change his decision.
"Tho men must die, if General Lee
has approved the sentence" said the
President.
f. ais that your irrevocable conclu-
sion" Mr.. A. TREMENDOUSLY asked.
'1t is; ! cannot reverse it," Mr..
Davis replied.
/ t'Then," said Mr.. A., twill you rise
from your bed and unite with me in
prayer to Almighty God for the souls
of the poor unfortunates who are to
be shot to death in the morning?"
| President Davis agreed to do this,
and in 9 minute the three persons in
the room were kneeling, and Mr.. A
was fervently praying for the saliva
tion of the doomed Germans. When
Amen was said Mr.. Davis was about
to rise, but he was prevented by Mr..
A., who said:
Now, Mr.. President, want you to
pray. . +. s ...
Mr.. Davis, however, insisted on ris-
| ing, and after doing SO, said: MIR.
Eggling, bring me some paper and pen
and ink" They were speedily pro-
| duced, and in a few moments the de-
sired reprieve was handed to Mr.. A.,
who, after profusely thanking the
President, hastened back to the Con-
tederate camp, arriving just IN time