The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-06-08
RHthsof the Confederacy.
washington Letter in N. Y. world.]

& NOuncc what you are pleased TO call the
& funeral oration Of the Confederacy.
was there with him twenty-five years
ago and heard him make speech
ss much more cheerful. 1t was his inau-
gural as ,Presidcnt-the baptismal SER
vice you might call it-of the Confed-
eracy. l was one of the mashal's aids
/ on that occasion, and represented South
3 Car Olina.''
SIS The speaker, chatting with group OF
& his friends in the parlor Of the National
Hotel, was Col. Henry D. Capers, of
i Georgia. He has been here for several
months r:Rf>his erect figure and gallant
bearing are much rcmSsSked. He was
private secretary Of the first Confederate
secretary of the treasury, and his Ma
Sminiscences Of the babyhood ef the
Ashert-lived government are an interesting
volume. The bitterest Northener cam
snot begrudge the pathbs in the spectacle
sfof Jefferson Davis, solitary old man,
Z grey and feeble, standing up to speak in
the memorial service Of the rebellion,
upon the steps of the very Capitol
where he first stood forth its chief, in
1.-THE prime of his manly strength and the
]. first flush of its hopes, on the 18th Feb
ruary, 1861. How many he must miss
sof the high hearted, hot-blooded South
egn chivalry who stood proudly around
him that day
The 18th Of February, 1861, was a
beautiful Southern day, says Col. Ca
4pers. The sun beamed down on the
natal occasion like a happy father, and
soft southwest wind was lifting the
leaves Of the magnolia that twined with
the laurel in many large festoon about
the Corinthian columns Of the capitol.
An immense concoursc Of the people
sgathered to the Inauguration, but SC
ssolemn were the ceremonies and so ear
nest We're the people, that Col. Capers,
sitting on horseback in the outskirts Of
the throng, heard distinctly every word
3spf the eloquent opening prayer Of DR..
! Manly. The venerable divine and Vice.
President-clcct Stephens rode in the
4 carriage with Mr.. Davis, and Howell
Cobb, president Of the convention, ad-
Sminstercd the oath Of office. Mr.. Davis
spoke his inaugural quietly, but distinct
yyly, and upon taking the oath raised his
aeyes toward heaven and rcpeuted the
ssconclnding words, $50 help me God.' in
! q tone 80 strong and clear that they
could be heard by every one present.
There was reception that night and 3
brilliant ball. c. G.. Memminger, of
South Carolina, was appointed secretary
5Sof treasury, and on the .2Oth Col. Capers
whom he selected as his private secre-
1stary opened their office in the CONNER
cial building: The Accommodations were
limited, but convenient. There was u
banking office on the ground floor. The
State, treasury, war, navy and law de-
partments of the new Government set
tied down in the twelve rooms on the
second story. none Of them very large.
Young Capers took possession of their
Office, swept out the cobwebs and dust
himself, got in few articles of furni-
tune, tackled card on the door, hired
IAN Office boy and waited two whole
days before anybody came to do bust
ness.
Then came tall, soldierly looking
man with an eager step and the un,nis-
taxable air Of business. He wanted to
see the secretary at once upon an impor-
tant matter. He handed the young pri-
yate secretary an official note and hur-
riedly said
Sss II am Capt. Deas, sir, late Of the
United States army. | have been in
strnctcd by President Davis, whose note
s. hand you, to provide rations and
\ blankets for one hundred men who have
8 reported to him for duty in the army. Il
& want the money, sir, to carry out the or
der Of the President"
s Col. Cnpers assured the Captain that
he was both willing and anxious, the
3 men should be filled and covered, but
he added, shaking out purse that con.
tanned something less than Ave dol.
! lars:
,"I have been on considerable Of q
4 frolic for the last two weeks in Mont.
\, gomery, and my finances are at this mo.
I H,ent pretty low. This is all the money
Lam able to vouch for as being in the
Y treas ury department Of the Confederat,