The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07

moro than hope Of American liberty was
gone amid the sorest trials and most dis
heartenlng reverses Of the revolutionary
struggle but that energy, courage and
constancy might yet save all. "Even,"
ne said, "if the troops now with me be
all that can for the present rely on
three thousand brave men are enouph
tor nucleus around which the whole
people will rally when the panic which
now affiicts them has passed away" He
then asked that we should make such
suggestions in regard to the future con-
duct of the war as we deemed adyisa-
BILE.
We looked at each othr in amazement
and with a feeling little akin to trepida-
ton, for we hardly knew how we should
give EXPRESSION to views as diametrical-
~ opposed to those he had uttered az
we entertained. Our respect for Mr..
Davis approached veneration. and
notwithstanding the total dissent we
telt and were obliged to announce to the
programme he had indicated, that res
pect was rather increased than di
mlnishcd by what he had said. We
recognized that high and dauntless
spirit abhorred submission, not from
personal considerations so mu~h as be.
cause Of the patriotic love he bore his
cause and people.
do not remember who spoken first.
but we each expressed the same opin-
ion. We told him frankly that the
events of the last few days had remooed
from our minds all idea or hope that .
prolongation of the contest was DOS
sible.
The people were not panic stricken
but brocken down and worn out after
every effort at resistance had been OK
haasted. We said that an ATTEMPT to
continue the war, after all means Of sup
porting warfare were gone, would be a
cruel injustice to the people Of the
South. We would be compelled TO
live on country already impoverished,
AMI would invite its further devastation
We urged that We would be doing a
great wrong to men, if we persuaded
them to such course. That if they
persisted in conflict so hopeless, they
would be declared and treated as
brigands, and would forfeit all. chance
of returning to their homes.
He asked why then were we still in
the field. We answered that We were
desirous of affording him an opportunity,
Of escaping the degradation Of capture
and perhaps n fate which would he direr
to the people than even to himself. in
still more embittering the exasperated
feeling between the North and South.
We said that we would ask our men to
follow us until his safety was assured
and would risk them in battle for that
purpose, but would not fire another shot
in an effort to continue hostllit:es.
He declared, abruptly, that he would
listsn to no suggestion which regarded
only his own safety. Resnming
his previous tone, he appealed with
an eloquence that was sublime to every
sentiment and "reminiscences that might
be supposed to move Southern soldier.
md urged US to acccp: his views. We
remained silent, for our convictions were
unshaken we felt responsible for the
future welfare Of the men who had so
heroically followed ns, and the painful
point had been reached, when TO speak
again in opposition to all that he urged
would have approached alteration. For
some minutes not word was spoken.
Then Mr.. Davis aro. and Ella :ulated
bitterly that all was indeed lost. Es
had become very pallid, and he walked
so feebly as he proceeded to leave tile
room that General Breckinridge stepped
hastily up and offered his ARR.
| have undertaken to nsrsate very
briefly what occurred in q conference
which lasted for two or three hours.
believe that have accurately given the
substance Of what was said by Mr.. Day-
is in quotation marks, have correctly
reproduced it, or very nearly SO. Gen.
erals DeBrell and Ferguson and Colonel I
Breckinridge are still living. l think
their recollection af this somewhat re-
markable occurrence will agree with
mine. 8
Generals Breckinridge and Bragg took u
no part in the discussion. Both. how q
ever, after Mr.. Davis retired, assured us
of their hearty approval Of the position
we had taken. They had foreborne 10
because not Immediately
the troops, and not sun.