The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-03-28
DIssoLyMa VIEWS.
DIR. ID. Mcneil Turner Contributes
Letter Full OF Historical Facts.

On the day before the departure OF Mr.. Da-
Wis with some OF the members OF his cabinet,
his private Secretary, the escort Of cavalry,
from Abbevile C. H., a called meeting OF the
Cabinet was held in the Library room at the
residence OF the late Col. Thos. G. Perrin, who
was present by invitation. 1t was then and
there determined, that the attempt to reach
the Trans-M Mississippi Department. under the
command of Gen. Smith should be abandon
ed (; that the President with his escort should
pass over into Georgia; that the specie should
should then separate. After these conclusions
had been reached, Mr. Benjamin, Secretary oi
State asked, what shall be done with the
Perrin said: "Allow me to suggest, Mr.. Benja
min. that while crossing the Savannah, you
throw the Seal into the river AS no objec.
tion was made to this suggestion, and as no
London, to his intimate friend, the author Of
1.-THE Republic OF Republics" with whom ]
became acquainted In Louisiana and from
whom learned good deal about MIR; BenJa'
min. presume that the Seal has ere this been
deposited beneath the waters Of the Atlantic
After this nothing remained for official &C
ton on the part Of the Cabinet. The Confed-
eracy was defunct ! received my informa.
ton with regard to these matters day or two
afterwards from Col. Perrin. AS Mr.. Davis
was the guest of the Hon. Armistead Burt
with whom he had been intimately associated
for several years in Congress, all the arrange
by Mr.. Davis and his companions on the fol-
lowing morning at Mr.. Burts residence,
A year or two afterwards, Mrs; Burt told me
found his Book of Common Prayer lying
open on the table of the room which he had
occupied; and as had by request visited her
several times during extreme illness. she
kindly presented TO me the Presidents book.
satin as memento. The open book showed
that Mr.. Davis in the midst OF his trials had
sought consolation In prayer;
trusted the Confederate Records to Mrs.
Leovy, wife Of Col; LeoYy, the @ former ,o law
and t'da daughter II M of Judge Munro, who had been
for thirty years U. S. District Judge at Frank.
ford, KY, with instructions to burn them, u
| necessary, to prevent their capture by Federal
soldiers. Mrs. Leovy told me that she had
caused tho contents OF twenty boxes to be
burned, but that she he'd retained the trunk
which hold tho private papers OF President
Davis.
Not long after, q man claiming to have heer
| the private Secretary of Mr.. Davis. called on
Mrs. Leovy and requested her deliver up To
| him the private papers Of the President. She
declined compliance with that request. and
then sent for me to advise with her. l said tc
| her: GAS Col. Harrison entrusted those pa
pers to you, with instructions not to deliver
them to any one except upon order from him.
self, you are under no obligation to surrender
them to that fellow. | suspect that he aims
TO turn penny on them" In response tc
the note which you have Just received from
him, in which he asks you to give him G
| written acknowledgement that Mr.. Davis pa
pers are In your keeping, allow me to suggest
| that you send only these words: my hus
! band Is in New Orleans, must consult with
him." The fellow went off In high dudgeon
but he sent his brother 10 Abbeville under
pretence Of buying cotton, but more probably
as spy upon Mrs, LeoVy's movements
| When she was about to leave for New Or
| leans, she sent for me again, fearing that the
spy might send to Columbia for a squad OF
soldiers to intercept her on her way to Wash
ington, Ga, and lake possession OF the trunk
! of papers. remarked that ! considered hel
| fears groundless: yet suggested that she
should put Mr.. Davis papers In q large ole
| trunk, cover them with clothing; Ill tht
| emptied trunk with heavy articles and make
1t as secure as originally. I learned month";
afterwards that Mr.. Davis had received hi
trunk Of papers.
! A few years ago saw In one OF the New
| York papers something about the Great Seal
which amused me- An officer Of the Fedora
| army exhibited TO some one else the veritabl,
Seal of the Confederate States, who on being
| asked how 1t had come into his possession
answered: 81 gave fifty dollars for It to q sol
dier who pick ed 1t up after the flight Of Mr.
| Davis and his Cabinet, near the steps OF tn,
Capitol in Richmond" I have long beer
| aware that there are numerous descendants o
Baron Munchansen In certain parts of tn,
country. ID. McNElLL TURNER.
Chester, s. C..
|