The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-12-11
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES BY
AN INTIMATE FRIEND.

INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES BI
AN INTIMATE FRIEND.
some Intervening Details OF !i;S ii0m
I.iEc--Vhc ;cawty af Dcar-oir--A Nos
Remarkable Man.
Atlanta Constitution.
Ga the way to the Southern Forestr,
Congress in February, 1887, I found
had days leisure, and 1t occurred tt
me 70 accept an often repeated Invitation
to visit alr. Davis at Beauvoir, Miss, :
railroad station about nall way between
Mobile ard New Orleans. Il chancec
t!iat had been o. tic committee which
escorted him to montgomery in 1861:
and 90: relations became somewhat lntl
mate during lGe war, continuing with
out Interruption to tits tine.
In the afternoon the train left HE al
the lizzie deIot, which is also tic ioca
postnffce-the .ex-presiden5 being the
chief patron. A yolng Englishman II
the service of Mr.. Davis politely guided
me over the devious country road to tEt
family residence, half mile distant.
TIE BUILDINGS 1T BEAUToIR
form quite group, having been built Il;
considerable cost for z luxurious South
crn home. Situated on high bluff OF
white saad, about a hundred yards from
the Mexican gu!f, blown over By the
salt sea breeze, it must be healthy
place. The soil seems incapable of pre-
ducing anything bat the superb live
oaks. magnolias and pines, which shade
the g-ounds of about fifty acres. al
the buildings are OF wood-one-story, and
slate covered-the principal one is quite
containing probably ten
rooms, with lofty ceilings anc ali hand
somely frescoed A very wide hall runs
shrosgh the center and broad va.arda
the whole. On either side,
some fifty yards distant, are cottages OF
similar design, IL che of which is Ar.
Davis's Office and reference library, bis
daughters studio Csiiss Davis is fine
artist and sleeping room. The other
cottage is an Overflow" guest chamber
. cluster of outhouses huddle
IN the rear All the houses are painted
white and show pleasantly under the
evergreen foliage.
Soon after sending in my card
THE VENERABLE Ex-PREsDENT
greeted mc with hearty cordiality, and it
was gratifying TO notice that this re-
;narkable .naa still retained the diuni-
fed bearing, high courtesy and geutle
manner Of the ''old south" That this
man, pow about eight, CONSPICUOUS il
the Black Hawk, Seminole and Mexican
wars, secretary Of war under Pierce,
Uoitcd States senator from Mississippi
for TWO terms, president OF the corfeder-
ate States during the greatest conflict Of
modern time, state prisoner IN d damp
case mate Of For!css Monroe for two
years, could, during al! the stress which
must have pressed upon him, still retain
his erect carriage, wonderful memory
aud accurate knowledge of current
events is beyond my comprehension.
Drawing some restfu! chairs to the
parlor windows, through which came the
soft gulf breeze, had the happiness of
: free conversation with, think, the
greatest man ever knew. Many tender
Of personal interest were re-
called and many historic points discus
:ed. With the exception of John c.
Calhoun, Mr. Davis is
THE MOST INTERESTING TALKER
ever met. I suppose be is the only man
living who knows, and remembers &C.
curately the inner history of the coz
fcderacy. In speaking of the Blackhawk,
Seminole ard Mexican wars, he related
many interesting incidents, and men
toned the singular fact that all the
commands in the Mexican war were from
The south, as Scott Of Virginia, Taylor Of
Louisiana, Worth of North Carolina,
Briggs OF Georgia, Pillow of Tennessee,
Quitman OF Mississippi, besides Bragg,
Davis, Butler and others who held SUBJ
ordinate positions. Quitman. however,
vas born in the north.
asked him who he thought was the
greatest confederate commander. After
some thought be said General Lee. Ex-
planning that Albert Sidney johnson was
undoubtedly the equal of Lee, but hav-
ng fallen early in the war. he had no
opportunity to demonstrate his great
After these two he men
:ioDed Stonews!l Jackson, J. E. John
'!on, Gordon, Lopgstreet, Stewart, the
Lees, the Hills and many Others. I
asked him whom he considered the grea-
;est union general. He answered un-
1esitGtlngly-McClellau. Said be was
IL intense union man aad he respected
aim as such, but that he fell under un-
Just suspicion at Washiugton-for poll
:icsl reasons--and confusion ensued.
When secretary of war, Mr. Davis had
sent Mcclellan to survey the bag Of
SamGna, in St. Domingo, with the hope
ii securing harbor and coaIing station
n the West Indies for the United States
navy. His map and report are now on
lie in Washington. The work was so
we'll dore that be detailed him to visit
ST. Petersburg to report upon the mill
:ary establishments OF Russia. In twelve
months be submitted exhaustive reports
Ind also translated q technical work,
which is now il the war oaicc at Wash
ngtor.
EE STOKE KINDLY
Ind apprcciatively of many northern
generals, saying General Grant was 8
good man and great general, who
came 10 tie front when the coufederacy
vas exhausted, ne also spoke in the mos:
kindly way Of President Lincoln, who, ii
1is !i!e ha't bccn spared, would have
oeen of great service to the south and the
whole country.
Mr. Davis Inquired if was in Rich.
nond during the Seven days battle2
Yes was member OF the Southern
BaptiGs convention, and remembered
nearing the guns, and while we expected
he icucral army any day, there was no
bitterness manifested, but special prayers
we're offered for the enemy and for the
protection of the homes and people Of
;hc south.
asked Mr, Davis if be remembered
r