St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-08
Wartime "reminiscences Of
the President OF the South
ern Confederacy.
How He Appeared on the Field
AFTER the First Battle Of
aye Bull Run.
Mr.. Davis as He Appeared at
q. His Home at Rich
mond, Va.
Generals Of the Southern
Army More Popular Than
Their President.

My ilfSt sight OF Jefferson Davis was
on that memorable 2lst day of July,
1861, when the two armies. comprising
the flower of the American continent,
received their baptism Of fire on the
bloOd-drenched plains of Manassas.
Those who were there will remember it
as the hottest day In the annals of time.
The midsummer sun poured down its
intensest heat upon the treeleSs plain,
the sulphur-laden air and the belching
fires from the roaring guns added to the
intensity of the heat. dense clouds of
sand and dust rose from beneath the
feet of the charging legionS, so that al
together it was about as sweltering
weather as one can imagine, and upon
those who were unused to such scenes
of death and horror and scorching heat
the day left its lasting Impression. 1t
was perhaps toward the middle Of the
afternoon, when there was a lull III the
fight on the left wing of the Southern
forces, ana the brigade to which l was
attached enjoyed its first opportunity to
stretch itself out for momcntary rest,
the men lying full length on the ground
under
THE ORDERS OF ''SToNEWALI1"
who always insisted that when q man
rested himself lying down he rested all
over, and consequently made it rule
to have his command lie down, whether
on the march or in battle. when there
was pause for rest. 1t was during this
brief respite from the battle small
cavalcade was seen galiOping across the
field In the rear of our line, and coming
up within short distance of where we
lay halted, and the officers composing
the group seemed to be in consultation
for a few moments. and then began to
take observations with their field glasses.
Presently the word passed along the
line that the tall, slender man in the
middle of the group, wearing civilians
clothes was President Davis, who had
left Richmond on the early morning
train, and had arrived on the field in
time to witness the first triumph of
arms achieved by the troops of the Con-
federacy. What struck me as pecu-
Iiarly singular, his presence excited but
! little enthusiasm among the men. Per-
hapS they were too tired and too much
overcome by the heat to be demonstrate
i've, For the first few minutes there
was only a
49,, CURIOUS CRANING OF NECKS
and Straining of eyes to get a glimpse of
the chieftain of what then promised to
be the winning cause. Presently griz-
fZfed private arose from the ground,
stuck his faded gray cap on the end of
his bayonet, and holding it aloft shouted
with voice as stentOrian as it was pos
sible, to come from dust-choked throat:
'sBally for jeff That was a signal for
the w0rld-renowned rebel yell which
went up from the PROSTATE line, but lack
ing In that cordially and earneStness of
tone which l afterwards heard when
''Stonewall," or "0ld Massa Robert"
would pass along the line. Mr.. Davis
raised his hatjn recognition of the COM
pliment, and few minutes afterwards
was gall0ping back across the field in
the direction from whence he came. l
was impressed at the time with the easy
style of his horsemanship. and with the
courtly bearing of the man. He wore a
civilians dress of dark gray material.
anu LICflldulC HdO, WIlCh iiO
other man than S0utherner ever did
or ever will know how to wear.
MY SECOND GLIMPSE
of the noted Confederate chieftain was
under more favorable circumstances,
and in a measure removed some of the
prejudices 1 had previously conceived
against the man. Mr.. Davis was known
to be man of imperiOus will, self-esti-
mated, and thought to be dietatorial
and overbearing IN his treatment of
some of the more distinguished South
ern generals. On this account there
was strong feeling against him gem
Grated among the soldiers, who idolized
Lee, Jackson and the two Johnstons.
1t was a common talk around the camp
fires that the president sitting back in
his bomb-proof quarters at Richmond
had no right to interfere with the move
ments of the field commanders, who eX-