The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-01-16
THE LOST CAUSE.
AND THE STORY OF IT'S CHIEF
TAIN. 81,
The Whole Life of an American Illus
trated by the Autobiography of Jefer-
son Davis

son Davis.
4 From Beyords Magozrne.
| Virginia, which had led in the effort
by peace convention to avert IA
tional ruin, when she saw the Copsti-
tuition disregarded and the purpose to
compel free States by military force
to submit tn arbisrarys power, passed
ansordinanceso sofs ssecessant and joined
the Confederate Safes
Shortly after this, as authorized by
the Provisional Congress, 1 removed
the Confederate capital from Mont
gomery to Richmond.
| Among the many indications of
good will shown whea On my wa Y TO
and-after my arrival at Richmond
was the purchase of very fine resi-
dence in Richmond by leading citi-
zens. 1t was offered as present; but
following rule that had governed
my action in all such cases, declined
to accept it. l continued to live in
Richmond until the Confederate
forces were compelled to withdraw
from the defences of the capital.
That event was not quite unexpect-
ed, but it occurred before the condis
tions were fulfilled undefwhicha Get
Lee was forced to surrender, and Gen.
johnson consented to do so, | started,
with 7ery few of the men who vol
unteered to accompany me, for the
trans Mississippi; but, hearing on the
road that marauders were pursuing my
family, whom | had not, seen since
they left Richmond, but knew to be
en- route to the Florida coast, l chang
ed my direction, and after long and
hard ride found Them -encamped and
threatened bv robbing party. To
give them the needed protection, l
travelled with them for several days,
until in the neighborhood of Irwin
vile, Ga, when l supposed l could
safely leave them. But hearing at
/ nightfall that party of marauders
| were to attack the camp that night,
and supposing them to be pillaging
deserters from both armies, and that
the Confederates would listen to me, /
awaited their coming, lay down in my
| travelling clothes and fell asleep. Late
in the night my colored coachman
4 aroused me with the intelligence that
the camp was attacked, and I stepped
out of the tent where my wife and
children were sleeping, and saw at
once that the assailants were troops
| deploying around the encampment. 1
so informed my wife, who urged me
to escape. After some hesitation l
! consented, and a servant woman start
ed with me, carrying bucket@as if
going to the sp1ing for water One of
the surrounding troops ordered me to
halt, and demanded my surrender.
advanced toward the trooper, throw
off shawl which my vile had put
over my shoulders. The trooper aim
ed his carbine, when my wife, who
witnessed the act, rushed forward and
threw her arms around me, thus de-
feating my intention, which was, if
the trooper missed his aim, to try to
unhorse him and escape with his
horse. Then, with every species of
petty pillage and offensive exhibition,
| was taken from point to point until
incarcerated in Fortress Monroe.
There I was imprisoned for two years
being allowed the privilege ofthe writ
of habeas corpus
At length, " hen the wit was to be
issued, the condition was imposed by
the Federal lExecutive that there
should be bondsmen influential in the
Republican" party of the North, Mr..
Greely being specially named. En-
tirely as matter 5f justice and legal
right, not from motives of personal re-
gard, Mr.. Greely, Mr.. Gerrit Smith,
and other eminent Northernr citisens.
went on my bond.
In May, 1867, after being released
from Fortress Monroe, l went to Can
ada, where my older children were,
with their grandmother; my wife. as
soon as permitted, having shared my
Imprisonment, brought our infant
daughter with her. From time tu
time obeyed summonses, to 60 before
the Federal Court ofiRichnohdI Idstil
finally fheD case was heard by Ofiki
Justice Chase and District Judge I'm.
derwood, who were. divided in opinion
which rent the case n1she .gu nfsasi
Court of the United States, and the
proceedings were quashed, leaving me
without the opportunity to vindicate
myself before the highest Federal
"A zfter f. abo... !. ,sar's lesIss.1 I
Canada l went to England, with my
family under an arrangement that
was to have sixty days notice when.
ever the United States court reqnfS
ed nS presence Aftef7 Being abroad
in England and or, the, Continent
about u year, received. an offer q
appointment as president of q life in,
sursnce company. Thereupon I re,
turned to this country, and went t
Memphis and took charge of the com
panI. Subsequently 4 came to th,
Gulf coast of Mississippi, as a, quie
place where I could prepare my .worl
on The Rise and Fail Of the Confed
crate Government" A friend from
|. her infancy Mrs.s lprRy,eshare1 he1
home WITH sme. santf snbse4u entity sole
to me her property at Beauvor, n
estate Of ave Of sIx hhhdfdd b acFea
about midway between Mobile anG
New 0sleaus.s BeforeaI hndofulH bait
for this estate Mrs. Dorsey died, leav
ing rms sher;sble olegatee. q FfBm I'll,
spring of 1879 to che autumn of f1679
~ 4xrs& 49, IL xfff -