The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-03-19
The many difficulties which sur
Mr.. Davis in his new position


rounded Mr.. Davis in his new position
as President of the Confederacy are
clearly outlined, together with his in
defatigable industry and patience.
The North, meantime, was not idle.
Vol. H., PIP. 68-72:
"On April 10, 1861, President Lin
coin proclaimed blockade, not as
the effort to embarrass and destroy the
commerce of a separate nation, but to
subdue insurrection. -
"The North had all the raanufac,ur-
ing establishments necessary to pro-
duce all the material or war. She had
an uninterrupted commerce with the
outside world. Altogether, her man
utacturing resources were about five
hundred'to one compared with those
of the South. She had in addition to
this the inestimable advantage of hav-
ing all the workshops of the world
open to her."
With the bombardment and surren-
der of Fort Sumter, both North and
South understood that a desperate
struggle had been inaugurated, war
unequaled in the annals of modern
times. Vol. H., p. SO:
"When the news reached the Pres
ident of the Confederacy his first ex-
preston was of thankfulness that no
blood had been shed; he said: 'Sepa-
ration is not of necessity fnal-there
has been no blood spilled more pre-
cious than that of a mule He then
spoke of his old friend Bob Anderson,
of his splendid gallantry, and of his
sorrow at being separated from hin"
Thereafter the lowering war-cloud
settled down darkly over the face
of the land, and the history of
Mr.. Davis's life during the next four
years is that of battles fought, victories
won and defeats sustained, and the
movements of vast armies swaylng to
and fro in bloody struggle. Vol. H.,
p. Ss:
"The two first encounters of the
Northern and Southern troops oc-
CURED about this time. On June II,
1861, at Bethel Church, and on June
18th Colonel Vaughn met the enemy
at the twenty-hrst bridge on the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad, charged upon
his camp, captured and brought of
two pieces of artillery and the enemy's
flag"
In relation to the exchange Of pris-
oners the following is very important.
Vol. H., p. 1S5:
"About the end of January, 1862,
the Confederate Government endeav-
ored to procure the exchange of prisQ-
ners taken by the armies of the bellig-
erents, and an officer was sent by Gen
eral Johnston to General Mcclellan.
The proposition was not entertained
by the Federal Government, and our
efforts to shorten the imprisonment of
the captives in our hands met no en-
couragement from their own friends.
"Thus early in the war the Confed
crate Government displayed its desire
to secure free exchange Of prisoners,
which, had it been carried out in good
faith by the Federals, would have saved
from unavoidable suffering and death,
thousands of both armies.
Here is striking glimpse afforded
us by Mrs. Davis, Vol. H., p. eos:
81 walked from one end to the
other of the hospital, and tried in vain
to find man who desired pecuniary
aid. One fair haired boy, with enact
ated face and armless sleeve, looked
up and whispered, There is a poor
fellow on the other side who I think
will take little, am afraid he has no
money; my father gives me all want
crossed the room and asked the suf-
ferer, who had neither hand, if l could
not get him something he craved. He
flushed and said, Il thank you, madam,
for your visit, but | do better than that
poor fellow over there; he has lost his
leg and suffers dreadfully."
General Johnston's death is thus
mentioned, Vol. H., p. 22o:
General Johnston fell at ago p.
m., while his victorious army was push
ing the enemy before him in the full tide
ofglorious victory. The mortal wound
was from MIME ball, which tore the
political artery of the right leg. He
did not live more then ten or fifteen
after receiving it."
Here is also a characteristic Incl
dent, Vol. H., P. 545:
"The Confederate women looked on
at the struggle with ever-increasing
interest; they offered their jewels, their
plate, and everything of value they
possessed which would be useful to
their country. One of these devoted
patriots said to me, i tried and could
not make up my mind to part with
my wedding-ring, and it was SO thin
from wear; else | think l could have
given it up"
The battle of Gettysburg is describ-
ed at considerable length, and with a
vividness of color and accuracy of de-
tail unequalled in previous histories of
the Civil War. Vol. H., PIP. 3Ss-3o1:
"Ewell's division (at p. m,)
charged up the Cemetery Hill, over
the crest and stone walls, and met the
enemy in hand to hand contest; the
crest gained, they held it until COM
PEELED to retire by the advance of the
enemy in overwhelming force.
ssOn Iulv ard. General Lee. encOur-