Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-28

secured. Progress was slow and difficult.
owing to the wrctched condition OF the
roads and the teams.
The route was through Lexington and
Salisbury, aud when not far trOm Char
lotto MIR. Harrison sent courier ahead TO
inform Mrs. Davis of the approach of the
party. At tho outskirts of the town. how
ever, IL was learned tn at Mrs. Davis. with
her sister, children. and servants, bad gone
further south, but TO what point was un-
known. Mrs. Davis had gone to Able
Vile, s. G.. aud the President started Mr..
Harrison in search of her. con niecturlng
that he would find her at that place. Mr..
Harrison SAYS: President Davis told mo
| must rely on my own judgment as 10
what course TO pursue from there; that
for himself he should make his way as
rapidly a. possible to the Transmissssippi
Department to join the army under hiroy
Smith" =,
When Mr.. Harrison arrived IN Abbevllle
Mrs. Davis insisted on starting without
delay for tho seacoast 10 get out OF reach
of capture. but, continues Mr.. Harrison.
"it was finally decided TO make our way to
the neighborhoo1 or Madison, Fla, as
fast "a possible and there to determine
how hes. To get TO sea-" The next halting
place of any length of time of Mrs. Davis's
party was at Washington, Ga, where Mr.
Harrison met Judge Crump, Assistant
Secretary OF the Confederate Treasury,
aud obtained from him a few hundred
dollars in gold for Mrs. Davis and Sll0 in
gold for himself. which was charged to
the Presidents ard his, the Private Secre-
tarys. salary accounts.
I'VE had expected" says Mr.. Har-
rison in his narrative of tho flight, TO
leave Washington with only the party we
arrived with, consisting OF Mrs. Davis,
Miss Howell, the four children, Ellen,
James Jones with the two carriage horses.
tho three Kentuckians hathaway. Mon
roe, and Merrick), and myself. But at
Washington we were acceptably reinforced
by Captain Moody, Of Port Gibson. Miss.
and Major Victor Maurlan, OF Louisiana.
From Washington we went along the road
running due SOUTH
JOINED By THE PRESIDENTS PARTY.
President Davis aud party upon leaving
Charlotte went to Washington, Ga. where
they heard the first positive news OF
Johnston's surrender, and thence started
southwest. but on the second or third day
out learned that q band of narauders
were pursuing the nre sIdenpS family aud
turned eastward 10 search of Mrs. Davis
and her escort. The Two parties came to-
gether in Southern Georgia. Mr.. Harrison
thus describes the meeting:
About the middle OF the night | with
the road running north. After awhile we
heard the soft tread of horses approaching
in the darkness over the light, sandy soil
of the road The teamsterS Immediately
ran of to arouse the camp. having no
doubt the attack was about to begin. L
placed myself in the road TO detaln the
enemy as long as possible, and when the
advancing horsemen came near enough to
hear. called Halt They drew rem IN
stantly. | demanded. Who comes there !
The foremost horseman replied Friends
in q voice / was astonshed to recognize as
that of President DAVIS. not suspectlng
that he was anywhere near Us.
His party then consisted OF Colonel
William Preston Johnston, Colonel John
TAYLOR Wood. Colonel Frank X. Lubbock.
Mr.. Reagan. Colonel Charles II. Thorburn
(the latter, with negro servant, had
joined them at Greensboro, and Robert,
Mr.. Days's own servant"
The two parties renamed together that
night aud the following day and night, and
then the President and his escort, at the
earnest entreaty OF Mrs. Davis, rode on
and stopped at night IN deserted house
near Abbevilie, Ga. From here the Presi-
dent sent back a courier 10 warn Mr.. Har-
rison that the enemy were at Hawkins
vile, twenty-five miles to the north. and
Mr.. Harrison and his charges, taking up
the line of march in the darkness. pushed
on south through terrible rain-storm.
passing the President at Abbeylile. In the
midst of the storm tho President over
took them. and in the afternoon the re-
united parties weat into camp near lrwlns-
vile. IRWIN county, Ga. The next morn