Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-31
CWhere President Davis receive

CWhere President Davis received
snonds. but on that lovely spring morn
Ing. April "a. i felt particularly well and
happy. with the feverish lght-heartedness
which we women managed TO keep In
those days: and in dressing for church
] put on my only good gown. really
handsome. rich. black silk, which bad
been recently obtained from the block
lde runners.
MESSAGE HANDED MR.. DAVIS.
usually attended ST. Pauvs church.
which Is near the Capitol, and the rector
ct that time was the well-snown Or.
Nj. That morning my pew in the
gallery at the richt Of the clergyman
was occupied by only one person beside
myself. my friend Miss NJ. but the
church was full. and as usual among the
congregation was President Davis and
ahe members Of his cabinet. The service
Had progressed as far the Lessons
whom l saw in the opposite gallery an
orderly walking up an down behind the
peYs, evidently searching for somebody.
but. being very near-sighted, | did not
ct that distance recognize. or know until
long after. that II was my brothers
orderly and that he was looking for me.
Directly after, as you have no doubt
heard (fOr this incident has been told
b. others. n messenger came up the aisle
for President Davis. | saw him whisper
something in the Presidents ear. and
then Mr.. Davis arose and left the church
quietly. followed by the gentlemen OF
bis cabinet. Curiously enough my most
vivid recollection OF that scene is the
opening and shutting Of the pew-doors.
first gently, then quicker and quicker,
until the rapid. sharp sound produced
such an alarming effect upon the con-
gregation that q partial panic ensued,
which DR.. NJ strove vainly to allay.
shall never forget the impressive man
ner in which he stood imploring the peo-
pie TO be calm and remain where they
were. In the sanctuary. the house OF
God, which would be respected by friend
and foe alike. A crowd has always been
very terrifying thing to me. and /.
therefore. followed his advice, holding
Miss NJ fast. for she was so frightened
that l feared she would DO injured IL
let her go. / was thus almost the last
person 10 leave my seat. which / did
quietly. going down among my friends
after reaching the street
PREPARED FOR MOVING.
There found Major A, OF our stan.
who had come to look for me. bringing
q message from my brother TO go home.
pack all our belongings. cook everything
edible In the house, and be ready To leave
Richmond at any moment. but TO mention
my instructions TO nobody. AS soon as
the Major left me l was surrounded by
q crowd OF people. many OF whom were
utter strangers. begging 10 be told what
had happened. and from whom I was
Obliged TO extricate myself as soon as
possible. giving many smiles but no in
formation. TO avert suspicion l walked
leisurely home. and on reaching the par
Tor sent for the servants and gave my
orders.
They instantly understood my purpose.
and poor Aunt Emily fell upon her knees
and with sobs. tears and cries such as
only an African can utter. they one and
oil implorcd me not to leave them be-
hind. until / fairly fled from the storm
I had raised. taking refuge in my own
room and trying 10 pack some necessary
articles. In a few minutes / was inter-
rupted by my COUSINS coming in TO tell
me that my brother desired me 10 put
on my riding habit and 10 pack our be-
longings separately. which gave me great
Oneasiness as l knew at once that we
mus, be going In different directions.
COULD NOT FINISH PACKING.
j was destined not TO finish packing
thar trunk. for shortly after a second
message came. directing me to 20 down
90 the Quartermaster-GeneraP Office,
where i had occupied desk, as they
were destroying all official papers and
wished me 10 select any important ones
in my charge which they might require.
The Office was situated opposite the
Capitol. and In walking down met scores
OF people with anxious hearts and ex-
cited faces. hurrying to and fro: for by
that hour the news OF a general eyacu-
alton had become known. partly through
its announcement from the pulpit by the
Rev Dr. H. OF the Presbyterian
church
At the office the clerks were tearing
papers and throwing them through the
windows into the square, tin the street
was piled with debris. Among the torn
papers near my desk picked up an au-
tograph letter OF General Lees which 7
put into my pocket. and have 10 this
nay AS one OF my most valued me.
mentos.
At the Office found Miss l.. whose
desk adjoined mine. She was weepinr
bitterly. and asked II she might make
her escape with me. l was most anxious
60 relieve her distress. aud asked her ~
che was equal 10 a horseback Journey.
6he replied that was impossible for her.
ana as did not then know what my
own fortunes were 10 DO I told her that
she must wait untn could hear again
from my brother. when I would DO all
] could for her. To Miss LIS lack of
borsenianship j owe my presence on the
only train containing passengers WHICH
left Richmond. as, finding that we could
take her. che accompanied me.
MAN HAD HER SKIRT ON.
One rather comical incident occurred
wing TO my being obliged TO share my |
ne trunk with her. A second trunk In |
Which packed the gowns i could not
nd room for In the first ives captured
'ith' the rest Of our luggage and taken
, Petersburg. Among those gowns was
ball dress. dear 10 my heart. Of pink
TX. and Dandy JIM" 4 colored boy,
no knew me well and had often seen
e attired In II. actually beheld young