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

General Lees message. Both the Davis
responded that he had bottle Of brandy
TO add to my commissary stores, which he
brought. fearing | might need II. and It
was passed along by the soldiers. from
| hand TO hand, until il reached me. /
had reason afterward to be thankful for
his consideration. After that / remember
| another long period of waiting, as the
| train was held for President Davis and
the members of his Cabinet. and as soon
| as the party were safely on board, in
darkness and sadness. with fear and de-
| SPAR in our hearts. we rolled slowly out
OF our beloved southern city, many Of
| us leaving it never TO return.
MIR. DAVIS AT THE BURIAL.
. Eary in the morning a most unfortu-
nate accident occurred: the train ran over
| 81 man. killing him instantly. We stopped,
| OF course. and az there were no papers
In his ragged shirt. nor any way to
identify the poor tramp, IL was determined
TO bury him there at the roadside. Some
soldiers detailed for the duty dug a grave
and some OF US got out OF the car and
stood reverently beside 1t. l recolect
President Davis's appearance as he got
slowly down from the train, with a small
gray worsted muller tied over his ears,
and wrapped In long coat for the early
morning air was chilly and damp. think
prayer. l have often since then thought
Of the wanderer lying Peacefully in that
lonely grave.
On reaching Danvllle I'm the morning We
went 10 the hotel. which we each paid so
a day in Confederate money. Fortunately,
/ had money with me. which had pro-
cured (ten for one) at the Quartermaster-
Generals office some time before leaving
Richmond. My stay at the hotel, how
ever. was Of short duration. as we were
notified by the kind and hospitable resi-
dents that every house was open TO us.
and we had but to select our host. We
| gratefully accepted the offer and took
shelter in the delightful residence OF Colo
| mel k. where we stopped for nearly a
fortnight, until after General Lees sur
! render.
KINDNESS AND SYMPATHY.
Just here al incident occurs to me Illus
! trative OF the great kindness and sym
| pathy shown one another by our people.
j was standing on the gallery one morn
Ing. when l noticed approaching me from
! up the street an ambulance-wagon. 1t
| was raining hard and the Virginia mud
| was at its worst, covering not only the
wagon and its wheels. but the driver, too,
was plentifully splashed, as | saw when
he stopped. got out. and came running
! up to me. He knew me by sight and
giving his name. which I recognized as
| that OF the most distinguished quarter
| master in our army, said:
Il nave no time 10 ask your condition,
but l presume you are homeless, and /
| stop TO say that If you will go to Augusta,
Ga, my house and home will be open
| to you as long as you choose to stay.
| Good-by; God bless you!'-and he was
| or. not mentioning that he left our Secre-
tary OF the Treasury in that muddy
wagon or that he knew my brother had
been captured.
EFFECT or THE SURRENDER.
The scenes accompanying the news OF
General Lees surrender were too pathetic
to be described. Among our household
party was Governor Smith extra Billy")
and his son, and, including Colonel ks
family and the refugees. we sat down
eighteen at table. But the food stood
actually untasted In our days of agony,
when strong men wept tears OF despair
and women were helpless to comfort
them.
Our hostess, knowing that the enemy
was approaching nearer daily. and fearing
10 lose her family silver resolved 10 Sc
crete 1t: so one dark night Mrs. k,
Miss L. and i, carefully concealng
the fact from every one. proceeded TO
pack the valuables and let them down
the well. which stood in the garden not
FAR from the housee l have understood
that all the silver saw the light after
ward. with the exception OF those pieces
which l lowered SO carefully that they
have entirely disappeared.
THE RETURN TO RICHMOND.
Our party was now about to be sepa-
rated. and II bchcoved me TO determine
my own destination, SO far as circum- |
stances and the Union army would per-
nit Miss l. implored me to follow |
fortunes "a
net. but ! resolved to return TO Richmond, |
with the Siew Of getting eventually TO |
my family, In Washington: and finally |
induced her TO accompany me- My host, |
finding that We were about 10 leave his |
roof, and now knowing what our financial |
condition might be, produced q small. |
black trunk nlled with silver dollars. and |
generously offered its contents to any or
all Of the party. Fortunately. 1 was sup
piled with funds, and did not. therefore, |
avail myself of the kindness. Another |
officer. Colonel Mel. came TO me with |
tears In his eyes and 81 in his hand-ali
he had-and pressed me to accept half OF
II. Governor Smith. finding that We had
decided to leave. requested the Lieutenant
Governor (who was one OF our house
party. to take charge OF US 10 the near
est outpost of the Union army. so with
many tears we babe our friends adieu,
and from most Of them it was for me a
final parting.
one OF the most vivid impressions I
have OF my departure was the appearance
OF General John c. Breckenridge, our
secretary OF War. who came 10 give me
letters for his wife, who had remained In
He was mounted on a fine
black horse. and as came down the walk
10 the gate. he was 50 wrspt in reflection,
lis head bowed upon his breast. and his
whole figure so ma ieSticaliy sad. that 1
TODD reyerently beside him for some Sc
onds before he perceived my presence.
'he motionless horse ana rider impressed