Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-01-06
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
A Motley Throng Fled on Foot and
on Horseback.
HOPE fingered TO THB LAST.
Dances mud the Theater DeEuiIed the
Hours of GrayeSt PeriI-A Graphic
Picture by Colonel smith


interest in the life and times OF Napoleon
show that the world had comparatively
little knowledge OF the remarkable events
that constituted the throos OF tho present
century. That which had been written was
largely in the nature OF special pleading,
based on ex parte information. some writer's
regarding Napoleon as a monster, others
being suro that he ls entitled to DO enrolled
in tho calender OF earths loflest heroes.
So IN large degree It is with many Of the
events connected with the civil war In
America. But meanwhile he who can re-
cord any real facts that throw new light
upon those events ought to do so.
It was my privilege recently to meet
Colonel Smith OF Arkansas. who was IA
Richmond at tho time OF its evacuation by
tho Coniederates. and who. being in the
military guard Of President Jefferson Davis
was cognlzant Of all the events OF that Ia
tercsilng tine. What he told mo contro-
yerts some OF tho statements that have gone
Into most Of the books that have thus far
been written. Aside from this. however
Colonel Smiths vivid description OF those
last days Of the Confederacy are Of great
interest.
The spring Of 1866 was DISASTROUS for tho
Confederate capital; Sherman had cut the
South literally in two by his f'nlous march
to the sea; defeat was oYeryui &c and panic
prevailed 10 tho highest couue.,-. san tho
Richmond Cabinet was hopeful that some-
thing would happen 20 relieve tho situation.
They remembered that Mcclellan had oncs
been at tho very gates Of theft city and
turnod becl;. They sun believed that Lee
Nyn4sfI liza N4N al sTsr IA
featod Mcclellan burnside. Pope. Hooker
and Meade. Like Paris in the ClaOmiest
days q the revolution. Richmond 10 these
very days wss never Eayer. Tie thcaters
were In :ull blast and balls wore giyen,
Anusarcat seemed 10 be necessary to take
attention away from the real danger.
Among Tie most sanEulne at this time
seemed President Davis. Az a reception
given at the Executive Mansion or Feb 70.
1865. hs said; III worst comes to tho worst.
We have only 10 pass tas BIZ. nov undsr
confederation IA Congress. ariuing the ne
Groos and tho lido Will Immediately turn in
cur fayo-,"
Tbs Cabinet oil agreed With the Frea'
deBt in tas. Alexander II. Stephens. VIII,
only wsa. into the Confederate cause whom
his State Insisted upon Il. was equally con-
hdent
The b.il In question was passed soon after
BY tho Gcntndgraio CnrVre-s and was tho
means OF hlateuiuE rather than retardihs
tho duwnfsil. The crl7is thrt had boon
threatening ell through the noah OF March
eTriFnd On the "a Of Apgl,. Colonel Smith
dosaTibr7 u a. a rerloc, Jay Tdo Virginia
spring WsA Well along. II was 3untay. and
tho Town Was quiet except FOR the constant
tramp'ns q soldiers. Tho suiion roar Of
uiEtau- caunluating was a sound that had
become 40 familiar 20 the people that II
failed 10 Attract even passing comment
Ia the midst Of tho services az Jlo church
whore Mr. DavlS usGaly vouhIped,
messangcr arrived and q dispatch was taken
% tho President Ills vile and ne imns.
diRtely Ice the houBe Of Worship. followed
b. largo crowd. wnc seemed % foel Inc
funcuycly tha- g1mWhiuc unusual ffa
happened. Il was only & rh1rt limo tlll thr
anatunccmout was made that Richmond va
30 - evacuated. The utmost c5nft1t4n
onsued, no one seemed 20 know exactly tho
full Mgninclrcc Of these wurdc. Sonic
enrsod. others began Immediately 10 PACK
up few OF their most oko,iahed personal be.
louglngs, az one would DO Preparatory 10
DESERVING a burning building. SAN others
detesninsd 10 remain and tako whatever
came
The message which Davis had received
al the church was from General Lee. Il
waa to tho eject that tho danger was very
great ana that not ~ 1lnant should b. Lost
IN getting ilo Government cut on Rich.
mond. Reaching nome Mr.. Day.E made prep
grafton Tor meant Departure, Tho o1Jltt-
ment inorGa2ed every ulinUo. Coicusl Smith
declares that he never witnessed anytime
that approached II. Mcl, women and chill
dren mounted on harsaback ard Ia all man
ner OF vehicles aad on foot were hastenlnE
from the city. II was nearly dark whom
Mr.. Dayia entered tao carriage that was
WAITING 70 convey him to q place Of safety
He was apparently as calp and collected IN
me midst OF the excitement ns though he
We're Simply going to al ordinary cabinet
meeting. To use the woFds OF Colonel Smith,
He seemed more IKE king starting out 10
VISIT hia suhieeis than man fleeing for his
very life"
Right here the account Of Colonel Smith
who was there and saw Just what happened
Is very different from that OF the usual.
histories Of those events. 1t has been stated
that Davis took train from Richmond
Colonel Davis seYs he went by carriage
From this point l cannot do better than 10
give tho Colonies own words:
HE was accompanied by large retnue
--aoid.era. generals. members Of tho Cabl-
net, Confedtrato ConGreEsmen and several
OF hia old aeryants. A large mart OF ihe
Confederate archives, a quantity OF gold coin
tho great scar. and numerous other yalu,
ablo ohiecta were taken In ambulances. A.
that time II was firmly Intended 10 set IN
the whole machinery OF the Government In
toiut hdlN IAACts IlNAAuAN IN l4uLIEllnn n
Texas. Not until his capturi did Mr.. Dsyls
give up that idea. As thls rcg1arkobi.
cayAleade went down the street Ii fouad lfs
way blocked at several pdints by other
vehicles conveying citizens from tho town
Scarcely word was spoken by any ono.
Davis made no effort 10 conceal himself
bur sat BY tho window OF tao carriage ana
was recognized by many. hut was not spoken
70 directly. One man called out somewhat
rudely. There goes Jeh Davis. IL ma
Yanlts get hold Of him they will make fhori
work OF him. and no knows H. M. DAVIS
heard this remark ana for a moment his
features llghted up With a emile. ana men
they reaumed their usual gravity,
before The outsldrls OF the tnv,n vac
reached tho air became liled Win dam
volumes o. smoke. and the cracliin~ 4,
burning buildings was distinctly heard NJ.
great tobacco warehouses along mo ,ybs-s
We're burnng. Az soon as the contents =,
Lees dispatch were made known. the tnrrb
had been applied and many Of Mr. Dsvis'
attendants were chuciung to themsolve,
that Grant would. on entering Rlchmosd
reap only suor d victory as Napoleon AID on
Offering Moscow. Va
Thus the Confederate Government ev,,,
ated Richmond. The coniicling mss'oria,,
thar Vera pressing upon the memberS az ths,
Gcrefnuisnt as they hsstened on into ~
nl3dli can pe better imagined than dessrihsd
Miles and Mills were passed and vel nd. ona
spoka lof seeang. II was more like ths