The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-25
Michigan hustling tn rough the forests and
digging the sacred roots by the bushel.
NEWS OF LINOoLN,s DEATH.
How Jefferson Davis Received John
ston,s Dispatch Announcing 1t


ston's Dispatch announcing 1t.
About April Is. 1855 was sent under a
flag of truce to Charlotte, N. G. Entering
my company, as an escort, we were con-
Quoted TO headquarters, a large upper
room. evidently schoolroom, where the
guard pointed out General Echois. portly,
fne-looking man. commander of the post.
Removing my hat l advanced to where
General EchoIs sat at one end OF long
tab lie and laid my dispatches on the table.
General Echols. presume. These dis
pate es are from General Gillian. Shall
wait for an answer?"
please be seated" the general said.
CHANGING around the room saw sixteen
or eighteen gentlemen, all, with one or two
exceptions, in military uniform. Colonel
Cal Morgan, who had been our prisoner
few months before, came to where | was
sitting, and shaking hands said: Il believe
you and are not altogether strangers"
While we chatted gentleman in civil
ian suit turned 10 address General Echols.
The cold stare OF glass eye caught my
attention, and the features were not I'M
familiar.
''OhI Jeff Davis, and you here. pressed
to the wall, was my first thought. l saw,
however, much pleasanter- laced man
than our Northern papers had pictured.
soul of kindly impulse beamed from every
feature.
A dispatch was. handed to General
Echols, who read and reread it with an
anxious, earnest look upon his face. Hall
rising, he passed the paper TO Mr.. Davis.
General Echols sat at one end OF the BILE,
with two gentlemen between him and Mr..
Davis. Mr.. Davis read it slowly and,
handing it back, remarked, well, we
hov lncf m NV /
little attention TO what Mr.. Davis had
said, suppo,ing one of our Northern
generals had been killed or died. The
dispatch went the rounds, finishing in
Colonel Morgan's hands, who asked Gene
raj Echols, if consistent, to allow me to.
read il.
"oh, yes; give it to him." he said. I
read:
GREENSBORO, N. c.. April.
Lincoln was assassinated the night of the
14th, in Ford's Theater. Seward was assassi-
mated about the same time. in his own house.
Grant has marched his army back to Was hing
ton to declare himself military dictator.
J. E. JOHNSTON.
I cannot recall the exact date of the dis
patch. But it necessarily travelled slowly,
as we had cut all the Telegraph wires.
burned bridges, torn up railroads and i'm
peded travel as we could.
In laying down the dispatch in front of
Pretty good pill, general; but too thickly
coated" I presumed it, was a doctored
dispatch, intended to encourage their MI n
and dishearten ours.
It was not long until Mr.. Davis left the
room and several others followed. Gen.
eral Echols asked, "Mr. Thomson, where
is BurDrldge and his niggers?"
''Just back of Lincolnton," said was
somewhat incensed and retaliated with,
81 see you have President Davis with you,
General"
Looking around the room the general
said. No. Mr.. Davis Is not here"
but" said !, "he was here few min
utes ago"
''Mr. Thomson, am surprised at your
asking any such questions while here
under flag of truce" said the general.
'Oh, beg pardon. general; you broke
down that bar by asking about Burbridge
and his niggers."
General Echols, smiling. said, Eyes,
President Davis is with us''
Soon after we partook of hearty repast,
furnished by Mrs. Echols, and took our
departure Tor our post.
A. Il. THOMSON,
Late Lieutenant E Company, Twelfth
Ohio Cavalry. New YORK Sun.