Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-21
THE NEWS OF LINCoLN's DEATH.
How Jefferson Davis Received John
ston's Dispatch Announcing 1t.


From the New York Sun.
About April IS. 1865. l was sent under a
flag of truce to Charlotte NC Entering
the town with Z. NJ. Clark, a member OF
my company, as an escort, we were con-
Quoted to headquarters, large upper room
evidently a school room where the guard
pointed out Gen. Echols, a portly fine-look-
ing man. commander of the post. Remov-
ing my hat l advanced to where Gen.
Echols sat, at one end of a long table, and
laid my dispatches on the table.
Gen. Echols. 1 presume. These dis
patches are from Gen. Gillian. Shall wait
for an answer?
please be seated" the general said
CHANGING around the room. l saw sixteen
or eighteen gentlemen all. with one or two
exceptions, in military uniform. Col. Cal
Morgan, who had been our prisoner a few
months before. came to where / sit
ting. and shaking hands said II believe
you and 1 are not altogether strangers"
While we chatted, a gentleman in a civil
ian suit turned to address Cen EchOls
The cold stare of a glass eye caught my at
tention. and the features were not I'M
"Oh! Jeff Davis: and you here, pressed to
the WALL" was my first thought l saw
however, much pleasanter-faced man
than our northern papers had pictured. A
soul of kindly impulses beamed from every
feature.
A dispatch was handed to Gen. Echols
who read and reread it, with an anxious
earnest look upon his face. Half rising, he
passed the paper to Mr.. Davis. Gen. Echols
sat at one end of the table, with two gen.
tlemen between him and Mr.. Davis Mr.
Davis read 1t slowly, and, handing it back
remarked, well We have lost generous
enemy l paid little attention to what
Mr. Davis said, supposng one of our
northern generals had been killed or died
The dispatch went the rounds. finishing in
Col Morgan's hands, who asked Cen Ech.
OILS, If consistent, to allow me to read it.
ON, yes; give 1t to him.. he said l read
GREENSBORO, April =.
Lincoln was aSSassinated the night of the
l4th In Fords Theater. Seward was as.
sassinated about the same time in his owr
house. Grant has marched his army back
to Washington to declare himself military
dictator j. E. JOHNSTON.
l cannot recall the exact date of the dis
patch. But it necessarily Travelled slowly
as we had cut all telegraph wires burned
bridges, torn up railroads, and impedeG
travel all We could.
In laying down the dispatch in front Of
Gen. Echols, I remarked, casually "Prett,
good pill, general. but too thickly coated
l presumed it was a doctored dispatch in
tended to encourage their men and dis
hearten ours.
1t was not long until Mr. Davis left the
room, and several others followed. Gen
Echols asked: "Mr. Thomson, where il
Burbridge and his niggers?" Just back OF
Llncolnton, l said. l was somewhat in.
censed. and retaliated with, Il see you
nave PRESIDENT Davis with you. general
Looking around the room the genera,
said. mo, Mr.. Davis Is not here
But. said l, "he was here a few min.
| utes ago.
Mr.. Thomson, I am surprised at your
asking any such question while here unde,
flag Of truce" said the general
"Oh. beg pardon. general, you broke
down that bar by asking about Burbridge
and his niggers.' Gen. Echols, smiling
said:
Eyes, President Davis is with u.s."
Soon after we partook Of a party repasI
furnished by Mrs. Echols, and took our de-
parture for our post. A. H. THOMSON,
Late Lieutenant E Co., 18th Ohio Cavalry.