The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-05-05
SCRAPS OF UNWRITTEN HISTORY.
THE LAST CABINET OFFICER OF
THE CONFEDERACY
Narrates Some Interesting Incidents
Never Before Published.

Hon. John III. Reagan, the only sur
viving member of the Confederate
cabinet, recently made an address o.
, unusual interest, in which he gave
points of history not generally known
and heretofore unpublished. His
remarks and illustrations concerning
the life and character of Jefferson
Davis are OF especial value, as he
brings into prominence some notable
incidents in his career as leader of the
Confederacy, from which we quote the
following:
No man known to history more
memory than the president of the late
Confederacy. The wisdom and cour-
age with which he conducted the
affairs the Confederacy the extra
ord1ni 'ortitude and constancy with
which endured long and cruel
imprisonment after the fall of the Con-
federacy; the ability and fidelity
which he displayed afterwards in
writing the history of "The Rise and
Fall of the Confe1eracy are generally
known. But there are some things in
which portion at least of the public
have all the time misunderstood Mr..
Davis. And there are some other
things, which illustrate his character,
which have not been made known to
the general public, and to which |
J think it proper now to call attention,
matter about which shall speak from
| my constant association with him DUR
ing the war, and from personal know-
edge.
Many persons have been made to
believe that he was self-willed and
arbitrary in his action. Nothing
| could be farther from the real truth
But 1T may be said with truth that he
had two characters; or rather that his
conduct in private life and in social
circles was different from his action in
private life and in the family and So
cial circles he was of the most genial
and pleasant men l ever knew. AS
gentle and as tender as woman, he
possessed an enlarged knowledge of the
physical sciences which always made
him instructive. And his state pa
pers were characterized by an erudi.
tion rarely, If ever, surpassed by Eng
disappearing scholars. In his official
capacity he was guided by a strong
sense of duty. and had but little toler-
alton for that class of men who were
given to much talk and had no real
information to communicate. 1t is
likely that such is the class who as
sumed that he was harsh and self.
willed. You will understand that ia
his position his whole time was nec-
essarily occupied with great duties
and cares, and that he could not afford
to spend his time in Improbable talk.
In relation to suggestions which have
been made that he was self-willed and
did not consult others on public meas
ures, | know this to be incorrect.
When question of importance came
up for consideration, his habit was to
exhaust all available sources of infor-
nation, whether from persons or docu-
ments, and when this had been done
and a decision reached, that was an
end of the question with him. And it is
probable that persons who, under such
circumstances, still insisted on further
discussion, without realizing the pres
sure on his time, thought him self
willed, You will understand that one
in his position, who had constantly to
be deciding the course to be pursued
on great questions, must have acted
as he did in order to get through with
the public business.
[ said there were some things illus
trative OF the character Of Mr.. Davis
not generally known to the public
When General Grant was moving his
army down the Mississippi below
Vicksburg, Mr.. Davis was notified that
his Briarfield plantation and large
property would fall into Federal hands,
and was advised to send and have the
movable property carried out of dan
ger. To this suggestion he replied !
that the president Of the Confederacy
could not afford to employ men to take
care of his private property. And
when the Federal army was moving on
jackson, Miss, he was &C vised that
his hill home in Kinds County and his
valuable library and other property
there would fall into Federal hands,
and that he ought to have it removed
to place of safety, he made. the same
reply, that the president of the Con-
federacy could not afford to use men
for the security Of his private property.
Ana all movable property at both
places, including his negroes, were
lost to him. | make these statements
because | was present at each OF these
conversations, and 1 have not seen
them in print.
illustrative of both his character and
his conservatism. Colonel Dahlgreen
made a raid on Richmond, the then
capital of the Confederacy, the object
OF which was to liberate some $4,000
prisoners, to kill the president and the
members of his cabinet, and to burn
the city. Richmond and our people
were saved from these calamities by
the merest accident. We had no troops
in or near the city at that time for its
defense. But regiment of clerks
and officers in the department and
citizens had been organized, and q
battalion Of workmen at the Tredegar
works, where our cannon and small
arms were made, who on occasions of
danger were called out for the defense
,, OF the city. Col Dahlgreens plan was
| to cross James river some distance
above tho CITY aud pass down the south
| side OF the river to Belle Isle, where
the prisoners were, release the prison
ers and then commence the work of
destruction and death in the city. But
on reaching the river he found it
swollen too much to be forded, and
turned down the north side OF the
river towards the city. In the mean
time notice OF his approach had been
given, and the Tredegar battalion and
the regiment OF clerks and others had
been called to arms and sent up the
river TO meet him, the Tredegar bat
talon in advance of the regiment.