The herald., 1896-02-19
THE WHITE HOUSE OF THE CoNTEDERACY.

pathetic scenes of the civil strife. 1t
was in '62 that the Davis family took
possession of the mansion, and Mrs. Da-
Wis set to work to make ii comfortable
and attractive home. She gave state
dinners, and once a week there was q
large reception, for society at the capi-
tai was gay, in spite of the thunders of
war that echoed from the distant hills.
In 1871. the residence then in posses
sion of the city, was turned into school
room known as the Central" The fur.
niture was sold and thus scattered about
the country. Of late years the mansion
has fallen into decay and it was fast be-
coming a deSolate ruin, when its aspect
attracted the attention of some ladies of
the city, who Immediately formed an as.
Sociation to restore it and convert it into
4 museum.
One enters the house by series OF
short steps which lead to Il small, semi.
circular hall. On each side of this hall
are inches in which stand bronze statues
of feminine figures. This entrance has
two narrow halls leading off Oh the right
and left. but just in front. it opens into
large, lofty room which was ono of the
parlors used by Davis. st the back of
floor is wide portico whose roof is sup
ported by ton white pillars.
The cost of repairing has SO far been
about $14.000 which was covered by
the 100000 proceeds Of bazaar held in
the city several years ago. Half of that
fund was donated to the monument
erected in honor of the soldiers and sail
ors. and the rest was kept TO work on the
museum. a room has been given to
each one of the Confederate states Il re-
gent from that state being appointed 10
secure relics and place them in
the right chamber. Maryland
and Kentucky. though they did not Sc
ccdc are represented. because of tho
large number of soldiers which they sent
to the Southern armies. Miss Mildred
Lee and Miss Winnie Davis are amongst
the ladies in charge.
Those who have in their care the col
lecting of relics have succeeded in Sc
curing a large number of valuable curl
os. These will be catalogued and assign.
ed to the rooms belonging to the states
from which the relics came and will be
in place within a few weeks, though it
is doubtful if all will be within the house
by the day Of the formal opening Oh the
22nd Of this month. The most valuable
Of any collection possessed by the asso.
citation is that which was donated by the
late Mrs. Du Reunne of Savannah, Ga.
In this collection is the greatest treasure
owned by the South--the original draft
OF the Confederate constitution with the
interlineations and erasures. 1t is about
the size of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence and will be kept under glass and
carefully guarded.
In the museum also reposes the last
missive ever written by General Stone
| wall Jackson. 1t was to Lee and was
written while Jackson sat OH horseback
| just before the fatal ride in which he
lost his life. General Jackson's old sor
rel horse. which has been mounted by 4
| taXidermist and is now at the Soldiers
Home, will find its way to the museum
and SO will the saddle of Lee, which is al
the same place. Jackson's rusty, little
quadrant is also shown.
= General Custiss Lee presented to the
museum pistol which was worn by his
father, General Robert II. Lee, through
out the war. OF the belongings of Gen
eral Jeb Stuart there are sable plumes
which once nodded over his head, anG
the old haversack which he always tool
with him on his marches
| An order of Lees to pendletOn, stained
by the blood of the courier who was
wounded i'll carrying the dispatch, viii
be placed on view and so will the fias
of the Confederate ship, Shenandoah