The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
THE NEWS OF nINco1x,s DEATH.
How Jefferson Davis Received Johnson's
Despatch Announcing u.

Dcbuhtch AuhOuuciuE U.
About April Is, 1865. I was sent under 4 flag
of truce to Charlotte. y. c. Entering the town
with f. NJ. Clark. a member OF my company. as
an escort, we were conducted to headquarters,
a large upper room. evidently a school room.
where the guard poin led ont Gen. Echols. a
portly, fne.lookinG man, commander of the
post. Removing my hat, | advanced to where
Gen. E"hols sat, at one end OF a long table.
and laid my despatches on the table.
Gen. Ecbols. l presume. These dispatches
are from Gen. Gillian. Shall | wait for an
answerl'
PLEASE be seated" the General said.
CHANGING around the room, | saw sixteen or
eighteen gentlemen, all. with one or two ex-
captions. in military uniform. Col. Cal Nor
gan, who had been our prisoner a few months
before, came to where | was sitting, and shak-
ing hands said. II believe you and / are not
altogether strangers"
While we chatted. a gentleman in II civilian
suit turned to address Gen. Echcls. The cold
stare OF a glass eye caught my attention., and
the features were not
"Oh' JEFF Davis, and you here. pressed to he
wall, /" was my first thought. ! saw, however,
a much pleasanter faced man than our North
ern papers had pictured. a soul OF kindly
impulses bcam.d from avery feature.
A despatch was handed to Gen. EcLols, who
Iehu ulld IGTthu I " VI an 'hb
look upon his ta:e. Half rising; he passed the
paper 10 Mr.. Davis. Gen. Echols SAT at one
end Of the table with two gentlemen between
and. handing IL back, Remarked, Well. o
have lost a generous enemy paid little
attention to what Mr.. Davis said, supposinx
one OF our Northern Generals had been killed
or died. The despatch weni til" rounds. hnisE-
ing In Col. MOrgan's hands, who asked Gen.
Echols, II consistent. TO allow me 10 read IL.
on. yes. give 1t TO him. he said. ! read
GRrESSBoRo. y. c.. April -.
Lincoln was assassInaIed the night or the l4th
IN ford's Theatre. Seward was assassinated about
the same time In his own mouse, urant has
himself military dictator. j. 4. JOHNSTON.
/ cannot recall the exact date of the de-
spatch. But IL necessarily travelled slowly:
as we had cut ali the telegraph, wires. burned
b iidges, torn up railroads., and impeded travel
In laying down the despatch in front OF
Gen. Echols, remarked casually. Pretty
good pill. General, bat too ,thickly coated" !
presumed 1t was q doctored despatch Intended
IL was not long until Mr.. Da,is iett the room.
and several others followed. Gen; Echols
a assef I'll. n nHT; TA'0m HJ%st % SaSE Of I fin sSffS5asss
l said. ! was somewhat incensed and retail
atSf With. ~ see you have President Davis
Looking around the room the General said,
mo. Mr.. Davis Is not here
But said ]. The was here a few minutes
"Mr. Thomson. I am surprised at your ask
ing any such questions while here under q flag
OF truce said the General;
on; beg pardon Genera, YOU proke dowwn
niggers." Gen. Echols. smiling. SAID:
Yes, President Davis is with us"
Soon after " %partook OF a party rspast iur-
nishsd by Mrs Echols' and took eur aspartIre
Esys LisStsnant E cOmDanT. Tweifth Ohio
Cavalry.