The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-05-31
LAST CABINET MEETING.
Old Soldier Furnishes
Proof Positive that at Abbevillt
was Held the Last Meeting.

Any reference to the civil war'or to the clos.
Ing days of the Southern Con federacy touches
a lender chord In the heart Of every Conleder
ate soldier.
We did not know till your last weeks edi.
torial appeared that there was any doubt or
question al TO when and where the last meet
Ing of Jefferson Davis Cabinet was held
Most certainly 1t was held at Abbevllle, Only
five of bis Cabinet officers were with him al
Abbeville, and some Of these were not with
him at Washington Georgia. In an account
given by Davis himself of his capture, after
crossing the Savannah River and before reach.
ing Washington. Dir. Davis says."I halted al
a farm house TO gel breakfast and have our
horses fed, here the secretary OF State, Mr.
Benjamin being unaccustomed 10 travelling
on horseback parted from me. Mr.. Breckin.
ridge has remained with the Cavalry at the
OF General Breckenridge. Mr.. Mallory left me
IN Washington 10 place bis family In safety
&c. So 1t would appear that two, and perhaps
three OF the hve OF his Cabinet that were with
bin at Abbeville had left him before reach
ing Washington. They all seemed more con.
cerned about their safety from capture than
10 holding Cabinet meetings or Councils OF
War.
1t would be difficult to establish the claim
that the last cabinet meeting was held AT
Washington. Georgia.
Now a word as 70 the date OF President
from the Press and Banner OF 1856 says: Mr..
Davis, the President Of the Southern Conied-
eracy In his retreat across the country after
the fall OF Richmond, arrived in AbbevIlle
about the LIST day OF May, 1862 about 10 a. m.
and left about IL p. m" There Is, we feel sure
q little mistake in the above date. Davis and
bis cabinet without doubt in our mind ar.
rived In Abbevile on the 3rd day of May, 1865
have memoranda of some Of the events
which occurred during the dying days OF the
Confederacy. Among other things 1T re-
cords the last roll call OF my Regiment on
the morning OF April Goth, 1885, at Chester
Z. a., and OF my reaching home on the Isl
day OF May, 1855, but without this record that
date ia as indeliby fixed in my mind as is
In the trenches at "Mitchell's Ford" to fight
the first battle OF Bull Run, in 1881. a day OF
two after my arrival home, report was cir.
culated that Davis was expected in Abbeville
and that q fight would take place there.
went to Abbeville, but Mr.. Davis and party
had left Abbeville the night before. AS q
further cOrToboratiOn OF the statement that
May, 1865. We find in President Davis own
account of his capture the following: AFTER
the expiration of the armistice rode out o.
Charlotte, n. e. After two halls OF half day
each, we reached the Savannah River,
crossed early on the morning of May 4tn.'
This, we.th ink, Is conclusive evidence thai
Davis reached Abbeville on the 3rd OF May
and that his last cabinet meeting was held on
The same day.
It is q little singular that at SO momentous
q time and 80 important move, thai dates ir
''Alfriends Life of Davis" gives detailed ac
count of DAVIS flight, but gives only these
Two dates from Charlotte, n. C., where Davis
arrived on April lS, 1855, TO Fortress Monroe
where he entered bis prison cell on May 10Th
1865. J. A. ID.