The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-03

til held this view, and in an address to
ne people OF Charlotte on his arrival
here, he offered to lead a movement to
ontinue the then apparently hopeless
struggle. But his cabinet advisers, 10 a
man, were opposed 10 this daring scheme
favored only by Gen. Hampton. Il was at
this crisis and in Charlotte that the aban-
donment Of the Confederate struggle was
decided upon. Each cabinet officer gave
President Davis his op MON In writing and
ell those opinions agreed In stating that
the end had come. Then and there IL was
also that President Davis abandoned his
proposed movement into the trans Missis-
sippi department and decided TO leave the
country via florida. There was no pos
sible chance for him to escape (as did
some of his companons) into Mexico by
way OF Texas. His personal effects, not
needed before taking ship on the Florida
coast were sent by wagons direct from
Charlotte, and were captured near ex.
United States Senator Yulee's home, in
South Florida.
| see that 10. w. Kins'ey Post, G. A. r.,
OF Boston, Mass, that had Gen. joe Wheel
er as It's Memorial day ora or last year
has just eected Co. w. G. Vincent
Louisiana Confederate, as an honorary
member Of the post. Now this would be
very nice and fraternal were II not for
the "co,d-blooded fact" that there Is not
and cannot be any such thing as honorary
membership" In The Grard Army OF the
Republic. A New Jersey posi- attempted
this same thing in homer Of Gen. JOSEPH f.
Johnston some years ago, but It failed to
succeed. The same rue is in force in the
new Confederate organization, known as
"Whee er's Cavalry Camps" Only Gen.
Joe Whee.er's four daughters. by special
enactment, are allowed honorary mem
bership" n the organization. Past ex-
per.ence has taught many civic and mill
tary organizations that II is well 10 guard
both active and honorary membership
very carefully.
Mr.. w 3. Mckee of Savannah writes
me that In my 1.-The First and Last" let
ter during the reunion. / was mistaken
in regard to the FIRST shot OF the war"
do not remember to have seen any refer
ence in Confederate histories to che facts
sci forth IN Mr.. McKee's letter and
will give the Morning News readers the
benefit Of mis- statement, to which may
refer again in the near future. He writes
as follows. after quoting a paragraph from
my article. by reference 90 Thomas
History Of the South Carolina Military
Academy page 107) you will read that, on
Jan. O. 1851. the cadets OF that academy
stationed on Morris Island. from what was
aften that date called the Star OF the
West Battery. fired upon and drove Off
the United States steamship Star OF the
West while attempting 90 relieve Fort
Sumter. Gov. Pckens Of South Carolina,
in his annual message. Nov. g. 1861. says:
The cadets of the Citadel Academy IN
Charleston, on the 9th OF January last
drew the lanyard OF the very first can
non that was ever fired into vessel bear
ing the flag Of the old Union and triumph
anly drove her back II was this
cannon which opened upon the Star OF
the West. that colled a half million of
freenen to arms" Mr. Mckee closes
by saying: u think from this record Il
must be conceded that the first gun Of the
Civil War was fired on Jan. Q. 1861. by che
cadets of the South Carolina Military
Academy. Of which corps / had the honor
20 be a member"
The friends Of Mr.. Franz p Blair WIZ
so kindly called my att ntion thr ugh the
Morning News to the fact-'o II ee rs
70 be fixed fact, that the f p. 3. IN
the Rebellion Records" was rot the r.
r. Blair who defence Cap Ca tar, has
my thanks for so doing Al houh rer-
fectly familiar with he aias of
1877 al West Po nj AL sem m
which were Col Oscar Br w
and Lieut. Henry O ppe OF
Georgia had overloc ke5 N essence
Of Fla IN TIE cas- az no ~
grand father bis father AMI Is N le. al
famous in their day, and was a mem