The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-10
THE coNrnpERATE oApINEr.
Hon. John III. Reagan Tells where
the Last Meeting Was Held

Hon. John II. Reagan Tells Wherc
the Last Meeting Was Held.
San Antonio Express.
THE last meeting OF the Confederate
cabinet at which President Davis and all
the members OF his official family were
present was held in Richmond, Va said
Hon. John II. Reagan to an Express re-
porter yesterday. There we're other meet
ings and conferences of members of his
cabinet with President Davis after that
and at other places, but the last meet
ing at which all were present was held
in Richmond, Va"
This statement by Judge Reagan was
drawn out through a reference to the con-
troversy as to the locality of the last meet
ing OF President Davis and his cabinet Of
ficers The suggestion was made some
time ago that the building in which the
last Confederate cabinet meeting was held
be purchased by the Daughters of the Con-
federacy and preserved as an historic me-
mento of the closing days of the bloody
struggle between the States. AT once
claim was made for Abbeyille, S. G., and
it was asserted that the last meeting was
held there. Then Washington Ga, near
which the Confederate ohieftain and the
small party with him fell into tho hands
of the Federals, was heard from and its
claim was put in for the distinction.
The controversy has attracted consid-
cradle attention and there has been much
discussion as to the merits OF the claims
registered by the res pectiVe Carolina and
Georgia towns. The presence of Judge
Reagan in the city afforded fhe Express
an opportunity to procure from him a
statement OF his personal knowledge and
recollection OF the Incident aud his reply
is quoted above Judge Reagan, the only
survivor, was postmaster general in the
cabinet of President Davis and during the
final days of the Confederacy, in addition
TO the duties of that position, was acting
secretary of the treasury, having been so
appointed when, on account OF serious i'll
health, Secretary Trenholm became unable
to accompany the president aud rendered
his resignation. The <~sount OF the clos
ing days of The Confederate government
bearing upon the controversy over the
scene of the last cabinet meeting, WAS thus
told by Judge Reagan during an interview
with a reporter for the Express:
"The last meeting OF all the members
OF his cabinet with Mr. Davis was held
In Richmond Before the president left
|
secretary of the treasury, was taken sick
and left Richmond to go TO his home at
! Charleston. S. c., but his condition was 50
BAD that he found himself unable TO travel
! further than Greensboro, N. G. Mr.. Davis
and the remaining members OF his cabinet
I left Richmond shortly after, AT Danville,
Va, where we stopped for time, there
was a cabinet meeting or conference. at
which all were present except Secretary
l Trenholm When we arrived at Green's
4 boro another meeting was held. Secretary
i Trenholm was in Greensboro, but was too
I II to attend the meeting. He attempted
TO make the journey with us, when we
moved on, but when about twenty miles
from Charlotte. ~ C., he became so III
he could not go on and lhereupon tendTfd
his resignation TO Mr. Davis, who AZ once
appointed me acting lecretary of The
: treasury,
"At Charlotte We all met again with ~,
Davis, except Mr.. Trenholm II was wnlio
we were at Charlntte that Mr. George
Davis, attorney general Of the confederaey,
came to us and said he was In doubt what
to do: that his home and property az Wal
mington had fallen into the hands or the
: Faderais and his children without a h0ZH
needed his care and attention Al the same
time he did not feel like abandoning The
: president and his party. When the situa'
q ton was made known Mr. Davis and all 81
y us agreed that II would be better for MN
Z. TO stay and look after his children ana h
was prevailed upon 10 do so Afier iehv'
b ing Charlotte there were with Mt. DAVIS
. Secretary OF State Benjamin, Secretary o.
. War Breckenridge, Secretary OF Navy MAJ,
lory and myself. as postmaster general sne
acting secretary of the treasury. we hel'
meetings and consultations al AppeVllie
y s. c.
n I'VE crossed the Savannah river carr
n one morning and after we had had nreaN
j. fast we held a conference and mere Mi
Benjamin left US and made his way on
n OF the country. Those OF rs VINO renSs,sssa
went on to Washingtos, Ga, win Mr. Z
Wis. There we held conferences az VIM
:, Mr. Davis, the secretary OF war, sccreLar
:. OF navy and myself we're present pnt tneI
= was never full council OF the confederat
cabinet after we left Richmond A. wan h,,
ington Secretary of the Neay Mallory iel
ua When Mr. Davis left he leit M
Breckenridge there to wind UP tne auai !,
: OF the war department ana me 70 WIN y
q the affairs Of the postofhcs departmen, an AZ,
: also to turn over TO the agents OF ~
v Richmond banks the money we ia
brought along. After this WORK ma
been completed Mr.. Breckenridge s,rue
out for the West, hoping to be aole
. rally the remnant OF the southern arr,
! and continue the war. ! followed ~
Q overlook Mr.. Davis and was WIN NJ
Il when he was captured"
This is the story of the closing days