New-York tribune., 1901-01-02
GREENSBORO AND DAVIS.
EXCITEMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA TOWN
OVER CHARGE or LACK OF HOS
PITALITY TO CONFEDERATE
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT.
Greensboro, n. c., Dec 50 (SpeciaD.-The inter
est here in the recent magazine publication of an
article entitled Last Days of the Confederate
Government" as detailed I'm The Tribune of De-
cember 1s. has by subsided. The people
here little dreamed that the innocent Cupds in
the magazines cover TO indicate the season OF
good will to concealed tearing away of the
curtains of the past and the revelation of alleged
inhospitality to President Davis when he sought
safety in flight from the Confederate capital Let
ters began 20 come from all parts of the land urS-
ing residents here to explain. to refute the
"slander,' for the sake of the fair name of the
State which had furnished to the Confederacy
more troops than any other Southern State and
more soldiers than she had voters" In the term
Islander" there was. of course no reflection upon
the management of the magazine nor even upon
any real or fancied prejudice OF Federal officers.
for the article written by the Confederate Sec
retary of the Navy. Stephen b. Mallory
But each prominent citizen presses upon some
other the duty of immoatng himself upon the al
tar of explanation. and recent history. as yet
chiefly traditional. is being overhauled. While.
therefore, the State waits for sufficiently weighty
and authoritative statements the following concu-
sions of Greensboro opinion here presented as
gathtred:
What have you to say. Major?"
II really cannot say anything. r.
''He was out of town. you know said voice
from behind the counter.
'Oh we'll. Major. you were not the only one-ah
the other men had business elsewhere"
II reckon they did" grimly. But even IL
knew all about it-which do not-1 would sun
have nothing to say. The Revolution is SUP
ject large enough and far enough off to talk
about
THAT is foregone conclusion. with the Guilford
battle-ground at your very doors.
Yes" enthusiastically that is Mecca for all
Americans That victory cost the British more
TTnHar circumstances
one of the decisive battles of history. Without
C;uilford Courthouse there would have been no
Yorktown The monuments, the tablets. the sou
venirs the museums the woods, the lake, the
grounds and above all. the associations. make
it a beautiful and hallowed spot as much to the
man from Massachusetts 10 the North Caro-
Ilnian. There without heartburns, every American
can come TO do honor TO our great dead
NOT AN AUTHORITY ON CIVIL WAR.
And 6s?'
'I am not an authority on Confederate history;
never read it, I never talk il, never listen TO IT,
I was licked We have the best Government or
earth. II We make mistakes we can right them
Our people have fought against the Union. but
have not fought well in the Unions?
Manila? santiago?'
Exactly"
Governor Morehead was honoraoly exonerated
in this other matter
II don't see IT," hurredly and flushing: 'he en-
tertained one sick man-and Blandwood was big
enough to shelter'-
eff the were out Of town. the women and
children would hardly know what to do"
"Humphv'
"It was" (from the other side OF the store> "a
peculiar and perIlous condition OF things. The
FederaIs were expected TO enter at any moment.
"As for things 20 eat Il is a fact that no family
OF Greensboro had decent meal a day IN advance
The Presidents party had the navy stores at least
70 draw on. and that is more than Greensboro
had"
rfv was
Now. Colonel. not one word in disparagement of
the Presidents party We. the Daughters OF the
Confederacy intend 20 build monument to Jen
Davis that WIN sweep the skies"
when the Lady President starts out 70 do any
thing be sure Il will be well done" calamity.
lis II not true, madame. that Mrs. Potts told
you that she had sold the spnt bottomed chair In
which the President sat 20 the Worlds Fair AS
sociatOn IN Chicago for s0?
THAT Is sO''-
..Then the President must have been entertained
in Greensboro"
Certainly sir" eonvincingly.
''Where?'
.At No $40 East washingtcn-st"
Az this address sure enough. IS shown the bed
room used by the President. II is a room Is by II
feet with two cheerful windows, clothes closet
and fireplace. and. unfortunately. modern furni-
ture and the latest designs OF wall paperng. This
house is now the Mecca of certain pilgrims
who come 20 see the room occupied by the Confed-
crate President when In Greensboro.
"As have always heard the story" explains the
present owner ''this house was vacant at the time
of the retreat, and out of generosity and magma
nimity President Davis refused TO shelter himself
in the homes of Greensboro people, for fear that
such friends might suffer for their hospitality per-
haps even have their houses burned down by the
pursuing forces. and so he chose this unoccupied
house"
But Mrs Potts-who IS longer here-lived at
this house?"
These things traditional. but / came here
after the and took this house As far as 1
here"
The Daughters of the Confederacy have, fortu-
nately. in their archives paper which graphically
describes the period under discussion. II writ
ten by Mrs. Walker. the daughter of James Il.
Morehead-member of Congress I'm ante-bellum
days-and niece of Governor MOrehead
HISTORY BY EYE WITNESS