The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-09-19
Last Hours of the Confederacy.


At a meeting of the Confeder-
ate Cabinet in the Burt mansion,
at Abbeville, South Carolina, it
was decided to abandon the strug-
gle for Southern Independence.
The house was typical Southern
residence, with broad piazzas and
high colonades, in the center OF a
thick grove of elms. Here lived
the Hon. Armisted Burt, a Con-
gresham before the war, and
here was held the last Council OF
War of the Confederacy. After
the fall of Richmond, President
Davis and five members of his
Cabinet, stopped at Abbeville on
their retreat toward Washington,
Ga. That evening a Council was
called. President Davis had with
him two brigades of cavalry un-
der Gems. Vaughan and Duke
Mr.. Davis urged that a last effort
be made to reorganize the Con-
federate Army at that point. He
feelingly addressed the members
of the Cabinet, entreating them
not to abandon all hope, but to
make every effort to hold the Con-
federate Government together I'M
til, at least, terms could be Sc
cured from the North which would
protect the lives and property OF
the Southern people.
Those present listened very at
tentively, but did not think the
plan could be successfully carried
out, the Secretory of War, him.
self John G. Breckinridge) in
sisting that the soldiers would moi
fight any longer. Then, Presi'
dent Davis called in his accom-
panying Generals. He outlined
his plans and questioned them
= Gen. Dukes face clouded as HI
n replied that it was not possible tt
It make stand. The same ques
8 ton was asked Gen. Vaughan
. A death like silence reigned Will
r every man in the room waite'
Il for his reply. 1t was the sam
e that Gen. Duke had given. Mex
e the President turned to Genera
: Bragg. He, too, had lost all hope
n During this time, the President
g countenance had grown more an
l. more somber; at the last word c
le Bragg Mr.. Davis leaned his hea
t. against the back of his chair an
'e covered his face with an unfolde
at handkerchief. The silence wa
N unbroken. Mr.. Burt, the hos
le advanced to where the Presider
IN sat, and, in silence, led him fro1
l. the Council room to his famil
s. apartments. All hope for tt
ID Confederate cause was now los
" During the evening Secretal
10 of State Benjamin asked for
Ratchet, and with it he deface
he the official seal of the Confeder;
o. cy. About IL o'clock that mig
i the Confederate party continue
in their retreat in the direction
u Washington, Ca, and while eros
he ing the Savannah river, some OF
de suggested that the Seal be throw
he overheard. This idea was at on
tn approved, and when the DO
of reached midway the Seal W
at dropped into the river bed, whe
his it remains to-day.
TO- The Confederate Flag that W
cts carried by the Presidents caval
he escort was taken by Henry CT
to Renfrew to the Navigator
ms lands. When Basil Duke 81
the rendered, Renfrew took the fl
,ns from the staff, concealed it abe
ing his person and escaped.
ted made his way to South Ameri'
lch thence to the Navigator Islam
md where he followed fishing, livi
ust alone, the Confederate flag flyi
in front of his hut. Renfr
90 died three years ago, when he
~ queathed the relic to a native
=, lander. who still keeps the CT