The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1902-05-16
JEFFERSON DAVIS
AS | SAW HIM.
By DIR. R. W. JONES

Va YHEN General Joseph E. John
M ston moved up the Virginia
peninsula in 1862 before
McClellan's advancing columns, it be-
came necessary to evacuate Norfolk,
Va, and General Hagers division,
which had garrisoned the city for about
year. was transported to Petersburg
by cars, and after clmping there for
about week marched to Richmond.
This division was of the flower of the
youth of many Southern States; the OIL
fcers and men were handsomely draped;
their accoutrement and arms were bur
nished the various companies, regi-
ments and brigades had been thorough
ly drilled and performed evolutiOns
with almost mathematical precision
In Richmond lines were formed in sew
eral of the principal streets and then
were reviewed by President Davis, Gen.
| Robt. E. Lee, Gen. George W. Ran
| dolph, who was then secretary of war,
accompanied by members of their re-
spective stats,
These officers rode at gallop along
the line of the troops. Afterwards they
took a position and the soldiers marched
in files of four in front of the reviewing
officers. The scene was a magnificent
pageant. The soldiers were in the fin
est spirits and gave round after round
Of cheers for their distinguished officers.
1t would be impossible to furnish
scene of war in which there was more
enthusiasm and patriotic ardor. Mr..
Mr. Davis and Gen. Lee were splendid
horsemen.
Soon after this, these same soldiers
were marching to "Drewry's Bluff, "
"Seven Pines" by day, by night, on
roads, on by paths, through woods and
brambIe, their handsome Confederate
gray uniforms were torn and soiled and
in a month or two they would not have
been recognized as the same body Of
men.
After the arduous campaigns Of the
summer and fall of 1852 were over, af-
ter the seige of Richmond had been
raised, the battles Of Cedar Run, Second
Manassas, South Mountain, Maryland
Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg had been
fought and Lee had won perhaps the
most glorious series Of victories ever
recorded in a similar campaign, these;
same soldiers, or rather what was left
of them, were resting and recuperating
in Northern Virginia,-in Culpepper
county.
President Davis again comes to re-
view this heroic army. Nothwithstand-
ing the trying marches through which
they had passed, the perils they had en-
countered, the comrades they had lost,
the privations and sufferings they had
endured, these war-worn soldiers greet
ed their president and commanding
general with the same ardor and enthu
siaSm and with the same Undying de-
votion to the cause Of freedom and
manliness in which they were enlisted.
On this occasion Mr., Davis wore beau
tiful suit of Confederate Homespun.
1 heard it was spun and woven in North
Carolina. 1t was evident that the pres
ence of these two great men was an in
spiration to the soldiers of the Army of
Northern Virginia.
Now we pass to different scene-in
1878. Mr.. Davis had passed through
the ordeal of defeat, the humiliation of
being manacled by Miles, the exhaust
ion of prison life in Fort Monroe. He
is summering on the Mississippi coast
He is not forgotten by his old compan
ions IN arms; he is still honOred by those
who wore the gray The survivors of
the Army Of Tennessee formed a social
and civil organization and the Louis
lana Division of that Association re-
solved to elect Mr.. Davis an honorary
member. Accordingly, on July 10th,
1878, Col James Lingan and a large
company Of that association, together
with other Veterans, repaired to Mis-
SiSSippi City, and there, in public ca
pacity and in public address, present
Mr.. Davis with certificate of member
ship and a beautiful Confederate flag.
With number Of Mississippians went.
l remember that Major Ethel Barks
dale was present and introduced me to
Mr.. Davis. He looked as conscious of
rectitude and as brave as when he rode
his war horse on the streets Of Rich
J ]. NJ. !.