The National tribune., 1902-03-27

strengthening the advance-guard to hold
the advancing Fcderals in check, he
turned the column into that road, which
proved to be the right one. A guide led
the way, II or - miles, TO the Charlotte
road. There he rested for the night. On
the following morning he moved slowly
and. without serious adventure. arrived at
Charlotte. where he found Gen, Fergu-
sons Brigade of Mississippi cavalry.
ARRIVAL OF Mr.. DAVIS AND HIS CABINET
On the next day Mr.. Davis and his
Cabinet arrived at Charlotte, escorted by
Gen. "Cerro GOrdo' Williams's Kentucky
Brigade, then commanded by Col. Billy
Breckenridge and Gen. Dibrells fine Ten
nessee cavalry. The town was soon filled
with Struggling soldiers, unattached Off
GERS, fleeing officials, and some relics of
the navy. Mr.. Davis impatiently awaited
the coming of Gen. Breckinridge who, in
his capacity of Secretary of War, was in
attendance at the conferences between
Gems Sherman and Johnston, negotiations
for the surrender of the latter's army then
pending. On the day of his arrival Mr.
Davis made speech in which he appealed
to the soldiery and civilians 10 be true to
themselves. His views were optimistic
and he spoke courageOusly-no despair
ingly.
NEWS OF LINCoLN's ASSASSINATION.
While Mr.. Davis was at Charlotte the
news, generally discredited at first, was
received that President Lincoln had been
aSsaSSlHated. In connection with the in
telligence received concerning the tragedy
at Washington, / insert an interesting
story contributed to the New York Inde-
pendent, by Lieut.. A. w. Thomson, of
the 18th Ohio Cav, who was with the
Federal force that barred Gen. Duke out
of LincolntOn. 1t would seem also that
Gen. Gillem, the old antagonist OF Nor
gan's men in East Tennessee, was con-
fronting Duke when he made his detour
iii front OF Lincolnton.
Says Lieut.. Thompson: "The war be-
ing practically over, | was sent from our
camp at LincOlntOn to Charlotte, \. c..
under flag of truce. Having entered
the town with T.. NJ Clark. n member of
my company, as an escort, | was conduct
ed to Gen. Echols's headquarters. in a
large upper room, evidently n school-room
Our guide pointed out the General, fine
looking, pOrtly gentleman, seated at a ta-
BILE Removing my hat, | advanced and
laid nv papers on the table. and said: I:
Gen. EchOis, L presume. These dispatches
are from Gen. Giiem. Shall | wait for
an answerp
Please be seated the General said.
"Glancing around, | saw about IS or
1S gentlemen, all, with one or two excep-
tiOns, in military uniform. Col Cal Nor
gan, brother Of Gen. John Morgan, of
raldinS fame, came to where | was sit
ting, and. shaking hands, said Il believe
you and | are not altogether strangers >
lie mad been our prisoner year or so be
! fore. While we chattcd n gentleman in
civilian melton gray suit turned to address
Gen. Echols. The cold stare of a glass
eye caught my attention, and the features
! were somewhat familiar. .Ahi Jeff Davis,
and you here, pressed to the WALL was
my first thought. But l saw a much
! pleasanterfaced man than our Northern
| papers had pictured him. A dispatch was
handed to Gen. Echols, who read and re-
read it with an anxious, earnest look upon
his face. Half rising, he passed the pa
per TO Mr.. Davis, who read it slowly, and
handing it back, remarked: Well, we
have lost generous enemy
Il paid little attention to what Mr.. Da.
yls said, supposing one of our Northern
Generals had been killed or died The
dispatch went the rounds of all. finisbinc
IN Col. Morgan's hands, who asked Gen
Echols, if consistent, to allow me to read
| it.
"'Oh, yes; give it to him. he said; when
read: "'-'i'
Greensboro, n. c., April =.
| Lincoln was assassinated the night
Of the 14th in Ford's Theater. Sew.
| ard was assassinated about the same time
in his own house. Grant has marched his
army back to Washington to declare him
self military dictator.
"J. Il. johnston
Il cannot recall the exact date of the
dispatch. But il necessarily Travelled
| slowly, as we had cut all the telegram