The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-08-12
CONFEDERATE CABINET.
Where Was the Last Meeting Held ?
The Unsettled Question

| The Unsettled Question.
During the past few weeks there hos been n
controversy going on in the Augusta Chroni-
Gle between Mr.. W. P. Calhoun, Of Edgefield,
Mr.. Ernest Callan, OF Sparta, Ga, and Hon.
William H. Parker, Of Abbeville, as TO = 9
| place where the last Con federate CabiI t
meeting was held-whether at Abbeville, S.
c.. or Washington, Ga. Mr. Calhoun and
MIR. Parker holding that the last meeting was
at the former place, Mr.. Calan the latter.
Now comes another Richmond into the field,
Grove. Oglethorpe, Ga claiming that "to
Washington belongs the honor" published
| in the Chronicle Of the 3rd instant. Yet the
solution OF the question seems still unsettled.
Mr.. Davis. in his history, "Rise and Fall OF
| the Confederate Government" makes no
| mention of any Cabinet meeting being held
| at either Abbeviile or Washing ton, nor does
he mention being at Abbeville at ALA raj her
singular omission under the circumstau uces.
IL might seem. In his work referred TO above,
volume II. page 694, speaking OF leaving
Charlotte, he says:
1--WE proceeded at easy stages. After
making two halts OF half day each, we
reached Savannah River. l crossed early In
he morning of the 4th of May, with a COM
pany which had been detailed as my Escort
and rode several miles TO far mhouse, where
halted to get breakfast and have our horses
ted. The Secretary OF State, Mr.. Benja-
min. being unaccustomed to travelling ON
horseback, parted from me at house where
stopped for break fast, to take another mode
OF conveyance and different route from that
which l was pursuing, with intent TO rejoin
me In the Trans-Missssip Department. At
Mr.. Breckenridge had remained with the
cavalry at the crossing at the Savannah
River, and L gave him authority to draw
from the silver coin.under the protection OF
the troops, enough 10 make TO them q partial
payment. When the day passed without any
of the troops coming forward, l sent a note to
the Secretary of War, showing the impoicy
Hntn Nat nttJif
immediate reply from the Secretary Of War,
Gen. Breckinridge. spoke on the next m orn-
ing to Capt. Given Campbell, OF Kentucky.
con commanding my esfopt' eSPlaaln,nE , 10 MN
his Company was not strong enough TO fight,
and too large to pass without observation.
asked him TO inquire II there were ten men
who would volunteer to 60 with me without
question, wherever / should choose. He
brought back for answer that the whole Com.
pany volunteered on the terms proposed.
Gratifying as this manifestation was, felt II
would expose them to unnecessary hazard TO
accept the offer and told him, in any manner
be might think best to form party of tea
men. With these Capt Campbell, LIT. Barn
John Taylor Wood and VIM. Preston john
son, of my personal staff, left Washington.
Secretary Reagan remained for a short time
TO transfer the treasure In his hands, except a
few thousand dollars, and then reJoin me on
the road"
1t so seems that Mr.. Reagan was the only
member of the Cabinet with Mr.. Davis at
Washlngton-Mr. Benz amin having left him
where the party took breakfast before reach
ing that place; Mr.. Breckenridge was left
with the Calvary at the crossing OF the Sa-
vannah River, some % miles from Washing
ton, and MIR. Mallory left him At bis arrival
Mt the latter place. So we take II that If there
was any meeting OF the Cabinet at Washing
ton 1t was an exceedingly small attendance
not more than one member, Mr.. Reagan, or
possibly two. with Mr.. Mallory. We do not
baI 81 m
stances, that any meeting or con ference of
the Cabinet was held at Washington at all,
there having been no positive proof, so far
as we have seen, that there was such u
meeting.
on the other hand that there was Cabinet
meeting held at Abbeville there Can be no
doubt. The late Hon. Armstead Burt. at
whose house Mr.. Davis aud party stopped
while at that place. is authority for the state
ment.
Capt. NJ. H. Clark was the last Acting
Treasurer Of the Confsderacy, the following
will show:
"Washington. Ga, May d. 1865.
IN. II. Clark, Esq, is hereby appointed
acting Treasurer OF the Confederate States,
aud Is authorized 10 act rs such during the
absence of the Treasurer.
Jefferson Davis."%
In letter written at Clarksvile, Tenn,
dated January 10, 1882 published in "The
Con iederate Soldier In the Civil War"-one
of the best and most elaborately illustrated
histories Of the war between the States we
have seen-compled and edited by Gen. Ben.
La Bree, Capt. Clark, among other things
says
"The last Cabinet meeting which could be
called such, was held at A0beville on the 2d
of May, at which 1t seems to have been de-
cided that the attempt was hopeless 10 carry
the organized force to the Trans. Mississippi
Department., 1t being too small to cope with
the enemy It would have 10 encounter, and II
was left free TO the soldiers to decide their
own action-the move 10 be voluntary
one."
Aud 1t seems the sodlers-that Is. the Cav
airy escort of about 2000-decided 10 disband,
anu did not reach Washington In an organ-
lied force. So 1t is not at all likely that even
II Mr. Davis had had full Cabinet at Wash
ipgton Instead OF one or two members he
would have felt safe in holding a meeting
there however brief It's duration, having no
save q small remnant OF one cav
airy company, this TOO when mauraudlng
Federal troops were reported to be and we're
in close proXiml1y-there being no organized
force Of any considerable Size nearer than
the Savannah River, twenty-five miles
distant.
II may be deemed by some matter Of
small moment as to where the last Cabinet
meeting was beld-that II Is mere matter
OF ofsentiment. May be so, but when such sen.
timent Is born Of patriotic promptings II is
worthy of reasonable contention ID order to
establish historic fact.