The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-28

of Captain W. H. Parker, arrived in
Charlotte and remained there for a
brief period. After remaining per-
maps a week or ten days the Confed-
crate Treasury was started south, an
additional guard composed of a ON
pany OF navy yard" men, commanded
by Captain Tabb, of Portsmouth, anc
Lieutenant Ellis Guy, OF Norfolk, &C
companying the naval forces as far
as Washington, Ga. At that point the
navy yard men were relieved and
they returned to Charlotte.
ARRIVAL OF MR.. DAVIS
AS the days wore on the news came
that Lees army had surrendered, AMI
shortly thereafter raroled soldiers
from that army came through ON their
weary march t their southern homes.
No daily paper was published in the
town from about the middle Of Feb
! ruary until the early part OF May,
when a division of Sherman's army al
rived; consequently but little that was
| occurring elsewhere was learned by
the inhabitants. On Tuesday, April
18th, however, word was passed from
one to another of he citizens that
Jefferson Davis would arrive inthe
town during the day. Late that after-
noon Mr.. Davis reached Charlotte
with several members of his cabinet
and others and escorted by a de-
tachment of Vaughan's cavalry COM
mand, proceeded to the residence OF
Lewis +. Bates. on South TryOn street,
where a crowd, composed Of citizens,
refugees and soldiers (mOstly cavalry
men had assembled ID meet him.
Mfr. Bates was the superintendent Of
the Southern Express Company, and
resided but a short distance from his
Office. There was a lane or alley be-
tween his premises and the residence
Of Colonel William tombstone, that is
now known as Fourth street. The
lot on the corner of the ane was in
closed by a high fence, and the Bates
residence Immediately adjourned it.
The house was a two-story frame one,
the entrance to the front door being
reached by two or three steps extend
ing Oh the sidewalk. The adjoining
Bates or the express company, as 1t
contained low sheds in which were
stored cotton cloth, tobacco and other
articles. Entrance TO this lot was
reached by a gate opening from the
lane. Later, when the C~Onfederatea
had left town, and before the Federal
troops arrived, these sheds were lOote
by the mob which ransacked the vari
ous government stores n workshops
Bates was a northern man who hac
located in Charlotte a few years before
the war and by reason of his cOnnec
ton with the express company, he haC
opportunities for speculation not pos
sessed by others. If he had a family
no members of it were with him. He
was known as a bachelor and as on<
who was possessed of an abundance
of this worlds goods When Mr.
Davis and party arrived at the Bates
home there was a delay of some kline
the impatient crOWQ waiting SeVeId
minutes before the front door wa:
opened. 1t is the impression of thi:
writer that the presidential party en-
tered the premises by the usual route
the side gate-and that the deia,
was caused in finding the key to tn
front door. Mr.. Davis, in facing tn
crowd, stood Immediately in the door
way, not more than three feet from
the sidewalk. On his left (the sid
nearest the lane) stood Colonel Will
liam tombstone, president Of the Soutl
Carolina railroad, and behind the tive
in the passage, were several persons
whose names are unknown to tn
writer.
!, MANY TO HEAR HIM.