The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-09
< rrsxment Of Interesting Histcrs That Was Played at washinston, Georgia. h cie.,.s Day. of the
 wax.
nr ELrxEBETH M,RAE BoYKrN.

BY ELFxEBETH M'RAE BOYKTN.
 In the spring of 1865 there lay in camp about forty-fve miles west of Washington. Ga. a little band of Con- x6darate cavalry. This cavalry had been protecting Davis and his cabinet on their route from Charlotte \. c. Davis loft them at the crossing of the Savannah River and had pushed on ahead of them to Washington.
 They were all that was left of that division of cavalry. with which Steph- en D. Lee had fought sherman through the Valley of the Tennessee. and made him recross to the north side Of the Tennessee River and join 9rant al Chattanooga, instead of hanking the Confederate Army. as he was trying fo do. This same little division had held sherman's whole corps for an en- tire day. for General Hardee to get out of Savannah.
 In the heart of each man that night there was a gloom blacker than the darkness of a starless night. Lee had surrendered-that much they knew and straggiers passing them that morning reported that General John sfon had also surrendered.
 Just before daylight. one of General EexEuson's stan walked through the camp. looking closely at each group of sleeping soldiers finally he stopped. aroused an officer, and said: ..Major Boykin. General Ferguson says to se- feet ten picked men and horses for an important service"
 A Striking Figure.
 The officer was ordered to report some distance ahead, about half mile. at the intersection of 8 road with tho ona on which the brigade was cnfnped. There he was met by high or officer. accompanied by perhaps the most striking figure in the Confederacy. riding magnificent bay horse, as only Kentnckian could ride
 This man was General John c. Breck- enrldGb, Secretary, of War of the Con federate States. Major Boykir was or dered to escort General Breckenridge. Not another word was said. General Breekenridge turned into the main road with the officer commanding the escort hv his aide. and went straight towards Washington. Ga. That he was sur rnunded on every side by the Union Army General Breckenridge must have known, for Davis. in his book. The Rise and Fall of the Confederacy, says when the day passed without the troops coming forward, I sent a note to the Secretary of War showing the fmpolscy of my longer delay, having heard that General Upton had passed within a few miles of the town on his way to Augusta to receive the surren- der Of the garrison of that place, in conformity with the orders issued by General Johnston" For four years they had bcen trained to face death. this little band of men; 1t was not soldiers death they faced that day. yet, not one man. led by the magnetic power and courage of the Kentuckaan riding at their head. hesi- fated. In the heart of each one of those ten men was the resolve that they could be shot ten hundred times. but never would they give up their leader. sr be captured.
 The May sun beamed hotter and aArcer: onward and fastor went Gen. eral Breckenridge, and the Alabamians drove the spurs into their horses, as they never had done before. Well might we believe that theso dumb ani- malls looked at their riders In mute appeal that day. These 5aded. worn cavalry horses that, when Schmidt the bu9fer for that old End Alabama. would sound a charge firing the blood of man and beast as no other bugler in the army could had. without urging gone right up to the cannon's mouth, or through the serried ranks of Shermans 1ezfona One by one. they gave out; poor, starved horse flesh could go no longer. There was no stop to eat; there was nothing to eat
 Sometimes at stream. General Breckenridge would stop for few minutes water his horse. ride under the shade of tree. and say: Mot that Then in i've or ten minutes, he would ride on again at that steady gait that could only be kept by the thorough bred Kentucky saddle horse; never pausing at sha turns oR the road. ai- though for all he knew he might ride -R Al ot About 3 o'clock ia the afternoon they came in sight of Washington; there was only left General Breckenridge. the offlcer commanding the escort. and one man just in sight in the distance. General Breckenridge paused. looked back, and said: "our. escort seems to have deserted ua.
 eyes, General replied Major Boy kin. 'but 1t was not their fault"
 No" said General Breckenridge smiling sadly. T understand it."
 A few minutes more they rode on in silence, then General Breckenridgo looking over the horse of the Aiabam- ian said: Young man. that's a fine horse you're riding"
 sYes." replied the officer. "but not as fine as yours.p
 .eThis." said General Breckenridge sswas said to be the finest horse in Ken lucky. The people of Kentucky pre- sented him to me, when l went into the war
 And thus. with a reward for his cap ture, and the Union Army searching for him, with only one man. the Secretary of War of the Confederate states rode into Washington. Ga.
 After they had reached Washington General Breckenridge turned to the or flcer and said: Young man. l thank vou for this days service. and some day hope 1t will be in my power l1 repay you. I'll not forget it."
 Had Risked Capture.
 That night General Ferguson reacn . ed Washington with his command. As coon as all the cavalry had come in' fhey were lined up. and. each man was paid his<-pro rata share Of the last nonev in the Confederate treasury, and the last silver of the Confederacy was divided among those who had pro facted Davis and his cabinet. For fhis General Breckenridge had risked capture. He had contended that the little silver and gold remaining with the Confederacy belonged to the troops.
 Referring to General Breckenridge. Davis says: During the night after my arrival in Washington. he sent in an application for authority to draw from the treasury under the protection -