The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-05
HE LAST CAPITAL,
OF THE CONFEDERACY

I
marked the fall or the Confederate
| government and who is undoubtedly
! the best qualified living person to re-
| count them. Any statement made by
this pcrson would require no corrobo-
| rativc proof. which however. Is not
| LACKING. 10 substantiatc It.
[ iion. jefferson Davis In his rise
| and Fall OF the Confederate Govern
! nena' sayS: Though tho ,,ccupa ton
! OF Danvile Was not expected to be
| rcrmuncnt, immediately after arriving
| there rooms were obtained. and tho
| different departments resumed their
routine Id 2cr-. Since this was the
last r!ace at which tho departments
carried on their routine labors. and
since wn.is fhcy did this the capital
was located here therefore this place
IS entitled clearly 10 the distinction or
being called The Last Capital OF the
| Confederlc!.
When it became evident to General
Lee that Il would be impossible for him
Ito longer hol.i the dcfenses guarding
the capitil, bis main line ot defense s
at Pete-si,rrg having been broken.
I, which ncccss!sathl withdrawal! OF his
! other forces, he advised President
! Davis. IN a telegram received b. him
! while attending divine services, that
! Richnond Should be evacuated by tn.
( governments simultaneously with the
withdrawal of mis- army. SO. with his
I saninet' snd attended BY his stat,
| PTesident Davis left At once for Dan
VILE TITS was on Anril ,.
Upon arriving at Danvl;e, tie presi-
irdential partv was met at Tie depot
taken 70 his residence and entertained
| hy Major W, r s;utheclin. a wealthy
| and prominent citizen, who held the
o!tces Of commissary and command
| ant Al this place. and who had been a
member e tie Secession Convention Of
! Nlrsinia Hero the President and his
Cabinet remained until April 10 Here
| also We're the Cabinet meetings held.
| the proclamation issued and orders
I transmitted. During this time the
| Snthcrlin mansion constituted dc facto
+! the capitol Of the Confederate states
| \ house on Wilson Street Was obtained
10y the government for the use OF the
/ Presidents STAFF. and the Offices Of the
/ various departments, and there all
/ routine government business was
transacted.
The last frl, Cabinet meeting which
! was ever Ecld by the President met
| with him In Cne of the sitting rooms
OF the Suthc,lin mansion. al ne ihs
| oers Q. the Cabinet attended this
| meeting cxcept the Secretary OF War.
! General ! =. Breckinridge, of Ken
| tuckN. There were present Judah r.
! beHJamin, Secretary of State: Tren-
holn, Secretary of tho Treasury: Davis,
nc AttorneT-G General; T. II. Reagan,
/ Postmastcr-t;cne and Mr.. Memmin.
| ger. formerly Secretary OF the Treas
/ nrN: also Mr.. Harrison, the President
| private sectaiary.
| Mr.. Davis. while In Danyille. -re.
! manned nj his temporary home and can
liitol very i:ttle. He was very busiIy
tnga sed IN examining Into the forth
i'catlons surrounding the place. which
| nc reported as very faulty, both III
construction and design. He was also
/ actively engaged in formulating plans
irelating 10 tho design which je had
i formed Ct having Leo retreat to THE
/ Virginia state line. where he Could hn
| aoie to form a junction with Johnston.
4 TIE army T. thus eombned making a
ma stand en- the banks of and In
! the country contiguous to tho Dan and
Roanoke K;,crs, The execution 80 this
design which he had in mind had ts
accomplishment proved possible would
nave enabled the leaders to have oh :
famed .nuca better terms than IN I'M
conditionai surrender. However. as It
happened, Grant was able To and did
/ pS TANK movement which his posi-
/ ton aided lin in nskirE. pisr.nt the
contemplated move on Lees part.
| forced Inc crippled army to retreat
| towards I.ynchburg, where 1t was sur
rounded on o.! sides and compelled to
capitulate. This surrender of Lees
/ army on April made tho fall OF the
! civil braach Of the Confederate gov.
j crnment inevitable
| until the news of Lees surrender
reached him. President Davis was very
| hopeful and confident of the ultimate,
I triumph &c tie Confederacy. II, fact.
/ the tone of the proclamation issued BY
| him on the 5tn, soon after his arriya,
i'm lDanVl!lS, is..ns. he admits "viemn ~