Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-07

to allay any feeling of jealousy that
might arise. and insure a more perfect
vigilance. as I felt persuaded tina:
these details would all carefully watch
one another. My suggestion was adopt
ed Nearly the entire guard was kept
constantly on duty day and night ami
"a majority OF the whole escort WAS
usually about the wagons al every
halt. closely inspecting the guard.
At the Savannah river Mr.. Davis Or
dered that the silver coin. amounting
10 one hundred and eight or ten thou
sand dollars, be paid to the troops In
partial discharge OF the arrears of paw
due them. The quartermasters 81 tia,
several hrigades were engaged during
the entire night I'm counting out the
money. and until early dawn q thron4
of soldiers surrounded the little cabin
where they were dividing the pile
into their respective quotas The sighi
of so much money seemed to Danish
sleep My brigade received So pc.
capita. officers and men sharing alike
Gen Breckenridge was paid that sum
roll of the brigade The next day M
Washington. Ga. / turned over I'll,
residue Of the treasure TO Mr.. NJ. II.
Clarke. acting treasurer of the Con
federate states. and experienced a feel
ing of great relief
Mr.. Davis. having apparently yielded 10
the advice pressed upon him. that Ia
should endeayor to escape. started of
with select party of twenty. command
cd by Capt. Given Campbell of Kentuckv
one OF the most gallant and Intelligent
omcers in the service. | knew nearly ali
OF these twenty personally. Escort and
commander had been picked as men who
could be relied on In any emergency. and
there is no doubt In my mind that if Nj.
Davis had really attempted tn get away
or reach the transmississippi this es-
cort would have exhausted every ex-
pedient their experience could have saig-
gested. and. if necessary. fought To the
death to accomplish his purpose.
| have never believed, however that Mr..
Davis really meant or desired to escap.
after he became convinced that all was
lost. think that. wearied by the i'm
portunity with which the request WAS
urged, he seemingly consented. intending
To put himself in the way OF being cap
tured.
l am convinced that he quilted the main
body Of the troops that they might have
an opportunity To surrender before 1t
was too late for surrender upon terms.
and that he was resolved that the small
escort with him should encounter no risk
in his behalf. l can account for his con-
duct upon no other hypothesis He well
knew-and he was urgently adyisod--that
his only chance of escape was In rapid
and continuous movement. He and his
party were admirably mounted. and could
easily have outridden the pursuit of any
party they We're not strong enough to
fight. Therefore. when he deliberately
procrastinated as he did. when the fact
Of his presence In the vicinity Of Irwins-
Vile, Ga, where he was captured May
10. was SD public and in the face OF the
effort that would certainly be made by
the Federal forces to secure his person.
j can only believe that he had resolved
not to escape.
immediately after Mr.. Davis departure
the greater portion OF the troops were
notified that their services would be no
longer needed, and were given a formal
discharge. Their officers made Arrange
ments for their prompt surrender. Gen.
Breckenridge requested Col. w. &. L.
Breckenridge and myself to hold a body
Of our men together for two or three
ent from that Mr.. Davis had taken. d.
vert attention as much possible from
his movements. We accordingly marched
with $40 men of our respective brigades
toward Woodstock. or WoodvilleI do not
certainly remember the name.
moved upon one road: Col. Breckn
ridge. with whom the general was. upon
another. We were 10 meet at the poiut
/ have mentioned. I arrived first AMI
halted TO await the others. | found that
"A considerable force Of Federal cavalry
was just to- the west of the place. ami
officer in command notified me I'm very
courteous terms that he would not at
tack unless l proceeded toward the west.
In which event he said he would, very
much to his regret, be compelled ito uSa
violence" He said that Inc hoped would
think proper to surrender as further
bloodshed was useless and wrong. but
that he would not undertake TO hasten
the matter. I responded that I appre-
ciated hts sentiments and situation, and
that l would give the matter of surrender
immediate and careful consideration.
That evening Col. Breckenridge ar
rived. He had encountered body of Fed
erals who had made to him almost the
identical statement tie officer in my front
had addressed to me. He had parleyed
with them long enough to enable Gen.
Breckenridge. with one or two officers who
were to accompany him in his effort Ia
escape. to get far enough away TO elude
pursuit and then, telling them where he
wished to go, was allowed to marct by
upon the same road occupied by the Fed
eral column. The men of the previously
hostile hosts cheered each other as they
passed, and the 'yanks' shouted, You
rebs better go home and stop his nom
sense: we dent want to hurt each other"
The colonel brought an earnest injunction
from Gen. Breckenridge that we should
both surrender without delay. We COM
municated his message to our comrades,
and for us the long agony was over.
Copyright. 1872 by the Century Comrany.D
ramekins or scalop shells. Spread over