The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-11-11
WA SHINGToN. u. t.

~
The manuscript division Of the Lii
prary Of Congress has just put into
shape and made accessible to the his
tOrlcal student some most interesting
letters written by Jefferson Davis and
his wife while the two were fleeing
southwark from Richmond at the
close Of the war. The letters were
sent from one to the other in all
sorts Of ways, but in moA cases by
soldiers. The most Of them were in
| tercepted, and the collection finally
came into the hands of Edwin NJ.
| Stanton, who was Secretary Of War.
Mr.. Stanton kept the letters among
his private papers, and it was only
after his death that they came to the
national library. I ana Id that they
have never been published
These letters were written under
conditions Of terrible excitement. The
fConfederacy was falling and the
sword Of death hung by hair over
President Davis and his administra-
ton. The letters We're written with
out any idea that they would ever be
published. and they give perhaps the
truest insight into the characters Of
Mr.. Davis and Mrs. Davis and show
the beautiful relations which they
held to each other. will let them
speak for themselves.
The first letter is from President
Davis, just after he had sold out his
household effects in Richmond at
auction and had fled southwark to
Danville. Va. Mrs Davis was with
her children al Charlotte \. &. The
letter reads:
Danville, Va. April ), 1868.
My Dear Wife:-I have in vain
sought to get into communication
with Gen. Lee and have postponed
writing in the hope that | would soon
be able to speak to YOU with some
confidence Of the future. On last
Sunday ! was called out Of church TO
receive a telegram announcing that
Gen. Lee could not hold his position
longer than till night, and warning me
thai we must leave Richmond. as the
army would commence retiring mat
Ieyenino | made the necessary ar
rangements al my Office and went to
: our house to have the proper dispo-
t sitions made there. Nothing had
been done after YOU left and bur little
could be done in the few hours which
: remained before the train vas to
l leave.
/ II packed the BUST probably "f Nj
| Dayis) and gave it 70 John Davis. wht
! offered to take it AID put il where i
:, should never be found by d Yankee
t | also gave him charge Of the painting
j If the Heroes Of the Nalley'-botf
L were removed difct u1f r TX '''4 II
9 iture Of the house was left. and Yer,
little Of the things ! directed TO la
e put up. including bedding and grocer
3 les were saved. Mrs. omella he
. haved lust as YOU described her. bu
y seemed anxious 10 serve and promise
2 10 take care Of everything. which ma.
e mean something
a ..The auctioneer returned accoau
) of sales so8 400 could not diSpos
q OF the carriages. Mr.. Grant va
q afraid to Take ,he Carriage L" Iii
d house et. etc. | sen, il Ia Iht- de
T. not to be put Oh a fla car. ~ I'll
9 ~ crrert OF starting r was st4d tae
4 conl! not take il il, tnat tram. NIL
would bring it on the r@Ai tram. J
) mas not been heard from since.
a - scnt q message = Mr.. Grant tia
10 I had neglected to return ine coy
Is and wished him 10 send for her I'M
- u,diataly. Called off on horeshac
- - the depot | left the servants 20 (
:, down with the boxes and they 3ei
N lTippv Watson came Sllfif ( +
If Spencer a-aius. my will. Robert ~
"a 4 g. and Ives got drunk.
r David Bradford went back fro'
o. 1.-The depot to bring oct the 5poof
.a ard forks which. was told. had p"e
"a I,efr. and 10 come on1 WIN 'e'
~ cfenlidco. Since then ma f''
III heard from e:ii2n- of the.s7.
II had eho;T ..ot;ce aPi 49, t-te
n ,a,ntad ca offc., ani So l.rtlc 1.cc
n hat tae r-s,l,> sfe EeE-> 'i''St STA
rs ,orr-
.-,rte r.-e5s..- ;,-f- n..he. ''eei -