The Washington herald., 1915-04-04


burg and Richmond.
Jefferson Davis was at st. Paul
Episcopal Church listening to the usus
Sunday morning service, when Ger
Lees dispatch was placed in his hands.
Reading the message without betray
ing by his features its portentious char
acter. Mr.. Davis left the church. TIL
service was curtailed and at its end tn
minister read a notice from Gen. Ewel
commanding in Richmond. calling al
absent men to their commands.
walking across Capital square to tn
old Customhouse Building, in which h
had his ofiices. the Confederate Presi
dent began packing his personal and Of
ficial papers for flight. Clerks and of
fcials Joined In the work. which went Of
all day and into the evening without in
terruption. As fast as papers were boxe'
they were sent to the railroad station
and placed on a train that was to TAX
the fugitive government to Danville. 13
miles southwest. Men fought for place
on that train.
At p. m. when Lees army was be
ginning its retreat from Petersburg. tn
train carrying Jefferson Davis from tn
scene Of his historic labors as a rule
began Its slow journey. which was I,
last into the next day.
At Danville, while Richmond burne<
and the Federals trod its streets, an(
while Lincoln stood in the rooms Of tht
white House Of the Confederacy," 81
recently vacated by the Davis family
some effort was made to carry on public
business. and Mr.. Davis issued a mani
festo. declaring his continued hope fo
the cause Of the Confederacy. His wordi
were bold and eloquent, but they fell OF
deaf ears. The people whom he hat
controlled for four years were now think
their uncertain future.
A Final Conference.
Three days before his fight from Rich.
mond Mr.. Davis had sent his wife and
their four children South by train to
Charlotte, n. c.. in charge Of his private
Burton n. Harrison. They
were accompanied by Miss Howell, Mrs
Davis sister. and few servants, and
besides their baggage. carried with them
the family horses.
When the worst should come. it waA
Mr.. Davis hope to get his family out OF
the country by way Of the coast. while
ne proceeded to the country beyond the
to join the Confederate forces
there under Gen. Kirby Smith. and per-
Gorable terms OF peace.
Tarrying at Danville only long enough
% learn the disaster that followed Lees
retreat, Mr.. Davis and his advisers kept
IN fifty miles southwark by train. to
Greensboro. N C. Here they found the
people Indifferent to their presence. A
officer. Col. John Taylor
Wood, took Mr.. Davis to his boarding
rouse but the rest OF the party lived on
he cars. in great discomfort, for several
lays.
On April L. at Col. Woods rooms. a no.
abb" council OF war was held by the
ponsors of the Confederacy. or the cab
net of Mr.. Davis. Messrs. Benjamin.
Mallory, Breckenridge. and Reagan were
present. Gen. Joseph f. Johnston had
been summoned from the field to the meet
ng. as we'll as Gen. T. G. Beauregard.
)f all the officers who had fought for the
no two had experienced less
,ordiaI relations with Mr.. Davis than
hey. In this dark hour they listened
while he told them that he did not think
hey should despair: that there were still
armies in the field and mill
ary resources in the South.
When Gen. Johnston was called on to
i've his opinion. he presented in terse
vords the hopelessness OF the situation.
Sen. Beauregard and Gen. Breckin-
'idge who was Secretary Of War,
greed with Gen Johnston. A plan was
that Gen. Johnston treat for
erms with Gen. Sherman, and to this
Ar. Davis assented. though reluctant
News OF Lineoln's Death.
On April IA Mr.. Davis and his party
20 fnn
ley southwark. The railroad was
'roken ahead. and they must travel on
horseback. A party Of young Missis-
ippi soldiers volunteered to act as
heir escort and the fact that these
-oung men had commandeered their
MOUNTS from neighboring stables has
ened the departure of the party.
The first night of the march passed
t a friendly house and the party had
heir first good meal since leaving
richmond. The next night the fugi-
ives bivouacked in a pine grove near
.exington. Here a courier from Gen.
ohnston overlook them, with news
( his desperate case and Messrs.
and Reagan were sent
ack To assist him in negotiating
erms of surrender.
Reaching Salisbury, n. c.. on the third
he people disinclined to receive them.
.uarters for Mr. Davis were found at
he house of a clergyman. The town
ore marks of a recent visit from Fed.
raj cavalry.
In spite of the dangers bes(tting him.
he collapse of his cause and his uncer-
ainty, about his family. Mr.. Davis dis
layed a serenity Of mind that puzzled
Is companions. He conversed cheerfully
nd entertainingly. on varied topics, ag-
culture, road building and the charms
I nature.
Arriving at Charlotte on April IS, Mr..
avis was deeply disappointed not to
nd Mrs. Davis there. Fearing the Fed
-als, she had pressed on to South Caro-
ma. Mr.. Harrison, who had rejoined Mr..
avis at Danville, was sent forward to
nd her.
Mr.. Davis and his party met a cold re-
option at Charlotte. The only person
ffering Mr.. Davis lodging was = man of
orthern birth. the agent Of an express
,mpany. Mr.. Davis was his guest near
q week. waiting for definite news from
le section he had left.
At Charlotte news was received OF the
Of President Lincoln. The
onfederate fugitives declared that in
incoln the Southern States had lost
leir only refuge" The next day Mr..
avis attended church, and the preacher
,oke SO severely on the wickedness Of
incoln's taking OF that Mr.. Davis re-
arked. after the service. II think the !
lstor directed his remarks at me-"
FEDERAL TROOPS OCCUPY
BURNING RICHMOND.