The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-02-09

Red-shirt Revolution of 1S76,-no
one took a more active part in them,
no one had more or more accurate
information about them than the late
Col. James A. Hoyt, of Anderson. l
used to urge him to publish his IN
valuable recollections. They too,
are forever lost.
Will nv good old friend, Mr.. Hugh
Wilson, pardon me for suggesting
that he might enrich the columns OF
his old paper, the Press and Banner,
with some of his "reminiscences! He
has had a long life during an event,
full age, he has a good memory, and
I think he has a bulky scrapbook.
To save him from pen-labor ne
might dictate to a ste%nographer, and
7 know he could furnish your readers
most interesting matter.
I am greatly obliged to Mr.. Q
l%ingsworth for correcting the mistake
| made. The three old Abbevllle
fathers who had twenty-seven sons
at the battle front were, Robert II.
Wardlaw, Charles, Haskell and Mr.;
Bolts, not Mr.. Sharpe, as l nao
stated.
Mr.. Hollingsworth refers to the
last meeting of Jefferson DaTls's
Cabinet. as having taken place In the
house of Nh. Armistead Burt. 1
believe that the town of Washington,
Georgia, has claimed that the last
meeting was held there. But there
is no doubt it was held in AbbeVllle.
It will surprise Mr.. Hollingsworth,
and many others, to be told that,
unless my memory has played me
false. and I feel sure it has not,
the Confederate Cabinet held its last
meeting, not in Mr.. Burt's house, but
in the house of MI. Thomas G Perrin,
just across the way. OF course my
testimony is pure hearsay, but IN
this case it is most trustworthy heal
say, for it was Mr.. Burt himself
who told me. On more than n
occasion l heard his account of that
last meeting; and he never claimed
that it took place in his house. Presl-
dent Davis stayed at his house, while
some members of the Cabinet were
Mr.. PERKINS, guests. My memory
does not mislead me when | say that
Mr.. Burt used to tell how he walked
with President Davis through the side
gate and across the street to Mr..
PERKINS,, the President talking cheer
fully, and walking with a light, &C
tive step. Then he would tell OF
his escorting President Davis back to
his house after the Cabinet had dis
banded, and he would say that the
President was a different man,-that
he seemed tweney years older,-that
he walked feebly, and leaned on Mr.
Burt's arm, which he had not done
in going over.
Davis which Mr.. Burt's description
left on nv mind. And I lev had
any doubt that the last meeting of
the Cabinet was held in the stately,
spacious drawing room of old Thomas
PERKINS, house, which was burnt
wears ago.. Yet it seems to be gen.
orally believed that it took place IN
'the Burt House."
Now, Mr.. Editor, I do not desire
to get into a controversy about that
"last meeting, either with Abbeville
or Georgia, but l have a very dis-
tinct recollection of having heard MI
Burt. more than once, describe the
incident Just as 1 have recounted.
The main point with him was the
great change which had taken place
in Jefferson Davis, "Mr. Davis was
a different mar altogether coming
back from that meeting" l can
almost hear Mr.. Burt's voice now
after so many years. The last time
I heard him speak of it was In the
summer of 1879, here in Cashiers
Valley, on the front porch OF ms
mountain home, where DR.. Frank
Miles. of Baltimore, and l were at
the time his guests.
W. C.. B.
Cashiers, N. c., Jan. 26, 1916.