Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-08-30
GENERAL ROBERT TOOMBS
Famous Georgian Was Both Brilliant
and Brave.
CONTINUED FAITHFUL UNTIL The END
Was a Handsome Dashlng Man in
His Youth, and Continued to be
Original and Audacioas Through
Life.
BY T. L, Cent.

BY T. /, Can't. q.
| Men who are most blatant in ad-
vocacy of Involving their country in
war when tho hour OF danger arrives,
are invariably found holding Gorle
bomb proof position and have also
taken care to keep their own sons
outside the danger zone, and require
men who had no hand whatever in
provoking hoStiliucs to do the fight
ing.
But there are exceptions 10 allrules,
and Gen. Robert Toombs, Of Georgia
was an exception to the above named
class OF sllulkers. Long before even
South Carolina seeded he was a ram
pant spcessionist, and while in con-
greSs nothing delighted him more
than to defy and enrage the members
from New England. They never for
gave ToomDs for declaring that he In
tended some day to stond on the sum-
nit of Bunker Hill monument and
call the roll of his slaves; and after
the surrender he was hated by the
North next to jefferson, Davis, and
great efforts made to capture him. -
And the father of Mr.. Davis and
Bob Toornbs are Of the same county.
Wilkes. This is one OF the most in
teresting spots in Georgia or the
South and rich in historic interest. In
Wilkes was fought the battle Of Ket-
tie Creek and which turned the tide
in favor of the struggling colonists.
Here the wagon train, following Mr..
Davis and carrying the gold and silver
belonging to the Confederacy and the
Richmond banks, while encamped ut
night, near the town of Danburgi was
! raided and looted by disba9ded Con-
federate soldiers as the Federal troops
were in clooe pursuit and would have
captured IT. And in Washington, the
county town OF Wilkes, Jefferson
Davis and his cabinet held their last
meeting. the Southern Confederacy
was disbanded and Mr., Davis, with his
family and few tried and true
friends, began his journey to the sea-.
board, to be captured while encamped
at night in q pine forest near irwin
| ton, Ca So 1t was almost within
stones throw of the home OF Toombs,
whose overpoweffng eloquence did so
much to bring on the war, that the
sun of our Lost Cause set and that
stainless banner, the Stars and Bars,
| sanctified with the blood of the chiv-
airy of our Southland, was furled for
ever
Gen. Ben Heard who owned the
historic house (since demolished and
was present at that last meeting.
showed me THIS room and had marked
the spot where Mr.. Davis chair stood.
1t was handsome old style, three
story brick buildirg.and that last sad
meeting was held on the upper floor.
I have also visited the scene OF Mr..
Davis capture and noted, the bullet
SCARED pines. These spots to me
seemed hallowed ground. There Is
not one word of truth in the published
story that Mr., Davis had on woman's
dress when captured. He had retired
and had donned his night robe as had
always been his custom.
But / am wandering from my sub
| ject. When war was declared Bob,
Toombs was among the first to enlist
and fought valiantly until the surren-
der of Lee at Appomattox. \
I did not know Gen. Toombs per-
sonally until he was in the decline of
| life, but he was then a remarkably
handsome man, and would be singled
out in any assembly. We lived in ad-
joining counties. and Gen. Toombs be-
\ ing an eminent lawyer attended court
twice every year, besides being a fire.
quent visitor to my town of Lexington.
In his younger days Toombs is said
to have been one of the handsomest
men Of his day, with erect and i'm
posing statue. To Lee and his army
as a cavalry commander Toombs was
What Prince Rupert waste Charles 1
and Murat to oneparte-undaunted
courage combined with dash and
most picturesque bearing.
He was one Of the most eloquent
and convincing speakers his state
ever produced, and in defense of
cause he believed to be right and fac
ing an antagonist his words were
charged with vitriol and fairly blis-
| tered the party assailcd. The sever
est arraignment of a public man was
at what is known as the Brush Ar
Dor Meeting" in Atlanta where
Toombs denounced Cow Joseph +.
! Brown, who had joined she Republican
party and was rewarded with high
office. He closed his denuneiation
witt. the words, "Fe rots as he rises
and he rises as he rots."
Gen. Toombs was intensely South
ern and his devotion to his country
and it's cause amounted almost to fa-
naticism. His spirit was unyielding,
uncompromisng and unconquerable.
Had Toombs the power he would have
continued the war so long as man
was left to pull trigger api he would
have died in the last ditch with them.
He refused TO take the allegiance and