The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-10-10

while there Mr.. Davis stayed at the
home of friends and that af-
ter he and his companions had en-.
joyed supper Of strawberries and
cream he noticed a small boy in the
house. Inquiring the little lads name,
he was told that it was Jefferson
Davis Moore, and then the Confeder,
ate President did a characteristic
thing, for he gave the youngster a
|gold dollar out of the scanty funds he
had with him. The party left Cokes-
bury at $50 the next morning, ex-
pecting momentarily an encounter
with the enemy and prepared to
fight, but Abbeville was attained
safely without seeing foe. From all
THAT could be learned at Abbeville,
however, it was evident that the enc
my's cavalry was making diligent ef-
fort to capture Mr.. Davis and his
party.
"The most striking description of
the reception accorded President Da-
Wis and his companions in Abbeville
| is from an interesting and valuable
monograph on the last meeting of
the Confederate cabinet published
in The Southern Magazine in 1899
and written by the late Walter L.
Miller of the Abbeville bar. His ar
ticle is a distinct contribution to the
meager literature on this subject and
the strongest statement I have seen
in support of Abbeville's claim. am
indebted to It not only for its mar
shalled statement of fact and tradi-
ton, but also for its suggestive line
of reasoning. It would have escaped
my attention but for the thoughtful
ness of Mrs. Greene and the courte-
sy of Mr.. Chief Justice Gary.
"Mr. Miller said: And now, by one
of those strange condolences and
singular freaks of fortune, Abbeville
to which had been assigned so pron1i-
nent place at the beginning of the
Secession movement, is destined to
come to the front again, and to wit
ness the closing scenes in the great
drama of the Confederacy. It is to
have another memorable, historic
day. And what a. contrast there is
between it and the splendid mass
meeting of 1860 Ito declare for Sc
cession.) Then the people were bright
with hope, confident of success,
proud, resolute and defiant. There
was splendid gathering of the yeo-
manry, thivalry and beauty of upper
/ Carolina. The grandest orators in the
State were present and made ,the
VIC lki1 ring with their eloquent ora
tions. Handsome marshals, splendid
lily mounted, commanded the process
sion, which kept step to the music of
fife and drum. Shouts and huzzas
could be heard on every SIDE; But
now how changed the scene! No vast
concourse of people; no splendid
orators to welcome to the hearts and
homes of the people the official head
of the Confederacy; no gay cava-
lie-s dashiIg to and fro; no strains
Of martial music to cheer the coun-
tenance and inspire the heart; no
minute men" with gay rosettes and
banners flying. And yet I say this in
! no spirit Of censure, for I am a Caro-
linian, and I am proud of my State
and people. In their innermost hearts
u, the people of Carolina and the South
were as loyal, faithful and true at
. the close as they were at the begin
ninc of the struggle. No, the con-
! trast between, these two historic days
was due to other causes. War had
laid it's desolating hand upon our
State and people. 1t had taken to the
front the flower of our young men
and had left behind, almost alone,
women and children and infrm old
men. Many of our brave young men
had fallen on the field of battle, 9TH
ers had dropped by the wayside from
sheer exhaustion and want on the
weary march, and others still had
sickened and died in hospital or in
prison.
"On a charming morning in the
,ns;-, - 1ocS NJ noyie ond his