Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-09-20
kMiMOND DIVISION
OF DAVIS HIGHWAY
IS DESIGNATED
EaStman-Dublin Route Selected
For Historic and Geographic
Reasons

ne announcement of the selection
OF the Eastman, Dublin, WrightsvilIe
barlow and Louisville route to Auo,
usta, as the link of the Richmond r.
VISION of the Jefferson Davis Hob
way IS received by the general public
with great deal of enthusiasm thru
out the territory, for the reason that
besides the route being the more di-
sect to Augusta from Southwest Geor-
gia, to a considerable distance If
follows the identical trail, over which
JEFFERSON Davis and his party travelled
N thelr effort to escape the Federal
troops in 1865.
zen. James A. Thomas, native of
Laurens County and gallant officer in
the Confederate Army, recalls the
days OF the fateful journey of his
Chlef gives. detailed story of those
last days of historic significance:
-, Jefferson Davis Flight
when Jefferson Davis reached Geor-
ga on his journey TO Mississippi. which
he was endeavoring to reach before
capture by the federal soldiers. follow
ing the collapse of the Confederacv
he divided his party. Mrs. Davis and
an escort went by way of Augusta
with the idea of crossing the state and
goln MT. DAVIS and party later Mr.
paws held the last cabinet meeting of
the Confederacy at Washington. Ga.
and the cabinet dissolved. Acconpan-
led by Postmaster General Reagan.
Mr.. Davis started southwest to ioin
Mrs. Davis. They were headed for
Blackshear's ferry in Lauren's county.
where they intended to cross the
Oconee and according to citizens of
Dublin who remembered his passing
here, reached the ferry on Saturday
night. While at the ferry, he learned
that wagon train had camped at the
old Blackshear homestead on the east
side OF the river, and from the descrip-
ton ne was given of it, decided it was
Mrs. DAVIS party Accordingly, he and
Mr.. Reagan rode through the rain to
the Blackchear homestead and found
that the party was really that of Mrs.
Davis"
Sunday morning the two parties,
now merged into one, broke camp and
started on their journey. They crossed
the river at Dublin, and came into The
town. A short stop was made about
where Hicks Drug spore is now locat-
ed and then the party went on to the
old Rowe homestead, located on what
IS now the corner of Rowe Street and
academy Avenue, where resided Mr..
Tom Rowe.
Taken At Irwinville
News of their passing had reached
Mr.. Rowe and preparations to furn-
lsh dinner to the party had been made
instead of stopping for dinner. Mr..
Davis asked that the food be packed
and placed in one of the wagons, as
the troops pursuing him were not far
IN the rear, and the party did not wish
to lose any time from the road. Thew
stopped long enough to get water and
take on the baskets of dinner for the
party. 1t was learned later that aft
er leaving Dublin, Mr. Davis pushed
onward, and that Sunday night he
camped near what is now the town of
Eastman. Monday morning, the party
headed for Abbeville, where the river
was cnossed and where camp was
made Monday night. The next stop
tor camp was near Irwinville, where
federal troops from Macon captured
Mr.. Davis the next morning.
1t can be seen, therefore, that no
more logical nor more appropriate
route across this section of Georgia for
the Jefferson Davis Highway could
be selected, as it follows for the most
part the exact route taken by Mr.. Da-
Wis and Mrs Davis