Evening star., 1934-08-12
NOTES DESCRIBE
FLIGHT OF DAVIS
Library of Congress Ac-
quires Copy OF Young
Captains Journal.
BY THOMAS n. HENRY.

BY THOMAS n. HENRY.
The journal OF a youthful Con-
federate cavalry captain. who was
jefferson Davis military aide during
his flight from Richmond. has just
been obtained by the manuscript
division Of the Library Of Congress.
Capt. Given Campbell. University
Of Virginia graduate and afterward
prominent St Louis attorney. never
published his field notes Of the flight.
which were copied for the Library
Of Congress from the manuscript In
the possession Of Albert Evans OF Fort
Worth
Campbell was an ofilcer In one OF
The cavalry sQuadrons which met the
fleeing Confederate president at
Greensboro. n. C. on April Is. 1865.
and remained with him as a guard
for a few days. Davis was trying TO
reach the Florida coast.
The keeper Of the diary was with
the large party as II left Greensboro
about pm. April IS, taking the road
toward Salisbury. The president and
all his cabinet we're on horseback, ex-
cept Secretaries Trenholm and Ben
iamin. who went in ambulances
drawn by mules Of inferior quality.
A considerable number OF officers and
their attendants, with several bag
gage wagons accompanied the presi-
dental party They preceded about
4 miles and rested for the night"
Ambulances Break Down.
The next day the ambulances car
rying the two secretaries broke down
and caused considerable delay. On
the morning of the 18th. "the presi-
dent and Secretary Breckenridge for
their breakfast took soldiers fare on
the ground surrounded by their es-
cort President Davis appeared well
on horseback: had q martial air and
rode very erectly as he passed our
regiment. He appeared thin, but not
frail nor in weak condition. His hair
was iron gray"
The next day at Salisbury. all the
females OF the party and most OF
the baggage we're placed upon rail-
road train for transportation south
ward, with the hope OF picking them
up later. That day Campbell was as
signed by his regimental commander
70 walt personally upon Davis.
On April 81 the party stopped all
night at house near Yorkville, s. c.,
and Secretary Mallory Of the Navy
and Regan, the Postmaster General.
we're out in front of the house in the
garden pitching silver half dollars
for cents, eleven up" They were
proceeding through a country honey
conbed with Northern troops. One
by one the escort companies we're
dismissed so the cavalcade would not
attract attention. There were many
rumors Of pursuit.
Gen. Bragg Encountered.
On Nav 1, Campbell reports. when
they were near the Tiger River in
South Carolina, a man approached
the party on horseback, and he recog-
nized Gen. Braxton Bragg, who re-
moved his hat when he talked with
Davis. The Cavalry captain was sur
prised that Bragg, who was sup
posed to hate Davis, should be so
respectful. At Cokesbury, S. c.. on
May 2, the party was greeted by a
large assembly Of ladies and prom
inent citizens.
The Attn of May he noted. was the
most hectic day yet experienced in
the flight There we're reports Of
enemy scouts surrounding them as
they approached Washington, Ga.
They distrusted the county people,
many OF them discharged Confeder-
ate soldiers who thought they had
been given a raw deal. They stopped
that night at the house of the prest-
dent of the bank. Davis became con-
vinced that no time was to be lost
II he was to get away. He must
abandon all dignity and frankly take
to flight.
The next morning, says Campbell,
"I was invited by Mr.. Davis into his
private room, and there he told me
that he had determined that he
would try TO make his way with
small escort of 10 men. and that he
desired TO entrust his safety to few
faithful hearts and asked me If
was willing TO undertake the service
of getting the men.
IT replied in the affirmative. and
he gave me a sum Of money to pur-
chase needed arms and new horses.
Then he presented me with pair
of large revolvers. The presidential
party consisted of himself, Secretary
Regan, his aides, Col. J. T. Moore,
Gov. Lubbock of Texas. Col w. p.
Johnston and one or two attendants.
There were two ambulance wagons.
Ambulances Abandoned.
On May the ambulances were
abandoned by the road. The next
day Davis came up with his wife's
were fleeing in ambulanceS. He
turned his horse over to an orderly
and rode in his wife's ambulance.
AT 10 O'Clock that night, two Scouts
rode rapidly into Abbeville, Ca, their
horses showing the effects of hard
and rapid riding, and reported that
there were some 400 Federal Cavalry
at Hawkinsville, 20 miles to the north,
that they had received news that Mrs.
Davis was making her way south in
the direction of Florida and were
making determined preparations for
pursuit. Mr.. Davis directed that We
strike camp at once and start in the
direction of Irwinville, Ga. This was
about 1890 pm. The train was
ready to move at about midnight and
went out on the road toward Irwin
vile about five miles and halted in
the piney woods near water, where
breakfast was to be prepared.
The country was very sparsely in
habited, abounding chiefly in long
leaf pines, wire grass and white sand,
and there being no well-defined roads.
scout were sent out to blaze a trail
Mr.. Davis seemed very much i'm
pressed with apprehension for the
safety of his wife and children on
account of the large number of de-
seTters from the Confederate Army
in the adjacent counties, and re-
ouested me to take one man and
set forage for the party at Irwin
vile. demonstrated against leav-
ing the President and suggested he