Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/106

 96 Southern Historical Society Papers.

[From the Richmond, Va., Times, July 2, 1896.]

RETREAT OF -THE CABINET.

Described by President Davis' Confederate Secretary. THE GREAT CHIEF'S NOBLE CONDUCT.

He Cheered His Faithful Adherents With Words of Encouragement- Little Children Blessed Him and Brought Him Flowers.

[This deeply interesting narrative was published on the date of the laying of the corner-stone- of the monument to President Jefferson Davis, in Monroe Park, at Richmond, Va., July 2, 1896. Captain Clark has been a constant supporter, and is a life member of the Southern Historical Society, and has been meritedly highly successful in his progressive business enterprises. ED.]

A notable personage who comes into considerable prominence at this time is Micajah H. Clark, of Clarksville, Tenn., who served for a period as acting treasurer of the Confederate States of America, and again as confidential secretary to President Jefferson Davis. At the time of the evacuation of Richmond Mr. Clark was acting in the capacity of chief and confidential clerk of the Executive Office. Under the orders of the Confederate President, he packed up all the papers of the office, and left with Mr. Davis and his Cabinet. At Danville the departments were reopened and a temporary capitol was established there. Upon receipt of dispatches, April ioth, con- veying the news of the surrender of General Lee's army, the Presi- dent and Cabinet retired to Greensboro, N. C., where General Beauregard had his headquarters. The party afterwards returned to Charlotte, remaining there during the truce declared between Johnston and Sherman. At Charlotte the President gave Mr. Clark a staff appointment with military rank.

While in Richmond Mr. Clark was, like all clerks, in the Local Defence Troops. Beginning as a private in the company, he was assigned to duty in the Medical Purveyor's office. From Charlotte he went with President Davis and his party to Abbeville, S. C., where the last Cabinet meeting was held. From that place the party repaired to Washington, Ga., where the Confederate Cabinet dis- persed, Hon. John H. Reagan alone remaining with the President.