Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/17

 In Memory of Jefferson /)////*. 5

horseman, Mr. Davis said: " Captain, do not trouble yourself about the Secretary of State, if one of us escapes it will be he."

He could never forget the night when, with guns cocked, the com- pany which he commanded rode behind the President's ambulance from Abbeville, S. C. to Washington, Ga., where they were expect- ing a dash of the Confederate Cavalry any moment. They crossed the Savannah river bright and early on the morning of May 6, 1865, and entered Washington, Ga., where they remained two days. Col- onel Johnston instructed him to report with his men to the President, who wished to bid him good-by. He stated that he had determined to disband his escort, because a small body of men could more easily elude the vigilance of the enemy than a large one, that a prize of $100,000 in gold had been offered for his capture, and every effort would be made to take him prisoner. " Meet me," he said, " south of the Chattahoochee, avoid all garrison towns, throw out your van guard and rear guard, -as General Johnston has surrendered this de- partment without my knowledge and consent. We will go to Mis- sissippi and there rally on Forrest, if he is in a state of organization; if not, we will cross over the Mississippi river, induce all Confederate soldiers who have not surrendered to come to us there, and join Kirby Smith and carry on the war forever."

Mr. McCaleb said he obeyed the President's instructions, and when nearing Meridan he saw then the first published accounts of the cap- ture of Mr. Davis, and that historic thrice told lie, which has so often been refuted, that he was disguised in a woman's dress at the time of his capture. He referred to the incarceration of Mr. Davis in Fortress Monroe, how he was manacled and chained by order of General Miles and that, though he was great in victory, he was still greater in defeat.

Mr. McCaleb afterwards saw Mr. Davis frequently during his res- idence at ' ' Beauvoir. "In one of these visits Mr. Davis had stated that he had never desired to wear the honors or assume the responsibilities of President of the Confederate States, but that his ambition was rather to lead the sons of Mississippi on the battle-field, as he had been trained and educated in military affairs, and desired to pive his best services to his country in that capacity.

With what poignant grief all heard of his death in this city. When the remains were being prepared for sepuchre one of the gentlemen present noticed a scar upon his left hand, and his old friend, Mr. J. U. Payne, told of an event in his life which to that time was unknown. He said that while Mr. Davis was living at Briarfield, Miss., on his