been captured and South Carolina devastated and overwhelmed, that flag was again raised on Fort Sumter, under orders of the President of the United States, by the hands of the same Anderson, with appropriate military and naval ceremonies, and a commemorative address delivered by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher.

The last conflict of the Civil War.

The last conflict of the Civil War occurred May 13th, on the Rio Grande, near Brazos Santiago. A small expedition had set out to surprise a Confederate camp, which it succeeded in doing, but was overtaken on its return by a large force, and defeated, with the loss of 80 men.

CHAPTER XCIII.

THE FLIGHT AND CAPTURE OF DAVIS.

On the fall of Richmond Davis escaped to Danville, expecting that a junction would take place between the armies of Lee and Johnston. At Danville an attempt was made to re-establish the Confederate government.

Events soon showed that the Confederacy was at an end, and that its President must seck safety by flight.

His cabinet ministers abandoned him, and he was taken prisoner by national cavalry at Irwinville, Georgia.

He was confined for some time at Fortress Monroe, but was eventually set at liberty.

AFTER withdrawing from the church on that fatal SunThe flight of Davis day-fatal to the Confederacy-Davis spent from Richmond. the remainder of the day in preparations for flight. Such valuables as could, in the haste of the moment, be collected, were made ready for transportation, and orders were given that those which could not be removed should be burnt.

Fires were beginning to be seen in the city; the populace were already sacking the stores when Davis and his cabinet, some military officers and clergymen, entered a train for Danville. They had with them a guard of about 200 picked men, and saddled horses and carriages to insure their escape if Sheridan's cavalry should threaten them. It was some time after dark-10 P.M.-before the train started.

Gloomy as was the prospect, Davis had yet no just conception of the magnitude of the reverses that had befallen him. He still supposed that the armies of Lee and Johnston could effect a junction, and the war be indefinitely prolonged if advantageous terms could not be exacted. At about 20 miles from Richmond, the Secretary of War, Breckinridge, left the train to make his way to the headquarters of the two generals.

Late on the following morning the fugitives reached

He re-establishes

Danville.

Danville safely, and there, expecting that Lee would fall back toward them, Davis prepared to re-eshis government at tablish his government. The Secretary of the Treasury reopened his department in a bank building of the town, and, for the sake of prestige, began exchanging silver for Confederate notes-one dollar of the former for seventy of the latter. He ventured so far as to waste in this manner about $40,000 of coin. Preparations were made for fortifying the place; and on the 5th, Davis issued a proclamation informing the people that they had entered on a new phase of the struggle; that, relieved from the necessity of guarding particular points, their army would be free to move, and strike the enemy in detail far from his base. "Let us," said he, "but will it, and we are free. Let us not despond, my countrymen; but, relying on God, meet the foe with fresh defiance, and with unconquered and unconquerable hearts."

Day after day passed. No tidings came of Lee's approach; nothing could be heard of him. At length, on the 10th, Davis's worst suspicions were realized: news came that Lee had surrendered.

Thence he flees

It was now impossible to remain at Danville. There was nothing to do but to flee to Greensboro, to Greensboro. and find shadow under the wing of Johnston's army. The President and his officers had a narrow escape from capture, but on the 11th reached Greensboro safely. There he held a consultation with Johnston and Beauregard, both of whom, in former days, he had deeply wronged. He was anxious that they should attack Sherman; but Johnston, a far better judge of the military position, and, indeed, of the state of affairs, not only declined, but did not conceal the fact that there was obviously no other course than to follow the example of Lee.

Perhaps Davis might have borne with equanimity this abandonment of his cause by the armies which had so long and so ably sustained it, but here he found that the people

themselves had surrendered it. No one in Greensboro of fered hospitality. Houseless and without a friend, the Confederate government for three days remained in a railroad car. The veil had fallen from his eyes, and Davis now saw the magnitude of the Confederate calamity.

From Greensboro the fugitives took their way to CharHe ceases to exer- lotte, journeying partly in the humble concise authority. veyance of wagons. At that place Breckinridge joined them, bringing news of his interview with Sherman. It was clear that the Confederacy had come to an end, and here Davis spontaneously ceased to exercise authority. Trenholm and Benjamin, Mallory and Breckinridge, in succession, as he fled southward, abandoned him.

of his journey.

It was Davis's intention to reach the Gulf coast, or, if The difficulties possible, to make his way into Texas, but the national cavalry was busy in all directions cutting off his flight. He soon found that it would be impossible to flee westward. Even to the Gulf was a long and arduous journey. His escort mutinied, and demanded to be paid in coin. He was destined to experience how bitter is the lot of those who have fallen from power. Yet, though the white people among whom he passed might treat him with neglect, he knew that none of them would betray him, notwithstanding that a reward of $100,000 had been offered for his apprehension as an accomplice in the assassi nation of President Lincoln. He had already made his way far into Georgia without being discovered, when, about midnight (May 7th), a negro came into the camp of Colonel Harnden, at Dublin, in that state, and gave information that the fugitive, with his wife and family, had passed by that town during the day. They had eight wagons with them. He had heard the lady called Mrs. Davis, and one of the gentlemen spoken of as President Davis. He said that Mr. Davis had not crossed the river at the regular ferry with the rest of the party, but had gone about three miles lower down, and passed over on a small flat-boat, re

er.

Pursuit by the national cavalry.

joining those with the wagons near the outskirts of the town. Thence they had all gone' toward the south togethMr. Davis was mounted on a fine bay horse. Colonel Harnden, with a detachment of cavalry, had been for some time on the watch for the fugitives; he therefore at once pressed the pursuit, and soon fell on the track of the party. The trail led southward through a region of pine forests and cypress swamps almost uninhabited, affording no food for men or horses. Rain began to fall, and, as there was no road, the tracks of the wagon-wheels upon the sandy soil were soon obliterated. A citizen was pressed, and compelled to act as guide till the track was again discovered. The pursuit was continued with renewed vigor; but, as the wagon-tracks were once more lost in the waters bordering on Alligator Creek, the pursuing party was again delayed. That day was one of great toil, both to men and horses; they had marched 40 miles through an almost trackless forest, much of the way under the rain and in water up to their saddle-girths. They bivouacked after dark on the borders of Gum Swamp, heavy rain still falling, and before daylight on the 9th resumed their march. In the afternoon they met with another pursuing cavalry detachment, under Colonel Pritchard, to whom they gave the information they had gained. The two detachments now marched to Irwinville by different roads. Pritchard reached it first, at 2 A.M. on the 10th, and, guided by a negro whom he compelled to act, came within half a mile of the camp of the fugitives.

At daybreak the order was passed in a whisper to make His camp at Irwin- ready to enter the camp, which was found ville discovered. pitched on both sides of the road. On the left hand were wagons, horses, tents, and men; on the right were two wall tents, fronting from the road. No guards were encountered.

While they were thus in the act of surprising the camp, a sharp firing was heard. It turned out to be an acci