Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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BY E. B. MURRAY & GO._ _ANDERSON, S. C., THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1879. VOL. X1Y-NO. 48. LONGSTREET ON THE WAR. An Interesting: Talk with thc Gnllunt Old , Boldler. His-Katlinuto of Let., Johnston ! , ami Grant-Some Stirring ItcinlulHCcncea. j . Jilter tu the Philadelphia Times. j J GAINESVILLE, GA., July 23. ? i If you should happen to find yourself ? in thia little mountain town-and you \ could not well find yourself in a cooler ? place-and you wero to drop in at tho \ dingy postoliice-and you could not well t drop in at a dingier one-you would, in i ali probability, meet with a surprise 1 when you. inquired for your letters. In- ( stead of the hurried, pert and inquisitive i apparition that pops up at the call-hole j of the average country postoflico when a i strange voice is heard, you would be con- i fronted with a deliberate and noble face. 1 Through the little window you would I see a largo, well-Hhaped bead, a pair of i brave, frank eyes, a strong, expressive mouth, massive jaws, silken moustache c and whiskers almost as white and worn ? as Burnside's, the whole fiue in tone and I fibre, aristocratic in every detail, nnd carrying a singular impression of power < and dignity; you would then be looking < into the eyes of the most accomplished i soldier on the Southern Bide of tho lato I war, the man that led the Southern i troops in the first real battle of that gi- I ?antic struggle, Lee's most trusted and t est loved lieutenant, the "bull dog" cf the Army of Virginia-Gen. James Long street. You would watch him with in- i terest, remark bia striking likeness to i King William of Prussia, thank him 1 for his courteous reply to your inquiries, < nnd then step out and inquire about 1 him. i Gen. Longstreet is a Georgian. It is i true that he was born just across the < line in South Carolina, but his family is 1 Georgian and bis home has been in I Georgia. The Longstreet^ have always ! been considerable people of intelligence 1 and authority. They have been dir'in- i gui?bcd in the pulpit, on tho bench and in I ;ttera. Judge Longstreet is thc au- i thor of the "Georgia Scenes," tho best character sketch book probably ever pro duced in thia country. Gen. Longstreet ' was born in 1 20, and entered the West Point Academy when be was 18 years of ace. Tn 1842 he graduated and entered tbe array. He served with distinction in i the Mexican war and won two brevet i promotions. He was made captain for "gallant conduct" after the nattle of Churubusco, breveted major for gallantry at Elmolino del Rey, and was ''distill- 1 guished" in Gen. Scott's official report of thc assault on Cbcpultepec. A MAN DOUN A SOLDIER. It will be seen, therefore, that be has had nothing but military training and no 1 experience save that gained on the bat- ' tleficld or in camp. Tie is a soldier by instinct, education, practice and habit. There is no man whose opinions on the conduct of the war have more weight with thoughtful and competent people. : Gf unusually strong, broad mind, nnving j devoted bis leisure to the study of wnr as a science and his business hours to the ! prosecution of war as a fact, being so ' thoroughly military in his habits that ' the soldier always rose above the parti- ' san and gave him clear-eyed rather than 1 jaundiced vision, his opinions are entitled 1 to weight. Beyond this be was the most ' intimate friend, probably, that Gen. Lee ever had, and be had the luck, or ill luck, , of being the chief actor in at least two of tho decisive battles of the war. I had the pleasure of a long and easy talk w> i Gen. Longstreet concerning the conduct of the war-its decisive bat- ! i hs "loading actors, its blunders and its brilliant points. Said Gen. Longstreet, erect military and precise in his manner, but courteous always: "I was paymaster in the U. S. 1 Anny when the trouble between the States began. I had tho rank of major aud was stationed in New Mexico. I viewed from my distant point of observa tion the agitation ci tho Southern leaders with impatience. I was de voted to tho Union and failed to see any , cause for breaking it up. When seces- , sion was accomplished, I held on. Hind , determined to remain where I was if se cession was peacefully accomplished, of , which, however, I had little nope. My , relatives in Georgia wrote me urgently to come on at once, saying that 'all the good officers were being taken up.' I replied that if there was going to bo any war it would last for several years, and that in that time every soldier would find his level, aud so that it mattered little wdiether be commenced at the top or bottom. At length Sumter was fired upon, and then I knew that war was in evitable, and felt that my placo was with my people. I resigned my position and came home. I was at ouce made briga dier-general, and I may say that I led the Southern troops into the farst battle ihey ever fought, and commanded in tho first field of victory that the Southern flag over floated over. This was the af fair at Blackburn's Ford, usually known as Bull Run. Tyler attempted to force a passage, but my brigade repulsed bim handsomely." " Were you much elated over this vic tory ?" "I was proud of if, of course, but I did not join in the wild delight that followed it. I never bad any doubt that our pco t>le would make good fighters, but I tnew that the issuo must at last bo put upon organization. Individual bravery amounts to nothing in a protracted war. Everything depends upon organization. As I feared it would bo, the Southern armies were never properly organized or disciplined. The Northern armies were moved like machines and handled like urachiuen. A npring was touched, me whole mass moved regularly and prompt ly. With us itwasdifleront. There never waa a bettor army than tho army of Vir ginia, but it lacked the machine-like har mony of the northern armies. We had too much individuality in tho ranks and ineffi ciency at Richmond. The government waa to blame, I think, for tho lack of or ganization. VALOIt OF THE TKOOI\S. "Did the Southern troops display moro valor than tho Northern troops ?" "I cannot say that they did. As I said before, individual bravery amounts to very little, in a battle Men must bo fought in blocks and masses, just ns parts of a machine. Nearly everything depends upon tho commander. If the men have confidence in him and in bia movements, they will stand Dy him to the end. They will actually como to feel Baferin follow ing him, no mutter where ho lends, than in breaking away from bim. A good gen eral can talco an army of Chinamen and whip an army of Englishmen, if the lat ter aro improperly handled. No matter how brave men are, they will not fight if they feol that they are in doubtful and unskilful hands. This principle ex ?lnins the wonderful victories of the 'rench under the first Napoleon. If a general can only inspire his men with tho feeling that he knows what ho is about, ho will have good fighters. Ile can put thom anywhere ou any field, and In the faco of any fire ! "I was once dining wUV Horace Grcc ly," ?aid the general, becoming a bit dis cursive, "and he asked me if it was nnl peccasary to swear at your men and whoop them up,' as the saying goes. I eplied that I thought not. There is lothing like quiet assurance and confi lenee. A general need never bo noisy, ind I think quiet troops are thc best Sghtera. I once sent out a brigade to iccupy a certain point. As it was nourning a little crest, it esme full upon m?nense masses of Federals. The men vero panic-stricken, and thought I had nude a mistake in ordering them for ward. They halted irresolute, and then hopped down upon thc ground. It was mporlaut that they should advance and nake a feint, at least. I, therefore, rode mietly through their ratiks, on to the :rest, and there halting my horse, ad usted my glass and calmly surveyed the jcene in front. I turned carelessly iround, nnd as I expected, thero was my brigade at my back, every man in a post ion ready for anything-confident and issu red." "But were not thc Southern troops, in lefending their own soil, inspired by dronger motives than the Northern .roops, who were intruders?" "I think not. The sentiment in favor if tho Union and the memories that iding about the old flag were just aa drong, if not stronger, than tho love of ho soil of the States aud tho feeling u um ed in defending homes. There were thousands of men in every State who turned agaiust their native Slates in de ference to this love of tho Union, and joined with thc Federals, in invading their own homes. It is impossible tc avcr-estimato tho love that the Fedcrah had for the Union and the old flag. Il svns a love that was born with the Revo lution and cemented with the blood ol nur fathers. I remember myself thnt af ter the battle of Chattanooga Gen. Breck enridge made a speech congratulating his men at being able for the first time ir their lives to sleep on the battlefield,ant he said that they had to thank me for it Tho next day some one remarked that ] must feel very proud of this. I repli?e thnt the war aud all connected with i1 filled me with inexpressible sadness, ant that I felt just as if I was being congrat ulated over whipping my own brother The trufih is, the soldiers on both Bide: were nerved by lofty and desperate emo lions, and I knew from the first that then Bntild u~ ha-:-rlisnlovorl V->?V. ?,P nlmiu ui- iiciuiam u injii ii j i_ n nj ... mies, and that the struggle must be pro longed and strenuous." "What were the decisive battles of tb war?" "It ismj'opinion that we were whippet when we failed at Gettysburg. Al ter that we had only a chance. Afte Bragg's failure to follow up the advan tage at Chattanooga I felt that only : miracle could save v.s cid vpn kn nw ; soldier does not rely to any great exten on miracles. You see, as regards Get tysburg, wc had staked a great deal o l?ie invasion of which it was the turnio, point. It had been decided that we mus make an offensive campaign. I did no favor the invasion of Pennsylvania. M idea was to hurry the army, then concen traiting at Jackson, for the purpose o succoring Vicksburg, forward to Tulle homa, where Bragg was confronting Rose crans, and to Bond my corps to tho sam point. With these combined forces Rc ?ecrans might have been easily crushed nnd with our grand army we could hav swept through Tenncsseo and Kentuck find pierced Ohio. By sending this grei force, with prestige of victory, throug Tennessee nud Kentucky wo would ba\ won over both of those doubtful State I found, however, that Gen. Lee bad h: bead very much set on invading Penr sylvania. I agreed to bis plans, on) making ono point, viz : That we sboul never attack the Federals but force tbei to attack us. I remember Jackson's sa] ing: 'Wo sometimes fail to drive ti enemy from a position. They alwaj fail to drive us." THE SOUTH BEATEN AT GETTYSBURG "Tho invasion was made. Its wit pinn was changed by the battle of Ge tysburg and wo were forced back aero Ihe river. I felt then that we were bea en. I considered it simply n quest ic of time. Once after this was there chance (a bare chance) of saving tl Confederacy. This was after the batt of Chickamauga, which was in many r spects the most brilliant victory of tl war. The enemy was moro thorough put to rout here than before or since, there ever was an occasion that d mended pursuit pell-mell this was tl time. The Federals were rushing ba< on Chattanooga in the utmost confusio It was a bright moonlight night and o people wero anxious to pursue. V might actually have entered Chnttanoo with tho flying Federals and thus reco ered the key to Georgia and East Te ncsseo. Gen. Bragg declined to folh up his advantage. The enemy rallie reformed, and Bragg was driven buck Missionary Ridge. I had a talk wi Mr. Davis shortly after Chickamauga. told bim that there was no hopo for t triumph of our arms. Ho has very mu discouraged, and finally grew petula He Bald bc never remembered havi seen such a movement as I proposed Chickamauga. I replied that if 1 memory would enrry him as far bnck the first Manassas ne would see such movement. He replied very tartly, a wc bael some nharp words. These wi arranged, however, nnd we parted on gc terms." "You say, General, that organizati was tho deficiency of the military syst of the Confederacy. What was tho fa of its operations?" "Chiefly this-the failure to cona trato troops. The government, mm doubtless by a desire to protect our t as much ns nnsnihln VA??? CU? *!"OCp? SC tered, and thus m ado them inefficir There was Bcarcely a time when we 1 a really grand army at any one poi Tho policy of the Federals, and especi ly Gen. Grant's policy, was to mass ev thing available at ono single point, r then drive straight at it. Of courso ? government disliked to leave any sect of the Confederacy at tho mercy of Federals. Therefore our men were sc tered over our whole extent of territory do not think that our best generals e\ comprehended tho n?ee??ity of mncj trat ion ef forces. They relied too mi on tho valor of their men. They scon to forget that where good cautious gen als commanded on each side, numb must triumph over valor. There wai notable instance of this at Fort Don?la Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, ono of loftiest 8oub that ever lived, had ab 45,000 men. Of this forco l?,* wore at Donelson lf>,000 nt Columl and 15,000 in the front of Ruell. Gr having a force of about 30,000 m fell upon Donelu;n and captured Had Johnston either concentra his forces nt Donelson or in front Ruell, bo could have crushed eit Grant or Bucll. Aa it waa, Gen. Gr told me afterwards that ho was aa ba whipped at Donelson as the Confei ates wero, if the Confederates had e known it, and been ablo to act upon tl knowledge." JOE JOHNSTON THE BEST ORNERAI "Who do you think thc best genera! tho Southern aide of tho war?" "1 am inclined to think that Gen. Johnston waa thc ablest a.id most ace plished man that tho Confederate arc produced. Ho never bad the onportu : uity accorded to many others, out ho \ showed wonderful power as tactician i and a commander. I do not think that j we had his equal for handling an army ! oud conducting a campaign. Gen. Lee was a great leader-wise, deep and saga cious. His moral influence wus some thing wonderful. But he lost bis poiso , on certain occasions. No ono who is nc quairted with the facts can believe that . he would Lave fought the battle of Get j tysburg had lie not been under great ex citement, or that he would have oidercd the sacrifice of Pickett and his Virgin ians on tho day after tho battle. Ho said to me afterwards, 'Why didn't you stop all that thing that day?' At the Wilderness, when our linea had been driven in, and I was getting to the field, Geneinl Lee put himself nt tho head of one of my brigades, mid leading it ?tito action my men pressed him back, and I said to him that if he would leave my commands in my own hands I would re-form bia lines. His great soul rose masterful within bim when a crisis or diaster tbre atened. This tended to dis turb bis admiral equipoise. I loved Gen eral Lee as a brother while be lived und I revere his memory. He was a great man, a bom leader, a wise general, but I think Johnston was the mostaccom Clished and capable commander that we ad." "Who ivas the greatest general on tho Northern side?" "Grant-incomparably the greatest. He possessed an individuality that im pressed itse'f upon nil that he did. Mc Clellan was a skilful engince:, but never rose above the average conclusions of his council. Sherman never fought a great battle, and displayed no extraordinary power. Hut Grant was great. Ho un derstood (he terrible power of concen tration and persistency. How stubborn ly bc struck to Vicksburg and to Rich mond. He concentrated all his strength, trained bis energies to a single purpose, and then delivered terrible sledge ham mer blows against which strategy and tactics and valor could avail nothing. He knew tbnt majorities properly handled inuBt triumph in war as in politics, and he always gathered his resources together before striking." "What was the most desperate battle of the war?" "Gettysburg-as far as my observation extended. There never waa any fighting dono anywhere to surpass the battle made by ray men on tho 2d of July. I led 12,000 men into that charge. Over one-third of thia number were killed or wounded. These veterana charged the whole Federal army, entrenched on a crest, berRi??ed on each flank until the line was stretched, and at last I found myself cbargiug 50,000 entrenched men in the face of a volcano of artillery, with a single line of battle. My two divisione encountered and drove back tho Third Corps, the Fifth Corps, the Sixth Corps, the Second Corps, one division of thc Twelfth and tho Pennsylvania Reserves. As they broke line after line they en countered new ones and felt the steady shock of frPoh troops. The Federah contend that tho bulk of Lee's army was jia this charge, and put the strength o: the attacking column at 45,000 men, whet it was only 12,000, with 2,000 of these knocked out of ranke before they hat hardly started up the slope. I do no think tho records of the war can show anything to approach this work." TUE SlIRRNEDEB AT APPOMATTOX. "Did you agree with Lee ns to the ne cessity of tho surrender at Appomat toxY" "I did. For some time I bad felt tba we were fighting against hope. I kep my lips closed and fought ahead in silence For thc week preceding the surrender '. fought almost without ceasing. I wa covering Gen. Lee's retreat, while Gor don opened a way for lum in front, had Field's divisions, all that was lefl Tho Federals pressed upon us relentlcssl, and we fell back, fighting night and day inch by inch, covering tho slow retrea of our wagon Lains. Our lines ' wer never once broken or disordered. M; men fought with the finest regularity au heroism. Wherever I placed a brigad there it would stand until i ordered i away. I was among my men constantly so that I knew little of the general situe tion. Early in the morning Gen. Le sent for me and I nt ouco went to bin He was in deep concern, lie stated t me that his retreat had been cut off an it was impossible for him to escape froi the circle that bad been drawn ubot him. 'If that is the case, General,' I ri Flied, 'you should surrender tho .'.rm; f escape is impossible, not another Iii should be sacrificed.' Gen Lee then bi gan to talk about the distress and troubl thal surrender would bring upon his com try and his people. 'That cannot be pt against the useless shedding of the; bravo men's blood. If you are satisfic that you cannot save tho army, it shoui be surrendered. Tho people will kno that you have done all that man ca do.' Ho then told me that he had di covered that there wero heavy masses i infantry in front and that ho could m hope to cut through. It was a terrib moment for Gen. Lee. Having fougl for years with high and lofty purpose having won victory after victory* nt made a record for his army not equalh in our history, it was bard that he mu surrender everything. I cannot tell y< how my heart went to him." (But tl moistened eyes and tho fine voice, grov husky, as Gen. Longstreet went over tl story, did tell mc.) "I left Gen. Lee ai went back to my men. I ordered firii stopped. I stoodquietly awaiting eveni Suddenly a horse came clattering dov my front. I looked up ->nd saw a ema looking officer? with yellow hair streat ing behind him, hurrying forward whero I stood, lie waa in great excil ment, and urged hi3 horse to whero stood. Then ho wrenched him sudden to his haunches, and said, in a aomcwh violent tone : 'In the name of Gen. Ph Sheridan I demand the instant surrend ofthisaimyl* I was not in a humor 1 triflingjust then, but i replied os calm as I could : 'I am not trie command of ibis army, and if I WCTC- I nliould n surrender to you,' meaning, of coun that I would treat with the proper ti thority. 'I make the demand,' he i joined, 'simply for tho purpose of pi venting further bloodshed.' 'If y wish to prevent any further shedding blood don't shed any more ; we have i ready stopped,' I said, still kcepi cool. He reiterated his der-.jind for immediate and unconditioi al surrend I then notified him that lu- was outei of his lines, and that if he waa not mc courteous I would remind him of this fi in a way that might bo unpleasant bim. I then explained that Gen. Gre and Gen. Leo were engaged in a con fi ence that would probably settlo cvci thing. He grew pleasant then, and af awhile galloped off. Ile was a brave a spirited young fellow, but my obi vcti ans were not in a mood to humor h when ho dashed up to us that day. T surrender fell with more crushing elli on my troops than on any in tho arn They were in fino condition and w< flushed with victory. Wo had throi back tho Federals day after day as th pressed on us-pushing them when th came too near and stunning them when j they charged us seriously. Enveloped j for six or eight days in*the continual \ i moke of battle, wo bud little idea of j what was going on elsewhere, aud when j we surrendered 4,000 bayonets to (Jeu. ! tirant we surrendered also 1.G00 Feder al prisoners thal bad been plucked out of bis army during our retreat. Still, wo all bad the most perfect confidence in Gen. Lee's nbilitv and heroism and wo knew that he had dune all mortal man could do." "Did you say to Gen. Lee when par ting with him that you regretted you had gone into tho wnr?" "No sir. I said that before I drew my sword ngain I would be sure that it would bo ueccssary. I did not believe that tho war was justified on either side. It is a terrible thing and should bo re sorted to only in absolute self-defence just as killing in private life. Besides, I had fought all tho time, knowing that our plans were wrong and believing that wo could not succeed. I saw our forces scattered over a vast country and along an endless line of sea coast, while Gen. Grant, with tho true genious of war, massed his energies upon point after point and crushed us inexorably. Still I did not, and do not regret my services. I fought for my people. I fought stead ily, uncomplainingly, as best I knew how, and there never was nn hour that I would not have gladly laid my life down to have secured the success of our cause. No, Bir, I regret nothing. I only did my duty. Thc war was a grievous error -an error of both sections and for which holli sections have deeply atoned. As for me, I only did my duty in an humble way.ns a man and as a soldier, and the same reverent devoted sentiment that im pelled me to draw ray sword filled ray heart when I sheathed it forever." TH1? PRAYING1 SOUTHERN nENERALS. Col. P. \V. Alexander, who as "P. W. A." was thc best known of Southern war correspondents, lately caverne a reminis cence of Gen. Longstreet. He says that right before tho battle of tho Wilderness ho slept in the same room with tho Gen eral. After ho had gone to bed Gen. Longstreet came in. Ile undressed and then kneeled by his bedside and engaged in the most earnest prayer. While Iiis words were not audible it could bo seen that Lo was verv much affected, was lit erally "wrestling with prnyer." He re mained upon his knees for a full half hour, Col. Alexander watching him by the starlight that crept through an open window. By the way, it is a notable fact that the South-lavish, reckless, imperious in all her wayB-sent her ar mies to the field under tho leadership of God fearing, Ged seeking men, while the decorous <;.nd straight-laced North did no such thing. It may be that the land of sentiment believed iu prayer, while the land of cold reason put its trust in artil lery, and preferred that its leaders should look to the condition of their troops rather than indulge in petitions to tho Divine Arbiter; that, after all, is said to give victory to tho sido having tho most men and tho heaviest guns. Lee, Jackson and Longstreet were men of prayer, in the fullest sense of tho word. Bragg was baptised in the pres senco of his army. Ewell became a de vout Christian. Albert Sidney Johnston never went into battle without going down upon his knee? tc thc Lord of Hosts. Gordon was a devout and prayer loving man. Neither Gen. Grant or Shermnn or Sheridan, or Butler-but, then, it is important, ufter all, to look after the artillery. Gen. Longstreet was a leader great in details. Ho never went into camp with out Boeing personally that his men vero properly disposed. His orders to his troops we. . unique and in vivid contrast to the fine rhetoric and stirring appeals usual in such papers. He filled bis or ders with practical hints and ndvicp. As for instance: "Remember though the fiery noise of battle is most terrifying and seems to threaten universal ruin it is not BO destructive ns it seems and few soldiers are slain after all. Tho com manding general desires to particularly impress the fact. Let officers and men even under the most formidable firo pre serve a quiet demeanor ; keep cool ; obey orders ; fire low. Remember while you are doing this and driving tho ene my before you, your comrades aro sup porting you on either side and are in turn edging on you." He had tbi most wonderful inflnence over his men. They would follow him anywhere. Gen. Toomba once said that Longstreet was the only Southern general capable of leading an array of 70,000 men into Penn sylvania. Since thc war, Gen. Longstreet has been living in comparative quiet. Some years ago no wrote a letter advising the South to accept the situation and make the best of it, that subjected bim to con siderable abuse. Latterly, however, this lins died away, and ho is restored to his old place in tho hearts of his people, since tho wisdom of his advice having been proved, ho is allowed credit for pu rity of motive in giving it. He lived in New Orleans for some years, and was un lucky in a commercial business. He removed to Gainesville, Ga., some years ago where he bought a sheep farm and a large summer hotel. Ho was mnde postmaster, without having ap plied, upon the death of the old post master. His hotel is mannged by bis son and nephew. His salnry is about $2,000 and ho is allowed an assistant. His health is good, but his right arm is paralyzed, the effect of old wounds. He is quiet, self-possessed and kindly-a great favorite with tho townpcople. Ho ::r?; a channing family, a fair competen cy, a peaceful home, and will probably end a lifo stormy, potent and terrible to thc highest degree in a placid and grate ful contentment. IL W. G. - A new American export trade has been started, which promises to bo more successful than the exportation of cattle, hogs and sheep, because thc margin of profit ia much larger ; and that ia the ex portation of horses, a cargo of which ar rived in Havre on 8unday. They are to bo used in the French cavalry, and hav ing bco'i inspected by army officers, were allacccptcd nt tho highest prices paid for French regiments-from $220 to tf^TO. AB the French Government is expending such vast sums for the equipment of its constantly increasing anny, thia will doubtless provo an entering wedge foran extensive and lucrative trade, and thc high price of horses in Europe will be fore long lead to exportation to other countries thnn France. Tho cost of shipment to Havre is still considerably greater than to Liverpool, but if the trade becomes a pormnnent ono more fa vorable terms are confidently expected. A COMPLIMENT TO DENTISTS.-Of all professional men, dentists should bo the neatest, and aa a clnsa they are. Those wdio requiro a grateful, refreshing, de lightful aroma, while working about the organ of smell, should wet their hands in Dr. Price's Floral Riches. Its fragrance is not only as pleasant ns can be imagin ed, but decidedly stimulating. - Two hundred and ninety-nine bouses have been erected lu Atlanta in three mouths. JEFFERSON DAVIS IN LUCK. Mra. Sarah A. Donny, of M i?-..! ". i j>pl, H?> qui'Mlis lier Kntlr? Property to tho He ro of tho "I,oiit Came"-Tim Will to IJO Coiiteatcd-G<>n. <'. K. Dahlgrcn'a Reinin isivm?* of tho Youth of Mm. Dorney, hi? j Btep-Dsaglitcr. Tht New York attn. Mra. Sarah A. Dorsey, ol Beauvoir, Mississippi, lias bequeathed her large es tato to Jefferson Davis. Tho will is as follows: BEAUVOIR, HABBISON CO., MISS., Janunry 4, 1S78. | I, Sarah Anno Dorney? of Tensas Par- j rish, La., being aware of tho uncertain- j ty of life, and being now in sound health ; of mind mid body, do make this my hist ! will and testament which I write, sign | and seal with my own hand, in tho pres ence of three competent witnesses, as I possess property in tho Statea of Lou isiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. I owe no obligation of any sort whatever to any relative of my own ; I have done all I could for them during my life. I, there fore, give and bequeath all my property, real, personal ana mixed, wherever loca ted and situated, wholly and entirely without hindrance or qualification, to my most honored and esteemed friend, Jef ferson Davis, cx-President of the Con federate Stuten, for his own solo uno and benefit, in feo simple, forever; and I hereby constitute bim my sole heir, ex ecutor and administrator. If Jefferson Davis should not survive me, I give all that I have bequeathed him to his young est daughter, Varina. I do not intend to share in tho ingratitude of my coun try toward tho man who is, in my eyes, thc highest and noblest in existence. In testimony whereof I sign this will, written with my own hand, in the pres ence of W. L. Walthall, F. S. Howes, and John C. Craig, subscribing witnesses, residents in Harrison Countv, Miss. SARAH ANNE DORSEY. The will waa probated in the Second District Court ot New Orleans, on July 15tb, and that act is deemed to be a no tice that ho intends to accept tho ho quet*., to tho exclusion of the natural heirs. Mr. Davis '?nd accordingly enter ed into possession of Beauvoir, Mrs. Dor sey's beautiful home on ibu snore of Hie Qulf of Mexico, of the plantations at Elk Ridgo and Elliston, in Louisiana, and of her other property, the wholo rep resenting a fortune of a quarter of a mil lion of dollars. Under tho laws of the State of Louisiana, (and tho laws of Mis? sisBippi are similar,) the beneficiaries un dera will enter upon tho property be queathed as soon as tho ill is proved to hn the last will of the f' >d person. If a contest follows, thc eau ie nust bo tried at a Circuit Court before a jury, and if the will is set aside in favor of other heirs, those who have bad tho benefit of thc property in the meantime must account for its rents and profits. Col. S. Percy Ellis, of Brooklyn, thc brother of Mrs. Sarah A. Dorsey, has received a copy of the above will, sent to him by Jefferson Davis, with an accom panying letter, which docs not contain any intimation that Mr. Davis does not intend to fully enjoy all of the property which tho various neglected relatives of Mrs. Doraey confidently expected would be divided among them. Col. Ellis has fully determined upon a contest of the will, which will be begun so as to cet the caBe before the fall Circuit of tue Louisiana Supreme Court if possible. Mr. Ellis, his sister,Mrs. Inez Peckham, his sister-in-law, M."s. Appaliue Ellis, of Philadelphia, and bi3 half brother, who will all appear as contestants, are unable to meet tue expenses of a contest, as they have all suffered a reverse of fortune be cause of the war; but it is expected that they will bo able to sccuro some lawyer who will take tho case ou a contingent fee,, so that the contest will not be delay ed. Mr. Ellis is eugnged in the prelimi nary work of the contest. He is deter mined to prevent Jefferson Davis from entering upon the peaceful possession of the inheritance, to a share of which ho believes hir. children arc entitled, as they hp.d been selected by Dr. Dorsey before bia death to receive some of tue prop erty from Mrs. Dorsey's hands. Mrs. Dorsey's stepfather wr.s the well known rebel Gen. Charles G. Dahlgren. to whom she was indebted for her excel lent education, as Gen. Dahlgren took an intense pride in her enreer up to the time of ber marriage, and bestowed money freely upon ber. Gen. Charles G. Dahl gren, who is the brother of tho late Rear Admiral Dahlgren, the inventor of tho Dahlgren gun, ia also a resident of Brooklyn. He was a General in com mand of the Confederate army in Missis sippi and hud charge of thc fortifications of Vicksburg, but as he differed with Jeffer son Davis about the conduct of tho war, ho was removed from that command and afterward "ne joined the army of the Ten nessee under Gen. Bragg. Gen Dahlgren was fout 1 yesterday in his office at ll? Broadway, where he is now a lawyer, having in his time been sailor, soldier banker, plante, civil engineer, and tail road builder. He is tall and gray, and although now nearly 70 years of . ge, possesses a powerful frame, a steady step, and a clear eye. Perhaps no man in New York i? more rich in reminiscence, and eau at tho P'HC timo make the story of what he hus seen and experienced more interesting. Gen. Dahlgren has a deep, long scar on both side* of his left hand, where in fighting a duel with bowie knives ho clasped tho keen edge of his antagonist's weapon to prevent a thrust into his bowels, and held it so hard that the bindo cut through his hand __j __"___ji u:_ J-..]- j" two pistol balls, received in ?n da, in his body, one lodging against his ribs. Two other balls, fired to kill him, have been removed by surgeons. On top of his head, toward the left side, is a scar made by a bowie knif -., and on tho left side, beneath tho scalp is thc broken tip o' a bowie knife, which is fastened into the skull bone, and was left here in a desper ate duel. When the memories of the girlhood of Mrs. Sarah Dorsey crowded upon him, ns ho told of her life, Gen. Dahlgren's eyes filled with tears, and ho stopped at times in his story to stay his emotion. "Tho Ellis family," said Gen. Dahl gren, comes down from Capt. Percy, an English captain, who came over to Quebec carly in tho history of this coun try, and while here took advantage of the grants of land his country was making, and settled in the South. He was of tho famou? English family of Percy's, and Mrs. Dorsey's mother is tho direct de scendant of ' ;,.is Capt. Percy. There is something unbalanced about the family, aud there have been seven cases of men tal derangement in their history in this country. There is a creek in Mississippi named after Capt. Percy, and ono day ho was found in it with a weight of iron about his neck. James Brown, who was bis descendant, was onco a United States Senator from Louisiana, and was Minis ter to France. Ile committed suicide by opening an artery in his foot. Another descendant was a victim of idiocy. Mrs. Dorsey's grand-mother died insane in my house, and there aro three other instances I could name. Tho family has boon market! at times by persons of high com mon sense and steady mind. My wife was ono of those, and ?o' is her daughter, Inez Peckham. .Mrs. Dorsey hau tho family characteristic, which was im pulsiveness. Once started, there was no holding her. Her mind was marked by that want of steady balance which ia needed in a safe, sane aud prudent per son. "Mrs. Dorsey's,, grandfather was Col. John L. Ellis, who was a rich planter near Natchez, and was colonel of tho regiment that was raised when there was a difference threatened between tho Spaniards and Americans after tho ces sion of Louisiana by Napoleon to this country. He died in 1812. and his wid ow bad two children, one of them being Thomas L. Ellis, who was tho father of i "Mrs. Dorsey, and a daughter who mar ried Dr. La Roche, of Philadelphia, a West India refugee. Mrs. Ellis then married Maj. N. A. Ware, a Natchez lawyer, and afterward bad two daughters, one of whom became the wifo of Elisha Warfield, a Kentucky planter, and tho other tho wifo of Harry Lee, who now lives in Washington County, Miss. Mrs. Warfield was an authoress, and I think she wrote a.book entitled 'Beauvoir', from which the plantation was named. "Now Mrs. Dorsey's father, Thomas L. Ellis, married Mary M. Routh of thc Percy blood. Her brother, John Routh, was ono of thc largest planters in the South, lie died in 18?0, on Lake St. Joseph, where ho had gone to buy another plan tation. He left four children-Sarah, Stephen, Thomas and Inez-who were all smull when, in 1v' IO. I married their mother. I was born iu Philadelphia, and when I was a boy I was in tho navy with my brother John, and Farragut was our commander, but mv mother and sister needed support, and* I left John, after ward Admiral Dahlgrcn, at sea, and came homo. I was raised up in thc United States Bank, nnd waa sent to take charge of tho Vicksburg branch of the bank, aud there I waa when 1 married the widow Ellis, Sho boro mo seven children. Two only survive-Mortimer and Charles. Two perished in the war. "Airs. Dorsey was, I think, ono of the most remarkable women of ber time. She was a little girl when I took charge I of thc family, and I discovered that she ' had a wonderful intellect, which I deter mined to devt-iop. I spent a fortuno do ing it, but I never regretted the lesult. Sho took in every study and every accom plishment. I have never listened to such a sweet musician off tho stage. I had Uochsa. the great harp-player, teach her on thc harp, and 1 purchased tho instru ment that ho played on for her. She ex hausted the dancing muster's skill, sho learned so rapidly, aud when sho had cn compassed about everything in tho range of jin ordinary education, I put her through a course of law and book-keeping, with aa happy results. When she left my hands she hadn't an equal iu the South. She was not a beautiful woman, but she bad pleasant features, a fino fig ure, and those peculiar feminine ways that go so far in making up a woman's attractions. Sho was impulsive, and it took not only a strong arm, but a Bteady one, to hold bf r. With her tendency to act by impulses, added to ber energy and her intellect, when once sho waa started in pursuit of nu object, it was like trying to rein in a whirlwind to stop ber. "I was opposed lo her marriage with Samuel W. Dorsey. He was a fine man, and his father was Chief Justice, of Maryland, but ho was inactive, and it waa like wedding tho living to tho dead to marry such un animated creature to a mau of phlegmatic temperament who waa so many years ber seuior. When she asked me my opinion I gave ber an honest ono, and it offended her, perhaps, for after her marriage I did not sec much of her, and I did not see ber for twenty five yenrs before her death. "It ia a mistake that Jefferson Davis knew her father and motlier, and that the families were limited by ties of old association. My wife did not know Jef ferson Davis, and while Mrs. Dorsey may have made his acquaintance in England, or through correspondence during the war, my belief ia that she did not make his acquaintance until after thc war, and very likely not until she invited bim to Beauvoir to live. It ia doubtless ber im pulses that led ber to offer bim ber res idence for his home, and tho samo im pulses that led ber to bestow upon bim all her fortune." Gen. Dahlgrcn declined to speak for publication upon tho merits of tho pro posed contest, owing to bis personal hos tility to Jefferson Davia, which, ho said, would make indelicate any words char acterizing Mr. Davis's conduct in mak ing bia homo at Benuvior and in accept ing tho fortune of his hostess. Ho said, however, tliat Jefferson Davis possessed infinite tact and cunning ; that he wits Colished and persuasive in his Bpeecb, ut always knew when to stop talking. "Do you believe there will ho a con teat of tho will?" Gen. Dahlgrcn was asked. "I have no doubt of it," be said.' "I suppute that will bo on the ground of undue influence. The heirs who would receive the property and who will enter into the contest aro Mrs. Dorsey's broth er, Stephen P. Ellis, of Brooklyn, ber sis ter, Mrs. Inez Peckham, nnd her niece, the daughter of Thomas La Roacho El lis, who died a confederate soldier, leav ing a wife, Mrs. Appcline Ellis, a niece of Gen. Meade, now in tho Philadelphia ?oat-office. Then under tho laws of jouisiana, my sons Mortimer and Charles aro heira, aa half-brothers, and will join in the contest." " Whero will the suit bo begun ?" "In New Orleans, as the bulk of tho properly ?a in Louisiana, and ino v. iii bas been offered for prouato there. If tho will is set asido thcro, the judgment will bo followed in Mississippi where the Beauvoir plantation U." "Do yon anticipate that Jefferson Da vis will hold on to the property?" "Il Wade Hampton was tho ono con cerned" said Gen. Dahlgrcn, "ho would destroy the will and divide the property among the heirs. Ho is tho soul of hon or, as was bin father before him." Mortimer Dahlgrcn, who now lives in St. Louis, Mo., a half-brother of Mrs. Dorsey, lived at Beauvoir for two years whilo Jefferson Davit was a resident lhere, and bad chargo of Mrs. Dorsey's business. He left tho place some time ago, because of a dispute ho ia said to have had about Mr. Davis'a continued presence at Beauvoir, while his (Davis's) family lived in Memphis, and about tho control Mr. Davis, in tho latter period of his stay there, began to exerciao over tho placo. Mrs. Dorsey received only two visita from Mrs. Jefferson Davis during tho Blay of tho ex-President of the Con federacy at Beauvoir. While there is not in tho minda of her relatives tho slight est suspicion of impropriety in connec tion willi Jefferson Davis's prolonged presence in her home, it was character istic of her, they say, to bo indiscreet enough to encourage his residence there, regardless of thc opinion of her friends as to the wisdom of such a course. Mor timer Dahlgron will bo an Important witness in thc contest. The most inexcusable folly is to endure Dyspepsia with all Ita miseries, when a 25 cents bottle of Dr. Bull's Baltimore Pills will euro tho malady. NOKDEXSKJOLD'S VOYAGES. I Kalling Through tho Polar Bea to the l'n clllo Ocean. Tho success of Prof. Nordonskjold's expedition in finding tho long-sought northeast passngo from the Atlantic to tho Pacific Ocean, places him foremost among thc bold and adventurous spirits who have devoted their lives to tho ex ploration of tho Arctic regions. Norden8kjold began bis career as an explorer in 1872. Tho problem be took upon himself to solve was whether or not I lhere is navigable water north of Asia I from tho Atlantic to tho Pacific. Ho ? had before bim the records of the effort* of Cubat, Willoughby, Barentz, and Behring, as well as of others whose names aro also familiarly known. He studied all these from the expeditions of the Northmen and tho Icelanders to tho latest expeditions in 1871 and 1878. in which many gallant Norwegians lost their lives. From these records bo learned the several theories that had been held, and to what extent the facts us ascertained by the explorers proved or disproved them. Previous to 1872 Nordenskjold had engaged in six voyages. In that year bo ? was selected by the Swedish government i to undertake a sledge journey from Spitz bergen toward the tho North polo. Tho explorers encountered disasters, and were I compelled to return home tho following ! year without having gained much infor mation, though they acquired a deal of experience. In 1875 tho Professor was able, through thc generosity of Mr. Oscar Dicksou, a wea ithy merchant of Gothenburg, to essay the proof of his belief that there is a navigable sea north of Asia. Ho sail ed from Tromsoo, a port on tho northern coast'of Norway, on the 8th of June of that year, and on tho 15th of August readied Ibo mouth of the Yuoisei River, the middle one of tho three large water courses of northern Asia. By this voy age ho established thc fact that the Sea ot Kara is navigable, and also opened a water route to most desirablo parts of Siberia. He named a port at the mouth of the river Dickson's Port, in honor of bis patron. This voyago also gave nddi tional color to tho probability of a route to China by way of tho Yneitiei River. In tho following year ho made another voyage, sailing from Tr. ..isoo on tho 25th of July. His patron had replaced the small vessel of tho year previous with n staunch little steamer, tho Ymer. 8he was freighted with goods suitable for tho Siberian trade. Tho voyago to Nova Zem'uln was made in fivo ?lays, but, in I passing through the strait? that soparatc thn.t i-Jntifl from tim main land, he found tho Sea of Kara, that he had navigated so easily the year before, full of drifting ice. After waiting several days, he be gan beating in the ice up 'be Nova Zern Binn coast, and in latitude 72 found him self in an open sea. By the middle ol August he pgain reached the mouth ol the Yneisei River. Ho ascended it foi some distance, and, having disposed ol his cargo to advantage, returned to th< port he started from, after un absence O? seven weeks. These voyages went far to convince thc Professor thut tho northeast passag* could be made. To prove it he threw a? his energy into the undertaking, and hil patron luted out a more exteusive expe nition. An appeal was made to Kim Oscar, and bo at once became interestec in the enterprise. Of the ?20,000 oi $100,000 required, Mr. Dickson contribu ted $12,000, and the government and Mr Alexnnder Sibiriakoff the rest. Kinf Oscar commissioned several of tho ablea officers of his navy to accompany thees pedition. Several eminentsuvansvoluu leered their services. The fleet consiste! of four vessels-tho steamer Vega, whicl carried th" originator and commander o ibu expo. ..on, the steamer Lena, am two smaller vessels fitted out to opel trade with Eastern Siberia. Tho los three were tho property of Mr. Sibirin koff. Eleven days after starting from Trom BOO they anchored off Port Dicksot They remained there three days to mak up and dispatch correspondence an complete their preparations for tho lon and perilous voyago. Then the bow? ( tho stout little steamers wero pointed tc ward the North Capo. For two monti nothing was heard of tho explorers, an then a dispatch was received by M Sibiriakoff from Yakutsk, on tho Len River, announcing thnt the expeditio had reached the mouth of that river i safety. Tho steamer Lena hud passed u the river and tho Vega had continue her journey toward tho Pacific. The araval of Capt. Johann: en ac the Lena at Yakutsk was the occasic for a public rejoicing there. This tow is situated near the centro of the Rusais Empire in Asia, and tho only means < access have been overland : hence tl arrival of tho first vessel, proving th wuter communication couid no bad wi the more civilized parts of tho world w sufficient causo for the general celebr tion. in December NordcEskjold's pa tro received a letter from him in which 1 gave the record of his voyage from I mouth of tho Yneisei to the mouth the T<?na River. Though it is to a rm degree technical, it is full of interest the general reader. Soon after saili from Port Dickson the explorers ran ir a heavy fog. They moved with tho i mo.-, caution, and their course was re dcreC more dangerous by the discove of many small islands not noted on t charts. The second day tba fog v dciiBc, aud they anchored. It was i ticcU ui'ii tiru ecu noa um jr sngiiiiy at particularly at tho surface. By dree lng, however, many specimens of pt deep sea life were found. In the aft noon tho fog lilted somewhat, and t Vega renewed her course. Tho oxplon soon came upon drifting ico, but it v thin and rotten, and did not impede t vessel. Near tho coast tho usual arc animals were seen, but none of theare birds. Many interesting discoveries wi made in nearly every branch of seien but tho moat important were geog phie.d. Tho voyagers iopt oioso to the co the greater part of the way, and nu landings occasionally. They were f quently surprised at tho entire absei of snow and the wonderful verdure some places. There are points, Fi Nordenskjold thinks, judging from Einfusion of tho game, that tue Rus3 unters have not visited for centuries, over. On tho 19th of August the Vega t anchor off the North Capo, the m northerly point of Asia. Tho flags w run up and a salute wan fired. A pc bear that had been run down tho p montory to tho water's edge at tho sij of tho ship, took suddenly lu his heel tho sound. From the North Cape to mouth of tho Lena tho explorers countered lew fog and less ice. Tho ?"?ta":; of tho voyugo aftor Vega's departure from tho mouth of Lena are unknown as yet For mt months nothing was heard of tho expl ing party, and measures- for an exp? tion of relief were about to be taker hand when a vessel arrived In San Fr cisco and reported that the Vega was I tho ico near Kellett Laud, a project from tbe Arctic region, several li und red miles from Behring Strnir. She had been there several months. On the 3d of May a dispatch was received from Yakutsk, on the Lena Uiver, announcing that the Vega was out cf danger, and was in Behring Strait, and with it was tho more welcome intelligence that all the members of the expedition were en joying good health. It was learned that the vega had been caught in the ice fines near East Capo, a point about 850 miles from the entronco to Behring Strait, and about 700 miles from Yokohama. Tho telegram that was received yester day announces that Nordenskjold has got his steamer off tho icc, and through tho straits, and is on his way to Japan. It is his intention to return home by way of the Suez Canal. The hero of this undertaking, Adolf Erik Nordenskjold, is a native of Heisin fore, Sweden. Ile is in his forty-seventh ?ear. At the ago of 26 he was appointed 'rofessor of Mineralogy in the Universi ty at Stockholm. In the year following he began work as an explorer by accom panying an arctic expedition. The most important expedition, prior to thia one, waa one made in 1868, which resulted in his ascertaining accurately the situation or Spitzbergen. In tho summer of 1870 ho made a voyago to Greenland, and pen etrated the country further than any pre vious scientific explorer. Of both theso expeditions ho hos written exhaustive accounts. For two years, from 1870, he was a member of tho second Swedish Chamber, an office equivalent to that of a member of Congress iu tho United States. All Sorts of Paragraphs. - Texas ?B sorin times as large as Ohio, and a good deal safer. - A forty-pound meteor killed a sbcep near Little Rock, Ark. - A liorth Carolinian has caught a perfectly black field-bare. - The most ancient paper in Arkan sas is but thirteen years old. - Cistern water in Corpus Christi, Tex., sells for one dollar per barrel. - A Davidson county, N. C., farmer mado sixty-two bushels of wheat to the aero. - Tho Rev. Mr. Tucker, of Colquit county, Georgia, ia tho father of forty-two children. - Atlanta has a belle (?) who claims that ber average is a dozen plates of ice cream an hour. - Paul Boyton proposes togo through the whirlpool rapids at Niagara F?llalo his rubber Buit. - A judicial opinion bas been given in Florida that young orango trees aro Hable to taxation. - One farmer in Norfork county, Va., hos raised and shipped 12,000 barrels of potatoes this season. - Tho cholera, or something very like it, hos appeared in Iowa, and thero is an increased demand for coffins. - Wm. N. Hunt, of Company H, 20th Georgia regiment, is said to have fired tho lost gun in defense of tho Confeder acy. - According to the report of the Com missioner of Agricultura of North Caro lina, dogs cost the Stato $6,000,000 an nually. - Malarial fever prevaib along the Hudson. It is not yellow, but kills all tho Bame, and is quite malignant, if not contagious. - The first Georgia bale of new cotton was sold in Savannah on Friday at twen ty cents per pound, and shipped on Sat urday to New York. - A Yazoo. Miss., negro woman at tempted to fill a glass bottle with powder while smoking a pipe. Result-no bottle and not much woman. - Tho Supreme Court of North Caro lina hos decided that dogs are not prop erty in that State, snu on timi ground an indictment was quashed. - A recently enacted law in Galveston {irovides that any employer who shall bree an employee to labor on Sunday Bball bo liable to a fine of fifty dollars. - Several counterfeit half dollar pieces wera passed at Abbeville, 8. C., last week. They were very well, executer', but wore easily detected by their weight and 'ring.' - Twolvo millions of dollars are in vested in Coney Island improvements. Ten years ago ?5,000 would have bought the whole island. About $2,000,000 moro will bo dropped there this year. - Let a $500 dog bite a fifty-cent man and the howl in the neighborhood is ter rific ; but let a five-cent dog bite and kill a $20 sheep and not a howl, dot a ripple, stirs tho breeze-it is right I-North Geor gia Citizen. - Geu. Joseph Johnston, ai nco his re turn to his homo in Virginia, Bays that cse year's experience in the HOUBO of R )resoutativc3 hos thoroughly disgusted him with politics, and when his term ex pires ho intends to retire to private life. - Peter McKenzie's advice is good : "If you have a greedy disposition, and the devil comes to you when you aro in tho act of giving, and tells you, 'You can't alford it,' say to him, 'If you don't keep quiet I'll double it,' and he'll soon givo it up." - A Wicomico, Maryland, farmer commenced the year with thirty sheep. He has sold lambs and sheep from his flock for the sum of $102 ; has sold wool for $43.18-making $145.18-and has thirty sheep and Iambs left. The cost of keep ing has not exceeded $25. - Several ladies in Kentucky have signified their intention of runniug for Stato Librarian before the noxt Legisla tatura. Mrs. Cornelia Bush, the prev ent incumbent, will also bo a candidate, and it will bo a "woman's fight" entirely aa promises to bo an exceedingly inter esting ono. - A singular thing has just occurred in Berrien county, quite near tho Brooks lino, and not far from Little river. The earth has sunk io to the depth of about one hundred feet, carrying down ^me of tho tallest pines. The sink is aP. oat cir cular in form and is about one J a nd red feet in diameter. It is said ia a won derful hole, and many personw r % visit inn if mil nf m.^J/WMijis? (/.:.. \ To --_----~.v. -j.-...... x-, Free Pr?te. - Bristol ia perhaps the only city in tho world with two Mayors, two city gov ernments, police, &c.. and that is taxed in two States. Tho line between Ten nessee and Virginia ?a in the centre of Main street, and it gives rise to many funny scenes, as. for example, the runa way couple needs no coach and four, but arm-in-arm Btep_ across Main street and aro wedded. The fugitivo commits a crime in Virginia, goes to the pavement on tho other sido of tho stroot and talks defiantly to tho officer on the opposite sid*; who has a warrant for his arreet. stum ble or a too bold disposition will some times, howover, briny him to grief. Norfolk Virginian. ' OUR CLAIMS.-We claim that there ia greater certainty and uniformity in tho production of jmod breads biscuits, etc, in the use of ut. jrrico:s Cream liaking Powder, and that tho articles made with it are mere wholesomo and digestibto than if made with any other kind. Test lt by the most reliable aud truthful test -in the oven,