Thus the motley crowd from street, doorway, and window gazed after the unfortunate
President of the
Confederate States on May 10, 1865.
Davis had left
Richmond on the night of April 2d, upon
Lee's warning.
In
Danville, Virginia, he remained for a few days until word was brought of
Lee's surrender.
At
Greensboro, North Carolina, he held a council of war with
Generals Johnston and
Beauregard, in which he reluctantly made provision for negotiations between
Johnston and
Sherman.
He continued the trip south on April 14th, the day of
Lincoln's assassination.
At
Charlotte, North Carolina, he was called forth by a group of Confederate cavalrymen, when he ‘expressed his own determination not to despair of the
Confederacy but to remain with the last organized band upholding the flag.’
When he learned of the rejection at
Washington of the terms agreed upon by
Johnston and
Sherman, he ordered
Johnston to retreat with his cavalry.
On April 26th,
Davis continued his own journey.
Only ten members of his cavalry escort were retained.
In the early light of May 10th
Lieut.-Col. B. D. Pritchard and troopers of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry came upon the encampment by the roadside in dense pine woods near
Irwinville, Georgia, and captured the whole party.
