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[392]

President Davis lent an attentive ear to the account thus given of the hopeless condition of the Confederacy, but appeared, nevertheless, undismayed. He said that the struggle could still be carried on to a successful issue, by bringing out all our latent resources; that if the worst came to the worst, we might, by crossing the Mississippi River, with such troops as we could retreat with, unite with Kirby Smith's army, which He estimated at some sixty thousand men, and prolong the war indefinitely. General Beauregard did not expect, and was amazed at, this evidence of visionary hope on the part of the President. He admired his confidence, but inwardly condemned what to him seemed to be a total want of judgment and a misconception of the military resources of the country.

The President on that day (11th April), after his interview with General Beauregard, sent three telegrams to General Johnston, by way of Raleigh; one to General Walker, at Danville; and one to Governor Vance, also at Raleigh. They fully indicate the state of Mr. Davis's mind at the time, and need no commentary:

1.

Greensboroa, N. C., April 11th, 1865: 12 M.
General J. E. Johnston, Headquarters, via Raleigh:
The Secretary of War did not join me at Danville. Is expected here this afternoon.

As your situation may render best, I will go to your headquarters immediately after the arrival of the Secretary of War, or you can come here. In the former case our conference must be without the presence of General Beauregard.

I have no official report from General Lee. The Secretary of War may be able to add to information heretofore communicated. The important question first to be solved is, at what point shall concentration be made, in view of the present position of the two columns of the enemy and the routes which they may adopt to engage your forces before a prompt1 junction with General Walker and others? Your more intimate knowledge of the data for the solution of the problem deters me from making a specific suggestion on that point.

Jeffn. Davis.

2.

Greensboroa, N. C., April 11th, 1865:3.30 P. M.
General J. E. Johston, Headquarters, via. Raleigh:
The enemy's cavalry, in small force, this morning cut the Danville Railroad, ten miles from here, and, as reported, moved eastwardly.


1 The telegram in our files has the word ‘prompt,’ as we have given it, instead of ‘proposed,’ as written in Mr. Davis's book. The meaning of the despatch is not altered by the use of either word.

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