. ToomsS six¥ N i 4 ~ b = TORY Told in Detail for the First Time o the Game of Hide and General Played with the He Finally Escaped from the Country | -- Skek That the Confed- - Federal Troops.Before BY JAmr3 WARD CHAPMAN. (Copyrig OBERT TOOMBS was easily the most pictur- esque figure among the leaders of Southern thought during those momentous years which led up to the time when the South finally decided to try the issue of battle with the North. As im- petuons as the torrents which go coursing through the rocky gorges of his native highlands in Northeast Georgia, he was as nonchalant as the sweep of the floodtide. His was the day when the orator on the hust- ings swayed public opin- fon, and the man who could win the applause of the crowd could feel confident of the ground upon which be stood. The great mass of people did not then have the oppor- tunity of reading and evolving their own thoughts in regard to public matters, and of pecessity left this largely to their leaders. Up to the time when Tt was realized that the great struggle between the North and the South was ap- proaching, and almost inevitable, the success of Rob- ert Toombs In the forum and on the hustings was ut- tle short of marvellous. Although ¢f impetnous na- ture he was a man of the highest sense of justice be- tween map and man, regardless of thelr condition or station in Mite, and this was a tower of strength to him in combating opposition before the people. Robert Toombs had been in the lower house af Congress and in the Senate for the last sixteen years Jleadifig vp to the time whén he resigned his seat In the lattér body and cast his fortunes with the Southern Confederacy. His utterances there had, perhaps, done more than the words of any other member to make the struggle between the North and the South fnevitable. On January 7, 1861, he resigned hfs seat in the Senate In a remarkable speech. Mr. Blaine sald of this utteranee that it was the only speech made by a representative of the seceding States which speet- fled the grievances of the Seuth amd which named the conditions upon which the States would remain In the Union. 'Toombs Was then jukt fifty-one years old and in his full vigor, both mentally and physically. Going back to his native Staté on January 1¢ he attended as a dele gate the State Sovereignty Convention, known as the secessfon convention, which was held at Milledgeville, the then capital 6f Georgia. With Toombs the die had been cast, and he put forth his 'greatest powers to take his State ont of the Union and succeeded. In this eonvention Stephens, Hill and Johnson, other prominent leaders, tpposed secession, Toombs won by a vote of 208 against 89. His native State, which was Always so wear fo him was backing him up, and he felt his leonine power as never before. He recked little of consequences ROBERT TOOMBS Events came In rapid succession for those days. This. was due primarily to the fact that Mr. Lincoln was to be inaugurated President of the United States on March 4, and the South wantéd to take Action Wefore that momentous time should roll ronnd.. On Febftary 4 delegates from a number, though not all, of the fouthern States met at Montgomery, 'Ala, to form the Scuthern Confederacy and elect a President. Toombs was trere as a delegate from 'Georgia, and It was generally tneught that he would be named as the Chief Executive of the new government, but the tide 'urnedl and Jefferson Davie was elected Président Following the custom which had generally prevailed Th the Onivéd States government, Toombs being 'the next mest prominent man for President, was made Becretiry of State, That the imperious Toombs wis no man for second place In civil or miiitary affairs was cleariy demonstrated In the events that followed. He served In the Cabinet for only a few brief months, and resigning accepted a position as brigdier general in the army of Northern Virginia in July, 1861. 'He served there with gallantry for about one year, but arter the battle of 'Antiétam, in which he distin- gulined. bitself, being wounded at ifs close, He re signed his commission in the army and returned to his home im Georgia. He feit that he had not been treated with 'proper consideration by the authorities at Rich mond. Never again was he connected with the civil or mila, y departments of fhe Canfederate government, but he did serve with the State troops around Atlanta and Savannah, ' The government was not carried on according to his jdeas and he d'd not éare to take any of the responsi- bility on himself. At the close of hostilities he quietly retired to tis home in Washington, Ga. General Toombs was here at his home fn Washington when Mr. Davis and four members of his cabinet--Mr. Ben- Jamin, Secretary of State; Mr. Breckenridge, Secre- tary of War; Mr. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy, hind Mr. Reagan, PostinAster General--drtived on thelr fight south from Richmond after Lee's surrefider. There In an old bank building, occupied as a residence, Mr. Davis Wis enfértainéd overnight and Held his fist Cabineér meeting. The party arrived on May 4, 1865, aud lert In different directions on the followliig day. A few aays later Mr. Davis was captiired about Sev- enty-five miles further south. While I Washinin Géneral Bréckenfdge spent the RIght With 'Gereral Tosinbs 4t his 'Hofwe. Next mornlug on leaving his host he urged him to eccept (Some of 'the gold and sitver belonging to the Confeder- ate Treasury, which had been taken there frm Rizne mond; Sayleg that tn these teymgitimes he Mtghivsted much deed of ft. But the unfwerving inrgrity ut Tootabs 'asserted itself and- he positively refused to nt. 1911, by the New York Herald Co. All rights reserved.) "Swould not take it, no mafter what the exigencies of the Situation might be. But nevertheless General Breckenridge sent him $5000 In sacks by some sol diers. General Toombs still refused the money, but acting on their orders the soldiers threw down the money in the front yard. As Breckenridge and all the other members of the Cabinet had departed, General Toombs sent this treasure down town to Mr. Robert Vickers, who was noted for his fatherly care in providing for the sol- diers. Many were passing through and they were in peed, The writer has seen some of this coln, which had been kept by the men as souvenirs. The relations between Davis and Toombs were strained, and the two did not meet at that time, but in after years General Toombs remarked to the writer that he sent word to Mr. Davis 'while he was In Wash- ington, Ga., that if he would place himself in his (Toombs) hands he would be taken safely out of the country. But the offer was not accepted. Toombs' remarkable sneeess in hiding for stx months 'while the conntry was being sconréd for him by federal sol- popularly "4 MONTHS OF PERIL Géneral Toombs sald the Yankees wanted to take him through the North as a show, and this thought made him the more détermined not fo be captured. He went well armed and had fully made up his mind to fight to the last in the event the attempt should be made to arrest him. The two men travelled generally at night when golng over the main roads, but these were avoided when moving during the day. It is re- markable that they never stopped with people whom Toombs did not know, but they did not always recog- nize him, He was somewhat disguised, as he wore a brown jeans sult with sack coat and had allowed his full beard to grow out. He also got some green goggles to help 'disguise him, but he wore these only a day or two. As a young lawyer, and later in his practice and political campaigns, he had travelled very thoroughly over that part of the country, having friends and ad- mirérs everywhere, and now when he so sorely needed their friendship they were drawn the closer to him. Going to the home of Alexander Le Seur, on the Sa- vannah River, his host received him with great 'hos- pitulity, at the same time twitting Toombs with the remark:--*"You have been fighting me all these years in politics, and now I am the first man youn come to in your trouble." Le Seur owned a large island in the river and Toombs was In hiding for a while on this island, but learning that there were United States sol- diers near by on the South Carolina side, he decided that this place was untenable for his purpose. Sending Irvin home with letters to Mrs. Toqmbs, the fugitive started along up the valley of the Savannah River toward the mountains of Habersham county. All this time troops were searching far and near through the section of country around Washington for "¥ The Two Men Rode Leisurely Along, dters and his final escape make it reasonable to think that he might have carried out his promise. Order for His Arrest. Secretary of War Stanton, at Washington, D. C, had dssue? an order for the arrest of Robert Toombs. 'On May 11 a squad of soldiers in command of General Wilde firrived at Washington, Ga., on the train and, merching through town, went to the home of Toombs. When they arrived there General Toombs was in the house, but while his daughter detained them at the Fhnt door as long As she could, he made his escape threugh the back premises to his negro quarters on an ontiving 'farm that he owned. From, there he made his way to the home of Captain J. T. Wingfield, two miles distant. The latter was captain of the famous T#%In #rtiNery. Which served through the entire war in Lée's army. He got a horse from Wingfield, and as he mounted and rode off, in the most nonchalant way, he remarked: -- "John. 1 have fox hunted all over this country. Now fet the Yankees eatch me if they can." From there he made a cigenit of the town to the home of Sheriff James Dyson, several miles out, as fifit Was Th the Qirection of the mountains of North- east Georgia, where he had already deterinined to g6. It was then n wild country," with no raiireads. 'One of the most striking characteristics of Robert Toombs was that he ninderstood men as few others ever have, aid Xttew fh whom to repose confidence, He dis trusted the discretion of many whom he knew to be loyal and courageous. From the Dyson home he sent word to Lieutenant Charles E. Tryin, a man of twenty years, who never knew what fear was, to bring his gray mare Alice and meet him at Chenault's at sunrise next morning. This was fourteen miles orth of Washington, Toombs himself made the trip alone at night on horseback. Irvin was promptly on hand, and continued with him in his hidings and wanderings through the many months that followed, ¥rom there the two men crossed Broad River and rode over into Eldert county to the home of Major Luther Martin, whose parole Footabs procured, and from that time on-through all "ot his journeyings he passed, among those who did not know him, as *Major Martin." i+: Tig of a fagitive was entirely contrariwise in the earcer of the tempestuous Toombs, and he never liked to talk about it, even after it was ali over. Dur- ing pig Afetime the writer endeavored to get the story directly from him, but he declined to narrate it. The full details have been procured from Lieutenant Invi, taken dollar of it, saying that It was not his and he who 1s still living. ; : A, him, but he never encountered them and never in all his wanderings had to use the parole he had procured. Having Instructed young Irvin that on his return he would find him at Colonel Prather's, on the Tugaloo River, Toombs wended his way to tha't mountain home, where he awaited the return of his scout. Bringing messages from his home in Washington, (ia., to the General, Lieutenant Irvin got back to the hiding place of Toombs after an absence of just one week. From there the two went to the home of General Rembert, in Habersham county, this being as secluded a spot for concealing a fugitive as could be found In all the Southern country. Toombs felt perfectly free from his pursuers here and spent a good deal of his time In shooting and fishing. ' But, nevertheless, Toombs was restless in his moun- tain resort, as all who knew him can well understand, and he longed to be the free and bold man of his for mer days. At one time he had Irvin to rid ith him over to Walhalla, 8. C., prospecting, with a view of reaching the Carolina coast, from which he hoped to find a friendly ship that would bear him away from his native Tand. Here he met many on whose loyalty he could thoroughly rely, and all with one accord warned hin that this would be a most dangerous course for him to pursue. They told him that there were numerous federal troops between there and the coast and every port was well guarded. General Toombs at once gnvé up the idea of trying this route. Toombs and Irvin then returned to Colonel Rem- bert's on horseback, the manner in which they always tpavelled, and the General continwed to evolve his plans for escapihg. He then determined to make an effort to get out through the port of Savamah, and sent Irvin on the missiothof preparing the way. The latter rode down to Washington, Ga.. on horzeback, There he took the during 'the taking 'messages to Mrs, Toombs. train for Savannah, where he arrived night. Stratagem of the Scout. Here occured an incident which would have un- nerved most men. The streets were being patroled by federal soldiers, and the pext niornling Lieutenant Irvin had hardly stepped out of his hotel when he was promptly arrested by one of them and mare hed to the guard house. He thought, of cofirse, that his mission had been discovered and that his arrest would .Jead to the finding of General Toombs Iu his place of hiding. Irvin had papers in his pocket that would betray the whole affair. But Irvin pever lost his head for a moment, and there was not a quis A to the officer who had him In charge that a momentous discovery could easily be made. Unexpectedly meet- ing a friend, John Weems, on the street, he stopped him with the remark: -- "John, I am on my way to prison and want to re- turn you that money I borrowed from you. I don't know when I'll see you again." Turning his back on the federal soldier, he slipped these important papers to Weems, who "caught on" at once and expressed no surprise. Irvin was carried to the guard house, 'where greatly to his relief he found that the charge against him was "wearing a Confed- erate uniform with brass buttons on it." In a few moments friends dropped in to see him and from them he learned that the persons General Toombs had sent him to Savannah to see were not in the city. As he was ready to depart the charge against him was dismissed, and he was allowed to go, stilt wearing his uniform and buttons. \ Lieutenant Irvin got back to General Toombs in the p mountains the latter part of June, and then another route of escape was worked out, the one which was finally successful, though for the time it was frus- trated and hundreds of miles had to be retraced and travelled over for the second and third times. Bid- ding Colonel Rembert, his most hospitable host, good- by, General Toombs mounted his horse, and with young Irvin, struck out for freedom by way of the gulf coast, with a view to reaching New Orleans. It was planned by General Toombs to visit his wife at home before leaving for a foreign shore. There was never more beautiful devotion between man and wife than that which blended the lives of these two during their wedded life of more than fifty years. Going down through Elbert county he came as near to nn being captured as at any other time during the entire, six months fn which he was evading his pursuers. One day he insisted on going to the home of Major Martin, who had served in-his brigade in the army in Virginia, and whose parole he was carrying in his pocket. But'Lleutenant Irvin insisted that this would be extra hazardous, and finally prevailed on him to go and spend the night at the home of Colonel Ww. H. Maddox. It was well for him that he did, for that very night a command comprising about thirty sol- dlers went to the Martin home and thoroughly searched the place for him. By detouring far to the west the fugitive and his gulde~struck out on horseback at night for Wilkes county, of which washington is the county seat. They forded the waters of the upper Broad river and took refuge at the home of DuBose Hill, a large planter. Irvin went into town to ascer- tain if Toombs could make the venture without being captured. : Lieutenant Irvin found in Washington Captain Lot Abraham, of the Eleventh Towa regiment, with a large garrison of soldiers, squads from which were being constantly sent out in search of General Toombs. The yonthful Confederate lieutenant fell in with the fed- eral eaptain in a soldierly way and learned all that he cbuld from him. It was quite remarkable that it wis not once suspected that Irvin was the scout and guide for the great man whose capture was sO much desired by Secretary of War Stanton, and for whom thousands of federal troops were so assiduously searching. But Toombs had the incomparable ad- vantage of being on his native heath and among his friends, while those who sought him were In the enemy's country, as it were. Reporting back to General Toombs that it would be too hazardous for Mm to venture a visit to Washing- ton. the latter went on his way alone down into the counties south of this. He told Irvin to meet him down in Hancock county, but so well had he cov- ered his tracks that a few days later when' Irvin un- dertook to find him he found it almest imposiible to do so. Te travelled back and forth many mi almost any other man would have given up the search Irvin was quite a youth and was unknown to these people. He called at the home of Judge Linton Stephens, In Sparta, and, meeting the Judge himself, fnquired for General Toombs, but the Judge so flatly denied knowing anything of him that It would have confounded Trvla if he had not perceived through #1 of this Stephens' loyalty to Toombs. With great difficulty Irvin proved his identity and his mission, and then Stephens agreed to take him to Toombs. But even then it was no easy matter to find the fugitive, It was learned that Toombs had been at the planta- tion of David Dickson. Irvin, then going alone, met the manager, Mr. Worthen and inquired about an oid man. riding a gray horse, when he received a similar puzzling &nswer:--' No. | know nothing of him." Irvin finally convinced him that he was a friend and PAGE BLEVENs- - S------ ASTAYFUGITIVIE Worthen told him Toombs had been there and was then at Major Gonder's, further on. When it was so difficult for his friends to find Toombs it was small wonder that others couid not. Loyalty of a Southern Woman. Riding up to the front door of the Gonder home, Irvin found Mrs. Gonder and her daughter sitting on the front porch. He made the usual inquiries that he had been making for the last several hundred miles along the country roads, and they made the usual an- swers that they knew nothing of the old man on a gray horse, But Irvin was insistent and told them that he had been sent there to find him. Mrs. Gonder could not suppress her excitement and, rocking vigor- ously back and forth in her big rocking chatr, showed her perturbation to a marked degree. Irvin then told her that he saw that she knew more than she was will. ing to tell. Then she biurted out:-- "Well, I'll dle be- fore I tell it. It was an annoying delay, but the young man finally convinced Mrs. Gonder of his sincerity in endeavoring to ald General Toombs, and she told him that the General was at the home of Captain "Jack" Smith, on the Oconee River Reaching the latter place the Captain met the young man out in front of the houke, and in a manner that would have convinced almost any man In ordinary circumstances denied knowing anything of an old man on a gray horse. Bat Irvin had gotten a glimpse of General Toombs in the house and sent in his name. This at last brought about a reunion of Toombs and Bis scout. The two men remained there for shout a week, fishing on the river and learning all they could in regard to the route that lay before them. Tt wis ascertained that the public ferries were being closely watched by federal soldiers. However, they trossed in a bateau, swimming their horses, and went to the home of Joseph Deas, in Wilkirsor county. Here Toombs passed as Major Martin and was un- known to his host. After supper they conversed toe gether until bedtime, when the guests retired. A maiden sister. who was a member of the household, then remarked to her brother;---"Joe Deas, I am sur- prised at you, Don't you know that Is General Toombs?" Without further ado Deas made a break for Toomhs' room, where he exvressed the great honor he felt in entertaining him. They had heard him speak at Toombshoro seventeen years hefore From there they went to the home of Colonel David Hughes, in Twiggs county. Uughes had been in Toombs' brigade in the army, and between the two men there was that comradeship that is known only among soldiers. Young Irvin went up to Macon fo cast about and see if it would be wise to proceed fur ther. But he found there a great number of Union troops and had reason to believe that ferries and thor- eughfares were being very closely guarded and every effort was being made to capture Gemeral Toombs. When he returned and made his report the Ceneral at once determined to retrace his steps and make his way back to the mountains of North Georgia, This was done with great celerity, and it was pot long before the two men were again at the home of Cofonel Rem. bert, in Habersham county, near the Tennessee line: Here General Toombs remained quietly, Irvin gol, back and forth with messages to the home in Wash- ington, Ga. Again, in the month of October, the two men started out, this time to make a successful trip over the same route, which finally ended at New Or- Jeans. By this time the federal authorities had reached the conclusion that Toombs had left the coun- try and had ceased thelr vigilance. The alarms of war had in a large measure died away and the country had taken on a more peaceful aspect. The two men rode their horses .along the public roads with little fear of molestation and fi%e from the delays which were incident to the former trip. It 'was on this trip, while passing throngh Hancock pounty, near Sparta, that General Toombs had a most sumptuous dinner at a spring In the woods. Linton . Stephens, R. M. Johnson, W. W. Simpson, "Jack" Lane, Edge Bird and other prominent and wealthy men were present. Faithful negro attendants did the serving. On that day a Masonic lodge was assembled and Toombs was initiated into the mysteries of that order, In thé days which followed he found the fellowship of Masonry of incalculable benefit to him. He was afterward a high Mason and to the end of his life a most devoted one. These stanch friends who enter- tained him on that day, on his departure from them, furnished him all the gold coln that he could carry. It was not until they had reached "Old Tazwell," down in Southwest Georgla, not far from the Chatta. hoochee River, that the nearest escape from capture In all their journeyings occurred. Going over the rise of a hill they rode right into a command of Union sol dlers. Turning back would have been fatal, and the only course to be pursued was to put on a bold front and with perfect nonchalance ride on. The officer in command stepped out and saluted them. What next? He dropped a remark that completely relieved the , feelings of the wayfarers. He was only admiring j their splendid horses, He knew nothing and they | knew all. There was not a word nor an act that would arouse suspicion, and the two men rode leisurely along. But it was perhaps the closest call yet expe rienced by Robert Toombs. L¥ "But the night shall be filled with musio - And the cares that infest the day Shall fold their tents like the Arabs And as silently steal away." The two men stopped that night at the home of a Mr. Brown, where they found guests assembling for a great wedding. The danghter of their host was to b# married that night and all were making merry. It need not be sald that General Toombs was the mést welcome guest of all the assemblage. Accompanied by his faithful guide Toombs went from there to his plantation, in Stewart county. ie had been In the saddle for six months and had thor. oughly tired of it. Here he procured an ambulance in which to travel. When he left his gray mare Alice ghe neighed for him fn a manner that was akin fo a human farewell. The two men crossed the Chatta- hoochee River Into Alabama and took the train at Evergreen. Not caring to run into Mobile on the train they got off at Tensas and took a boat for that city. But it looked as If they had gotten info a hornets' nest, as the boat was full of federal soldiers. However, without any untoward incident they landed at Mobile and went immediately to the home of the author, Miss Augusta Evans, Recognized Aboard Ship. Here General Toombs remained until Lieutenant Irvin went over to New Orlesus snd perfected arrpoge- ments for him to pass onc through that port. From the Spanish Consul he got a pisspoit for Major Luther Martin to Havana. Going back to Moltle Irvin he- companied Toombs by steamer to Now Orleans, Aboard this steamer at night a man stood in a door- way and eyed Toombs very closely. Irvin stepped out and engaged him in conversation with a view to throw- ing him over the taffrall, but he found that the man was Colonel M. C. Fulton, of Georgia, nnd friendly to Genera! Toombs, Reaching New Orleans Genera! Toombs went to the home of Colonel Marshall J. Smith. Irvin went ot and bought him a fine suit of clothes. Putting on he drove in a closed carriage down to the dock and went aboard the steamship for Havana. After his jong experience as a fugitive be strode the deck tio lordly man that he was, against Irvin's protestations. He was recognized by General Humphrey, marshal of Texas, but tee steamship soon departed and Toombs was safe from his pursners. By way of Havana he went to Paris, where lie was after by his wife. She remained » than a year, but returned homie 1 account of the death of their da . DuBose. General Toombs tr Saveh, abroad till 180%, when he retarned by way of Canada. From there he went to Washington, D. C., where Be had a long and friendly interview with President John. . son. He returned to hls home in Georgla, never Being molested. Heé was honored by his home people as few other men have been honored. He died %ere on De. cember 10, 1885. The town clock was stopped tii} s burial and every bulldiug In town was draped h him for ad of him Mrs. D i#