Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been made consistent.
THE VICTIM
A Romance of the Real Jefferson Davis
by
THOMAS DIXON
Illustrated by J. N. Marchand
BOOKS BY THOMAS DIXON
The Victim The Southerner The Sins of the Father The Leopard's Spots The Clansman The Traitor The One Woman Comrades The Root of Evil The Life Worth Living
[Illustration: "The man in front gave a short laugh and advanced on the girl" [Page 300]]
THE VICTIM
"_A majestic soul has passed_"--Charles A. Dana
[Illustration: Colophon]
New York and London D. Appleton and Company 1914 Copyright, 1914, by Thomas Dixon All rights reserved, including that of translation into all foreign languages, including the Scandinavian Printed in the United States of America
TO THE BRAVE WHO DIED FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE RIGHT
_Fold up the banners! Smelt the guns! Love rules. Her gentle purpose runs. A mighty mother turns in tears The pages of her battle years Lamenting all her fallen sons!_
THOMPSON
TO THE READER
_In the historical romance which I have woven of the dramatic events of the life of Jefferson Davis I have drawn his real character unobscured by passion or prejudice. Forced by his people to lead their cause, his genius created an engine of war so terrible in its power that through it five million Southerners, without money, without a market, without credit, withstood for four years the shock of twenty million men of their own blood and of equal daring, backed by boundless resources._
_The achievement is without a parallel in history, and adds new glory to the records of our race._
_The scenes have all been drawn from authentic records in my possession. I have not at any point taken a liberty with an essential detail of history._
Thomas Dixon.
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
I The Curtain Rises II The Parting III A Midnight Session IV A Friendly Warning V Boy and Girl VI God's Will VII The Best Man Wins VIII The Storm Center IX The Old Regime X The Gauge of Battle XI Jennie's Vision XII A Little Cloud XIII The Closing of the Ranks XIV Richmond in Gala Dress XV The House on Church Hill XVI The Flower-Decked Tent XVII The Fatal Victory XVIII The Aftermath XIX Socola's Problem XX The Anaconda XXI Gathering Clouds XXII Jennie's Recruit XXIII The Fatal Blunder XXIV The Sleeping Lioness XXV The Bombardment XXVI The Irreparable Loss XXVII The Light that Failed XXVIII The Snare of the Fowler XXIX The Panic in Richmond XXX The Deliverance XXXI Love and War XXXII The Path of Glory XXXIII The Accusation XXXIV The Turn of the Tide XXXV Suspicion XXXVI The Fatal Deed XXXVII The Raiders XXXVIII The Discovery XXXIX The Conspirators XL In Sight of Victory XLI The Fall of Richmond XLII The Capture XLIII The Victor XLIV Prison Bars XLV The Master Mind XLVI The Torture XLVII Vindication
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: The Victim by Thomas Dixon
- 2: The man slowly loosened the sister's arms
- 3: You're named after Thomas Jefferson
- 4: We may make him President anyhow
- 5: Polly dropped her head and started home
- 6: On the border of the Choctaw Nation
- 7: They say he swears The Tennesseean roared Waal
- 8: Married Rachel Robards at Natchez in August
- 9: They saw the church and monastery
- 10: It's so much more beautiful than the Baptist Church
- 11: Poured a volley of cabbage heads
- 12: Sat down on the cot and drew the youngster in his lap
- 13: The Boy saw his pony safely housed on board the AEtna
- 14: This bending from boll to boll along the endless rows
- 15: Dat Boy is sho one cotton picker
- 16: I'm not going to quit Yassah
- 17: Young Laserre crawled carefully to the edge of the rock
- 18: Situated on the Wisconsin River
- 19: Jim Pemberton cried with laughing admiration
- 20: It must he a dressed scantling
- 21: Colonel Taylor sent the Lieutenant on an ugly
- 22: Certain shore The brawny hand clasped his
- 23: He couldn't stand a simpering doll
- 24: All night the Fairy Bells rang in his heart
- 25: Let's stop on this hill and watch the sunset
- 26: The red blood mounted to her cheeks
- 27: You must see my father to night
- 28: Tom Smith would vote against him
- 29: He damned the Second Lieutenant
- 30: The cholera was raging at Rock Island
- 31: Holding defiantly the hand of her lover
- 32: On the deck of the lazy river steamer
- 33: He'll go down next Yassah yassah
- 34: I've lived the only life worth living
- 35: The favorite son of Mississippi
- 36: And he called on Jeff Davis last night
- 37: The tense electric atmosphere was oppressive
- 38: See the vacant seats of South Carolina
- 39: The world had moved from 1789 to 1861
- 40: The North was the world of steam and electricity
- 41: Jennie looked in silence for a moment
- 42: Permit me to introduce to you Signor Henrico Socola
- 43: I've spent my life in the Diplomatic service
- 44: You have invaded the borders of Southern States
- 45: Your mob has declared the South outlawed
- 46: And we obey their sovereign will
- 47: Senator Davis you don't know him
- 48: Jennie Barton proudly answered
- 49: The speaker lifted his hand and commanded silence
- 50: Seward turned his head from the speaker
- 51: Barton laughed with boyish glee
- 52: The President continued in feeble
- 53: Toucey answered Stanton's bluster with quiet emphasis
- 54: A ship be sent at once to the relief of Sumter
- 55: They are to meet at Montgomery
- 56: Yassah yassah I tell him right away
- 57: Barton was she was gentle and friendly to everybody
- 58: Yes Jennie Do you know what you are doing
- 59: Barton was delighted at the announcement
- 60: I leave at ten twenty to morrow morning
- 61: Our people don't study languages
- 62: I'd rather you were with Davis ten to one
- 63: Dick grinned good naturedly and Jennie laughed again
- 64: CHAPTER VIIITHE STORM CENTER Socola hastened
- 65: Davis knew that it was not true
- 66: I warn you I know these Yankees
- 67: The new Commander hurried to Briarfield
- 68: Socola replied with carefully modulated voice
- 69: The longer Socola talked with this pale
- 70: Socola studied him with surprise
- 71: These Southern people meant to fight
- 72: Tom was going to join the navy
- 73: A group of four little negro girls surrounded Jennie
- 74: Socola dressed hastily and rushed down stairs
- 75: Toombs was dropped even for Vice President for Alexander H
- 76: The President elect stepped forward
- 77: Lincoln would not advocate coercion in his inaugural
- 78: Buchanan had collapsed in terror
- 79: He pressed his Commissioners in Washington for haste
- 80: Certain that the rumors were false
- 81: A blue light flamed from Fort Sumter
- 82: Jennie hurried into the street and bought one
- 83: Dey ain't none ob 'em gwine ter pester me
- 84: Without a ship afloat or a single navy yard
- 85: Practically a new navy had been constructed
- 86: In the face of this proclamation
- 87: The arsenal at Fayetteville was captured without bloodshed
- 88: Cursing and yelling their defiance
- 89: Lincoln prevented the secession of Kentucky and Missouri
- 90: Until the proclamation of President Lincoln
- 91: Socola did not argue the point
- 92: Tom was in New Orleans with Raphael Semmes
- 93: Shady streets were suddenly transformed into the throbbing
- 94: Socola saw but one lady who showed the slightest displeasure
- 95: Socola met Dick Welford suddenly face to face
- 96: We'll never get a chance to see a Yankee
- 97: Socola followed with a nod of approval
- 98: With quick precision the stranger presented his companion
- 99: Socola examined the arrangement with care
- 100: She paused and looked at Socola with a curious smile
- 101: From Washington by a direct movement on Richmond
- 102: The widely acclaimed hero of Fort Sumter
- 103: On the tenth of July Beauregard
- 104: She handed the tiny scrap of paper to Donellan
- 105: The battle began at eight o'clock
- 106: The plan was skillfully and daringly conceived
- 107: Colonel Evans knew its meaning
- 108: Beauregard leaped from his horse
- 109: Beauregard turned to Colonel Evans
- 110: Unreasoning panic had seized the Union army
- 111: They crowded around the conductor
- 112: The victory of the South was complete and overwhelming
- 113: The victory had been too decisive
- 114: Fools and incompetents were relegated to the rear
- 115: Controversies began between different Southern States
- 116: Albert Sidney Johnston and Robert E
- 117: Albert Sidney Johnston and Robert E
- 118: This sheet was made the organ of all the bickering
- 119: Davis at last gently rapped on his door
- 120: Use your brains and personality to win them
- 121: It had already become an obsession
- 122: Jennie smiled sweetly as she extended her hand to Socola
- 123: The girl laughed and blushed and passed quickly on
- 124: They're for revenge Revenge
- 125: On Tuesday they arrived at Hatteras Inlet
- 126: The coast of Florida was next pierced
- 127: Properly commanded should hold Donelson indefinitely
- 128: Its batteries consisted of eight thirty two pounders
- 129: More reenforcements were coming
- 130: While Floyd and Pillow wrangled
- 131: General Buckner called for pen
- 132: Every big gun and thirteen thousand prisoners of war
- 133: She would see that Socola secured his appointment
- 134: The moment was one of illumination for Socola
- 135: Passed into the hall with Socola
- 136: The day slowly dawned through lowering storm clouds
- 137: Benjamin stopped short in his tracks
- 138: Congress must pass a Conscript law when necessity demands it
- 139: The President looked up sharply
- 140: Their concentrated fire was terrific
- 141: His battery had mounted five guns at sunrise
- 142: Farragut had given up the foolish attempt
- 143: The new gunboat of the Confederacy
- 144: Having come on a visit from Fairview
- 145: Socola wondered why she laughed
- 146: Jennie watched them with shining eyes
- 147: Pealed two guns in quick succession
- 148: She would certainly need a comb
- 149: Yassam yassam I wish I could do mo'
- 150: I sho weren't gwine let dem Yankees steal dem
- 151: Shouted the elders from the skiff
- 152: General Williams had met her brother in New Orleans
- 153: Butler swore in a towering rage
- 154: The gentlemanly and considerate Federal commander
- 155: Where are the damned secesh women
- 156: Jennie succeeded at last in obtaining a pass to New Orleans
- 157: New Orleans is in the hands of the enemy
- 158: The stolid Federal commander sat his horse
- 159: His fine face flushed with victory
- 160: Dick saluted and sprang into the saddle
- 161: The Confederate losses in killed
- 162: Davis met the crisis with firmness
- 163: The Commandant of Libby Prison
- 164: Twenty two of them of nine inch caliber
- 165: The Merrimac moved forward with slow
- 166: Bushnell took the model of this strange craft to Washington
- 167: The nimble foe avoided the blow
- 168: His heart would burst with its beating
- 169: His work in Richmond was practically done
- 170: Johnston against the administration
- 171: There can be no readjustment of this war
- 172: Her words were spoken with deliberate tenderness
- 173: Johnston asked that Longstreet and Smith be invited
- 174: While McClellan was encamped before Yorktown
- 175: The Committee grasped his hand
- 176: I want to see General Johnston
- 177: Reagan turned and rode again into Hood's camp
- 178: You were afraid he would fight beyond the Chickahominy
- 179: The man who was Johnston's second
- 180: So perfect was Lee's confidence in Jackson
- 181: Captured seven pieces of artillery
- 182: The rattle of the dead wagons could be heard at every turn
- 183: The Confederacy had won immortality
- 184: General Bonham sang a love song
- 185: He never thought of promotion for gallantry
- 186: You're not yet Signora Socola The girl laughed
- 187: He established artificial niter beds at Richmond
- 188: Through the port of Wilmington
- 189: McClellan was in no hurry to get there
- 190: They swept through the open fields
- 191: The meadows were trampled and red
- 192: Surround and capture Harper's Ferry
- 193: McClellan had lost more than twelve thousand
- 194: Burnside would renew the attack with redoubled vigor
- 195: McGruder had supplemented it by a foot navy
- 196: Lee had been compelled to detach Longstreet's corps
- 197: His head sank and a smile lighted his rugged face
- 198: Socola had secured his services in the nick of time
- 199: Saw Socola speak to her in low quick tones
- 200: Captain Welford evidently thinks so And you
- 201: Socola took her hand and pressed it
- 202: The safety of Vicksburg was not seriously questioned
- 203: The people of Vicksburg are your neighbors
- 204: Ewell captured three thousand prisoners
- 205: And the Shenandoah Valley into Pennsylvania
- 206: Lee ordered the third day's fight
- 207: The news from Gettysburg crushed the soul of Davis
- 208: Grant closed in on Vicksburg and the struggle began
- 209: Unable to endure the strain she sent for Socola
- 210: I couldn't tell the truth and live in Richmond
- 211: Its desks dingy and slashed with pocket knives
- 212: General Beauregard asked me to relieve him
- 213: Rosecrans was hemmed in in Chattanooga
- 214: Davis reluctantly ordered Joseph E
- 215: 000 with which to oppose Grant's 150
- 216: The man saluted again and passed quickly out
- 217: Dahlgren crossed the river at Ely's Ford
- 218: She had ceased to fight his suspicions of Socola
- 219: In vain Socola pleaded against this mad undertaking
- 220: I was in a gambling establishment Whose
- 221: I don't ask you why you have deceived me
- 222: All mills must be burned and the canal destroyed
- 223: I couldn't have loved a coward
- 224: You discovered important evidence incriminating Socola
- 225: Jennie laughed softly through her tears
- 226: His face deathlike in its pallor
- 227: Without directly opposing his commanding general
- 228: A crowd of Southern boys from the prison at Elmira
- 229: In her eager search for his loved face
- 230: A man's coat cost $350 his trousers $100
- 231: Billy delivered it to Jennie with more than a boy's pride
- 232: Here's one day's rations from the regiment
- 233: Jennie stayed to help the stricken home
- 234: The Confederacy was in sight of victory
- 235: Threatened Marietta and Johnston ran again
- 236: It was too late to save Atlanta
- 237: We must stop this deluge of blood
- 238: To him the manhood of the Southern soldier was unconquerable
- 239: Not a rumor had reached the city of Lee's broken lines
- 240: Battle flag and guidon streaming in the sky
- 241: The President established his temporary Capital at Danville
- 242: He had need of its memory to cheer him at Greensboro
- 243: I agree with what General Johnston has said
- 244: Handing the telegram to his Secretary
- 245: The President and his party reached Abbeville on May first
- 246: General Reagan called on the distinguished leader
- 247: He finally agreed to do this and with Reagan
- 248: His camp surrounded by Colonel Pritchard
- 249: Socola started and turned pale
- 250: General Joseph Wheeler and Burton Harrison
- 251: But his jailers were not content
- 252: Sprang on their helpless victim
- 253: Craven sought the jailer General Miles
- 254: Craven was getting too troublesome
- 255: The keeper of Andersonville prison
- 256: He is afraid of both Stanton and Holt
- 257: The newspaper of Savannah of the new regime
- 258: His body had shrunk to a skeleton
- 259: The Radical conspirators at Washington
- 260: The indictment had also named Robert E
- 261: I'll issue positive orders Jennie moved