The Victim A romance of the Real Jefferson Davis   By: Thomas Dixon (1864-1946)

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 Régime 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

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"The man in front gave a short laugh and advanced on the girl"

"'You have given me new eyes '"

"'We have won, sir!' was the short curt answer"

"Dick saluted and sprang into the saddle 'I understand, sir'"

"Jennie thrust her trembling little figure between the two men and confronted Dick"

"'Do your duty put them on him!'"

LEADING CHARACTERS OF THE STORY

The Prologue

1814 1853

Lt. Jefferson Davis, Of the U. S. Army. Joseph E. Davis, His Big Brother. Colonel Zachary Taylor, "Old Rough and Ready." Sarah Knox Taylor, His Daughter. James Pemberton, A Faithful Slave.

The Story

1860 1867