The Victim: A Romance of the Real Jefferson Davis Read online

  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

  "The man in front gave a short laugh and advancedon the girl" [Page 300]]

  THE VICTIM

  "_A majestic soul has passed_"--Charles A. Dana

  Colophon]

  New York and LondonD. Appleton and Company1914Copyright, 1914, byThomas DixonAll rights reserved, including that of translation into allforeign languages, including the ScandinavianPrinted 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 ofthe life of Jefferson Davis I have drawn his real character unobscuredby passion or prejudice. Forced by his people to lead their cause, hisgenius created an engine of war so terrible in its power that through itfive million Southerners, without money, without a market, withoutcredit, withstood for four years the shock of twenty million men oftheir own blood and of equal daring, backed by boundless resources._

  _The achievement is without a parallel in history, and adds new glory tothe 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 ofhistory._

  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