rage occurred during the war. Their wives and little ones remained
safe at home, surrounded by thousands of faithful slaves, who worked
quietly in the fields until removed by the Federals. This is the highest
testimony to the kindness of the master and the gentleness of the
servant; and all the dramatic talent prostituted to the dissemination of
falsehood in "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and similar productions can not rebut
it.

About the middle of November I received from General Lee, now commanding
the armies of the Confederacy, instructions to visit Macon and Savannah,
Georgia, if I could leave my department, and report to him the condition
of affairs in that quarter, and the probabilities of Sherman's
movements, as the latter had left Atlanta. I proceeded at once, taking
rail at Montgomery, and reached Macon, _via_ Columbus, Georgia, at dawn.
It was the bitterest weather I remember in this latitude. The ground was
frozen and some snow was falling. General Howell Cobb, the local
commander, met me at the station and took me to his house, which was
also his office. Arrived there, horses appeared, and Cobb said he
supposed that I would desire to ride out and inspect the fortifications,
on which he had been at work all night, as the enemy was twelve miles
north of Macon at noon of the preceding day. I asked what force he had
to defend the place. He stated the number, which was utterly inadequate,
and composed of raw conscripts. Whereupon I declined to look at the
fortifications, and requested him to order work upon them to be stopped,
so that his men could get by a fire, as I then was and intended to
remain. I had observed a movement of stores in passing the railway
station, and now expressed the opinion that Macon was the safest place
in Georgia, and advised Cobb to keep his stores. Here entered General
Mackall, one of Cobb's subordinates, who was personally in charge of the
defensive works, and could not credit the order he had received to stop.
Cobb referred him to me, and I said: "The enemy was but twelve miles
from you at noon of yesterday. Had he intended coming to Macon, you
would have seen him last evening, before you had time to strengthen
works or remove stores." This greatly comforted Cobb, who up to that
moment held me to be a lunatic. Breakfast was suggested, to which I
responded with enthusiasm, having been on short commons for many hours.
While we were enjoying the meal, intelligence was brought that the enemy
had