le 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

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 litt