The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 9, July 1905 - April, 1906 Page: 48
ix, 294 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
However, even though Lee and Johnston were no longer in the
field, hope was not abandoned by the executive as to ultimate
triumph; and as the bedraggled companies of Confederates, under
General Breckinridge, beat on southward, Judge Reagan's was one
of the stoutest hearts. This was shown by his appointment to the
portfolio of secretary of the treasury, Mr. Trenholm having re-
signed on account of illness. 'Thus, acting in the double capacity
of postmaster-general and secretary of the treasury, he went bravely
on with President Davis when others fell away from him and his
sinking cause to fly, as Benjamin did, in disguise to friendly shores,
or to caress, as some did, the conqueror.
On May 10, 1865, the Davis party was captured and hurried
northward. At Hampton Roads, where the prisoners were sepa-
rated, Judge Reagan besought General Wilson, who was in com-
mand, to be allowed to accompany Mr. Davis, who, as many
thought, was certain to be executed. Long afterward Judge
Reagan again met General Wilson, who smilingly remarked that
he remembered well the day the judge had begged to be shot. That
was typical of the man. He knew that he was as guilty, morally
or otherwise, as his chief, and that whatever fate befell that chief
was meet for his adviser. And it was no pose on the judge's part.
He had moral and physical courage of a superior order; no peril,
no menace ever moved him a hair's-breadth from his purpose.
Imprisoned in Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, a few cells re-
moved from Alexander H. Stephens, far from losing heart, he
straightway set about ways and means to secure the readjustment
of the States on lines acceptable to both sections. His Fort War-
ren letter, all things considered, was nothing short of prophetic.
It urged the people of Texas to recognize the loss of their cause
and to accept the legitimate fruits of the war, if they would escape
heavier calamities. He foresaw, as scarcely any other southern man
did, the horrors of reconstruction, and strove manfully to avoid
them. Even after his release and return on parole to Texas, he
never ceased his vigilance, urging in a letter to Governor Throck-
morton, and in one to the people of the State, that the amend-
ments to the Constitution needs must be accepted. Alas! his ad-
vice fell on deaf ears, and he was held up to censure by those he
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 9, July 1905 - April, 1906, periodical, 1906; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101036/m1/52/?rotate=270: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.