The Confederacy falls and Toombs falls with it, what distance he has left to fall. In his own opinion, at any rate, the North was thirsting for his blood, and the melo- dramatic incidents of his escape from capture must have afforded him infinite pleasure ; flights, disguises, con- cealments, thrilling hints of treachery, also the protection of lovely and intellectual young women. He was " a Chesterfield with ladies," says his biographer. "The gen- eral would walk to and fro along the shaded walks and pour forth, in his matchless way, the secret history of the ruin of the Confederate hopes." ^^ How I should like to have heard him !
And now comes the last curiosity in this extraordinary career. Before the war, in times of organized society, the man had stood forth a splendid rebel. Then, when re- bellion became the fashion and had spread to every- body about him, he sank into complete insignificance. Comparative peace was restored, comparative organiza- tion ; and immediately, as a rebel and a fighter, he came once more to the front. After he returned from his long exile in Europe, he struck in at once with vehement battle against all the sins and errors of carpetbag recon- struction. Heaven knows it was a fine opportunity I How he must have luxuriated in the tempest of epithets which he hurled against the dominant party that was over-riding him and his fellows : "Its tyranny, its cor-
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