CROSS KEYS — History buffs from across America and one from England followed Confederate President Jefferson Davis’ trail to the Cross Keys House Saturday morning.

The tour, organized through the Smithsonian Institute, was led by Edwin C. Bearss, the former chief historian for the National Park Service. Bearss said the theme of tour was “The Flight of Jefferson Davis” and follows the path Davis took when he fled the Confederate capital of Richmond, Va., on April 2, 1865. Up to Saturday, Bearss said the tour had traveled to Danville, Va., Charlotte, N.C., and Chester, S.C. He said it would finish up in Irwinsville, Ga., where Davis was captured by Union cavalry on May 10, 1865.

During his flight from Richmond, Davis and his entourage — which included his family, members of his cabinet and a detachment of Confederate soldiers — made three stops in Union County. The first was at the Wallace House on East Main Street; then spent the night at the home of Capt. and Mrs. James T. Douglas between Union and Cross Keys; and finally, at the Cross Keys house where his party at a midday meal before traveling on toward Abbeville.

Though they didn’t eat a meal, the 18 history buffs who stepped off the chartered bus at the Cross Keys house were treated to hot cider and apple and pumpkin muffins provided by their hostesses, the ladies of the Union County Historical Society. In addition to enjoying southern hospitality, the history buffs were led on fact-filled tours of the house by the society members including Union County Museum Director Ola Jean Kelly.

Among those taking part were Alan and Cindy Houpt of Oak Hill, Va., who tool both photos and videos of virtually every aspect of the house and the grounds. Alan, a self-decribed Civil War buff, said he is documenting the battlefields and other sites associated with the war for his own video library. This has taken the Houpts, either on their own or in tours, tCROSS KEYS — History buffs from across America and one from England followed Confederate President Jefferson Davis’ trail to the Cross Keys House Saturday morning.

The tour, organized through the Smithsonian Institute, was led by Edwin C. Bearss, the former chief historian for the National Park Service. Bearss said the theme of tour was “The Flight of Jefferson Davis” and follows the path Davis took when he fled the Confederate capital of Richmond, Va., on April 2, 1865. Up to Saturday, Bearss said the tour had traveled to Danville, Va., Charlotte, N.C., and Chester, S.C. He said it would finish up in Irwinsville, Ga., where Davis was captured by Union cavalry on May 10, 1865.

During his flight from Richmond, Davis and his entourage — which included his family, members of his cabinet and a detachment of Confederate soldiers — made three stops in Union County. The first was at the Wallace House on East Main Street; then they spent the night at the home of Capt. and Mrs. James T. Douglas between Union and Cross Keys; and finally, at the Cross Keys house where his party had a midday meal before traveling on toward Abbeville.

Though they didn’t eat a meal, the 18 history buffs who stepped off the chartered bus at the Cross Keys house were treated to hot cider and apple and pumpkin muffins provided by their hostesses, the ladies of the Union County Historical Society. In addition to enjoying southern hospitality, the history buffs were led on fact-filled tours of the house by the society members including Union County Museum Director Ola Jean Kelly.

Among those taking part were Alan and Cindy Houpt of Oak Hill, Va., who took both photos and videos of virtually every aspect of the house and the grounds. Alan, a self-decribed Civil War buff, said he is documenting the battlefields and other sites associated with the war for his own video library. This has taken the Houpts, either on their own or in tours, to every state where the war was fought except Missouri and Alan said he plans to eventually get there as well.

Though historical interest was the main reason he took part in the tour, Florida resident William McKinney’s background as an engineer made him especially intersted in how the Cross Keys house was built. At one point he got down on his knees to examine the floor of the house’s attic as its construction was explained by society member Sarah Parker.

Other states reprsented on the tour included California, Georgia, Ohio and Maryland. Eastbourne, East Sussex, England was represented by Nik Rosewarne who said he decided to take part in the tour to see the South and experience its history.

“It’s a good way to see some of the southern states and some of the country towns you have,” Rosewarne said. “I just wanted to see how America developed from scratch and this is a good way to experience history.”

Bearss said the tour group he was leading was typical of the kinds of persons attracted to such history-themed tours. He said while this group is mainly interested in the Civil War, others are attracted to the other history-themed tours he leads an average of 250 days a year.

“They’re people interested in history, primarily in the Civil War and the personalities associated with it,” Bearss said. “Other theme tours I lead include ‘The Flight of the Nez Perce,’ ‘Benedict Arnold’ and next month I’ll be leading a tour that traces Lord Cornwallis’ trail from Charleston to Yorktown.”

Bearss added he led a tour in Europe that traced the path of American soldiers in World War II from Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, to the bridge at the Remagen River in Germany.

o every state where the war was fought except Missouri and Alan said he plans to eventually get there as well.

Though historical interest was the main reason he took part in the tour, Florida resident William McKinney’s background as an engineer made him especially intersted in how the Cross Keys house was built. At one point he got down on his knees to examine the floor of the house’s attic as its construction was explained by society member Sarah Parker.

Other states reprsented on the tour included California, Georgia, Ohio and Maryland. Eastbourne, East Sussex, England was represented by Nik Rosewarne who said he decided to take part in the tour to see the South and experience its history.

“It’s a good way to see some of the southern states and some of the country towns you have,” Rosewarne said. “I just wanted to see how America developed from scratch and this is a good way to experience history.”

Bearss said the tour group he was leading was typical of the kinds of persons attracted to such history-themed tours. He said that while this group is mainly interested in the Civil War, others are attracted to the other history-themed tours he leads an average of 250 days a year.

“They’re people interested in history, primarily in the Civil War and the personalities associated with it,” Bearss said. “Other theme tours I lead include ‘The Flight of the Nez Perce,’ ‘Benedict Arnold’ and next month I’ll be leading a tour that traces Lord Cornwallis’ trail from Charleston to Yorktown.”

Bearss added that he led a tour in Europe that traced the path of American soldiers in World War II from Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, to the bridge at the Remagen River in Germany.