Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-05-18
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JEFF. DAVIS CAPTURED.
WAR DEPARTMENT, |
WASHINGTON. Nav IL. 1865

Major Gen Dix -
The following dispatch, Just seccived from
Gen. Wilson, announces the surprise and
capture of Jefferson Davis and his Staff by
Col. Prchard and the Michigan cavalr6 on
the morning of the 10th inst, at Irwinville,
in Irwin county, Ga.
L. NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
MACON, Ca, May l2-ll A. NJ.
Lieut.. Gen. Grant and the Hon. Secretary
Of War, Washington -
| have the honor to report that at day
light of the 10th inst, Col Prichard, com
manding the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, cap
tured JEFF. Davis and family, with Regan,
Postmaster General; Col. Harrison, Private
Secretary; COL Morris Col Lubbick, Lieut..
Hathaway and Others.
Col. Pritchard surprised their camp at
lrwinville, in Irwin county, Ga, seventy
five miles southeast of this place. They
will be here tomorrow night, and will be
forwarded under strong guard without
delay. / will send further particulars at
once.
j. c. WILSON, Brevet Major General.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, May Ia, 1865.
Major Gen. Dix
The following details of the capture of
jeff Davis, while attempting to make his
escape in his wifes clothes, have been re-
ceived from Major Gen. Wilson.
(Signed.) Il. M. STANTON.
MACON, Ga, May l2,-ll A. NJ.
Hon. +. NJ. Stanton:
The following dispatch announcing the
capture of jeff Davis, has just been han
ded me by Col. Mentz, commanding the ID
Division:
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH MIcH. CAv.,l
CUMBERLAND, May IL.
Capt. 7. w. Scott, Adjt Gen. I'd Div.
have the honor to report that at day
light yesterday at Irwinvie, | surprised
and captured Jeff Davis and family, to-
gether with his wife sister and mother, his
Postmaster-General Regan, his private Sec
retary Col Harrison, Col. Johnson, A. ID.
c., on Davis staff, Col Morris Lubbock
and Lieut. Hathaway; also train of five
wagons and three ambulances, meeting with
the most perfect success. Had not most
painful mistake occurred by which the 4th
Michigan and lst Wisconsin came in con-
tlict, we should have done better. This
mistake cost us two lives, and Lieut. Cutie
was wounded through the arm in the 4th
Michigan, and four men wounded in the lst
Wisconsin, This occurred just at daylight
after we had captured the camp. BY the
advance of the lst Wisconsin they were
mistaken for the enemy.
] returned to this point last night, and
shall move right on to Macon without wait
ing for orders from you, as directed feeling
that the whole object of the expedition is
now accomplished 1t will take me at least
three days to reach Macon, as we are sew
enty-fiye miles out, and our stock much ex-
hausted. hope to reach Hawkinsvllc to-
night
have the homer, &C.,
b. D. Prichard,
Lieut. Col. 4th Michigan Cavalry.
The lst Wisconsin belongs to Logan s
brigade of McCook division, and had been
sent due east by Gen. Coxtai, via Dublin. -
COL Mentz had distributed his command all
along the south bank of the Ocmulgee and
Altamaha. This accounts for the collision
between parts of the lst and I'd divisions,
and shows the zeal of the command in the
pursuit. have directed increased vigilance
on the part Of the command, in the hope of
catching other assassns Our disposition
Of the men is good, and so far none Of the
rebel chiefs have been able to get through.
Breckenridges son was captured night be-
fore last eleven miles south of here.
will send further details as soon as re-
ceived
(Signed.) ]. II. WILSON,
Brevet Major General
MACON, Ga, May 1880 A. NJ.
Hon. L.. NJ. Stanton -:
Lieut.. Col Hardee, commanding the
First Wisconsin, has just arrived from lr-
winvillc. He struck the trail of Davis at
Dublin, Lawrence county, on the evening of
the 7th, and followed him closely night and
day, through the pine wilderness of Alliga-
tor creek and Green Swamp via Cumber-
landvillc to lrwinville. At Cumberland
vile Col. EIardec met Col. Prtchard, with
one hundred and fifty picked men and hor-
ses of the Fourth Michigan Hardce fol-
lowed the trail directly South, while Pritch-
ard, having fresher horses, pushed down
the Ocmulgcc towards Hopewell, and
thence by House creek to Ironvillc, arriving
there at midnight on the 9th. jeff Davis
had not arrived.
From a citizen Col Pritchard learned
that the Davis party were cncampcd two
miles out of town. He made disposition
of his men and surrounded the camp before
day. Hardee had campedat Q u. NJ, with
in two miles as he atterward learned of Da-
Wis trail which was to indistinct to follow.
He pushed on at 3 A. NJ, and had gone
but little more that one mile when his ad-
vance was fired on by the Fourth Michigan.
A fight ensucd both exhibiting great de-
termination. Fifteen minutes elapsed be-
fore the mistake was discovered. Firing in
skirmsh was the first warning Davis had.
The captors report that he hastily put on
one of his wife dresses and hastily started
for the woods closely followed by our men,
who at first took him to be woman, but
seeing his boots while he was running they
suspected his sex at once. His race was a
short one and the rebel President was soon
brought to bay. He brandishcd bowie
knife and showed signs of battle, but yield
ed promptly to pursuasons of Colts revol-
vers without compelling our men to fire.
He expressed great Indignation at the
energy with which he was pursued saying
that he had believed our Government too
magnanimous to hunt down women and
children. Mrs. Davis remarked to Colonel
Harden, after the excitement was over, that
the men had better not provoke the Presi
dent or he might hurt some of them Re
gan behaves himself with dignity. The
party were evidently making for the coast
Signed j. II. WILSON,
Brevet Major General