Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-18
CAPTURE OF JEFF DAVIS.
The Rebel Post Master General Taken !
left Tries to Escapein W0naen's Clothes!
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, May 13.

Major-Gen DIX: The following dispatch
Just received from Gen. Wilson, announces
the surprise and capture of Jefferson Davis
and his staff, by Col. Pritchard and the
Michigan Cavalry, on the morning of the
! 9th inst, at Irwinsvile, in Irwin County
Georgia.
EDWIN NJ. STANTON, Secretary of War.
Macon, Ga, May H. 1861 A. m.
Lieut.. Gen, U. S. GRANT and Hon. Secretary of War,
Washington. d. C.
| have the honor to report that at day
light of the 10th inst, Col Pritchard com
mandng 4th Michigan Cavalry captured
jeff Davis and family, with Reagan Post
master-G General Col. Harrison, Private
Secretary Col Johnson, A. d. c.; Col
Norris Col Lubbock, Lieut. Halfway and
others. Col Pritchard surprised their camp
at Irwinsville, in Irwin County, Ga, IS
miles southeast of this place. They will
be here tomorrow night, and will be for.
wa.ded under strong guard without delay.
! will send further particulars at once
j. H. WILSON, Brevet Major-General.
MACON, Ga, Friday, May 13,-93O a. H.
Hon. E. NJ. STANTON, Secretary of War:
Lieut-Col Harden, commanding the lst
Wisconsin, has just arrived from IrwinvilIe.
He struck the trail of Davis at Dublin, Lau-
rens County, on the evening Of the 7th and
followed him closely night and day through
the pine wilderness of Alligator Creek and
Green Swamp, via Cumberlandvile to Ir-
winville.
At Cumberlandville, Col Harden met
Col. Pritchard with l60 picked men and
horses of the 4th Michigan.
Harden followed the trail directly south,
while Pritchard, having fresher horses,
pushed down the Ocmulgee toward Hope
we'll, and thence by House Greek to Irwins-
vile, arriving there at midnight of the 9th.
jeff. Davis had not arrived
From a citizen Pritchard learned that his
party were encamped two miles out of
the town. He made dispositions of his
men, and surrounded the camp before day
Harden had camped, at p. m, within
two miles, as he afterward learned. from
Davis
The trail being too indistinct to follow,
he pushed on at 3 Il. IN, and had gone but
little more than one mile when his advance
was fired upon by men of the 4th Michi-
gan
A fight ensued, both parties exhibiting
the greatest determination. Fifteen min
utes elapsed before the mistake was dis
covered
The firing in this skirmish was the first
warning that Davis received
The captors report that he hastily put on
one of his wife's dresses and started for
the woods, closely followed by our men,
who at first thought him woman, but
seeing his boots while he was running,
they suspected his sex at once.
The race was a short one, and the Rebel
President was soon brought to bay. He
brandished a bOwie-knife and showed
signs of battle, but yielded promptly to the
persuasions of Colts revolvers, without
compelling the men to fire.
He expressed great Indignation at the
energy with which he was pursued, saying
that he had believed our Government more
magnanmous than to hunt down women
and children.
Mrs Davis remarked to Col. Harden
after the excitement was over that the men
had better not provoke the President, or
''he might hurt some of EN-"
Reagan behaves himself with dignity
and resignation.
The party, evidently, were making for
the coast.
j. H. WILSON, Brevet Major-General.
WASHINGTON, May a. 1865.
The public here manifest the utmost en-
thusiasm over the capture of jeff Davis
Some timid politicians, however, express "a
wish that he had been shot as Booth was,
for fear his possession may be embarrassing
to the Government IF he is n1aced in the
prisoners dock at the court, by the side of
Harold and Payne he will certainly be
convicted of completely in the assassination
of Mr. Lincoln.
1t is urged strenuously, however, by some
III high position, that the dignity of the ma
tion demands that on his arrival here the
assassination charge ought to be waived
and he be arraigned and tried for treason,
the highest crime known to our laws, and
on conviction, hanged. Secretary Stanton
will order Jeff.Davis to be put on a gun
boat and forwarded direct to Washington.