The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-05-30
Capture OF JeT. Davis.
Interesting Particulars Of his
movements mp 10 the Time
he was Captured. #

: me was Captured.
Throsgh Confederate officers, the
Nashville correspondent of the New
York World procured full account of
JEFF. Davis movements up to within a
short time of his capture.
General Debrell, who commanded
Davis resort, was engaged in the bat
tie near Raleigh, North Carolina, when
he received intelligence of the surren-
der of Lee; and at the same time
Wheeler got dispatch from JEFF. Da-
Wis, dated at Greensboro, North Caro-
lima, calling for one thousand picked
men, to escort him and what rcmaiacd
of his government to Washcc, Geor-
gia. Debrell was accordingly dispatch
ed with the required force, and after a
march of three days reached Green's
boro', at which point he found jeff
Davis with his family, Judah p. Ben
jamin, John @. Breckenridge, Senator
Burnett, of Kentucky; j. II. Reagan,
postmaster; Gen. Gustavus A. Harris,
of tennessee, and other rebel officials
AS soon as Gen. Debrell arrived, the
party prepared to march, and they set
sail on the following day. jeff Davis
and the rebel officials rode in front,
followed by ambulences containing the
women and children and the specie,
which was currently reported among
the officers to the amount of eleven
million of dollars. 1t was put up in
heavy iron-bouod kegs and boxes, and
had a guard of 900 men led by Gen.
Debrell, which followed the train. AT
point about five miles from Greens
horo' they eneamped, JEFF: Davis and
family taking up their quarters in a
house in the vicinity. Here the rank
and file first learned the object of their
mission, and it was discussed with all
the surmises which it naturally excited,
the men being exceedingly anxious to
know the destination OF their govern
ment.
On the following day JEFF. Davis
visited the boys and made a soul-stir-
ring speech, adverting to the disasters
that had oyertaken their beloved Cop-
federacy, but giving every assurance
that they were not irrevocably lost; that
all that was necessary to ultimate sue
cess was confidence in their leaders,
and the undaunted bravery which had
characterized the Confederate army du-
ring its past career. Upon taking the
line of march, they rode in the same
order, jeff Davis having by his side
young Col Johnson, son of Gen. Albert
Sydney Johnson, in whom he evident
ly repossd the most implicit confidence,
They reached Charlotte, n. c., where
they again camped, and Davis kar-
angued the men again, inspiring conf
dence in them, and dealing in glowing
words of rebel patriotism. He appear
ed happy and cheerful, took the boys
by the hand, and entered into cheerful
conversation with them. He would
praise their valor in the presence of the
ladies, and call them the faithful thou
sand, the flower of the Confederacy,
and paid them other pretty, but not
substantial compliments, At this point
they were joined by Basil Duke and
Vaughn, with their brigades, which in
creased the escort to the magnificent
proportion of 5000 men. After the
new oomers had mingled with the 9TH
ers, they soon learned the condition of
things, and they too had their surmises,
Like a pack of hungry wolves they
were suddenly reminded that the gov
ernment was slightly indebted to them,
and rs the treasure was near at hand
the idea of presenting their bills sug-
gested itself to them. The men would
congregate in groups, and their low
mutterings BODIED no good to the gov
ernment. jeff. found it necessary to
redouble his efforts to conciliate, but
his eloouence was wasted now. The
men obeyed their marching orders and
followed JEFF: into South Carolina, to
Abberville, where they again halted,
very much fatigued and demoralized.
On the sth things began to assume a
more desperate feature, and JEFF. found
it polite to inspire his brave boys with
something little more substantial than
words. The treasure was opened, and
the division Of Gen. Debrell, with the
brigades of Duke, Ferguson and
Vaughc, and formed in line and the
soldiers were paid off. Some of the
men were paid $50, some s2s, and
others $40. They were paid in gold
and silver, the coin being chiefly Mexi-
can dollars, with few United States;
hut few of them received gold. In the
evening Duke sent his Adjutant Gener-
al, Capt. Davis, to notify all his men
who wished to GO west of. the Missis-
sippi river, to report at IL o'clock On
the following day. At the appointed
time all the men reported, but Duke
refused to take those who were without
arms, and taking only those who were
armed, left the others to shift for them
selves. They heaped curses on Duke,
and with heavy hearts went to Washoe,
Ga, where they surrendered them
selves to Gen. Wilson, together with
the brigade of Ferguson and Vaugn.
The command of Gen. Debrell es-
corted jeff Davis to Vienna Valley,
on the west bank of the Savannah,
River, about twenty miles from Wash
ington, when the grand dissolution took
place on the 9th. AT this point Ben
jamin, Breckenridge, Burnett, and Sew
eral others, took last farewell Of JEFF.
Davis and his family. AT the hour
named JEFF Davis and suite crossed
the river, and the other portion of the
government galloped off to Washing.
ton, their pocket handkerchiefs in
mourning. The command was appris.