The Grand Haven news., 1865-05-17

Je6 Davis and his STAFF 0m-
GERS Captured,
War DEPARTMENT.,
WAsBrroToN, Nav IA.

w An OErAHIMBNxy
WAsHISoros, May IA. 4.
TO Maj. Gen. Dix.:
The following details Of the capture Of
JEFF. Davis, while attempting TO make his
escape in bic wifo's clothes, have been re-
ceised by Maj. Gen Wilson.
E. M. STANTON.
Macon, GA, May l2-ll A. M.
To Hon. Il. NJ Stanton, Ssc'y Of War.
The following dispatch, announcing the
capture Of JEFF. Davis, has just been
handed me by Colonel Minty, command
ing the I'd division.
HEADQUARTERS 4rH Mich CAVALRY, !
CUMBERLAND, Ga, May IL.
To Capt. T. W. Scott, a. g., I'd d.
vision:
Sir--I have the honor to report that
at daylight yesterday, at Irwiuville, / sur
prised and captured JEFF. Davis and fami-
", together with his wife's sisters and
mother, his Post Master General Regan,
his Private Secretary, Cbl. Harrison, Col.
johnson, A. D. G. on Davis staff, Col.
Morris Lubbwick, and Lieut.. Hathaway {;
also several important names and a train
Of five wagons and three ambulances,
making a most perfect success. Had not
a most painful mistake occurred, by which
the 4th Michigan and lst Wisconsin
came in conflict, we should have done
better. This mistake cost us two killed
and Lieutenant Boutle wounded through
the arm 10 the 4th Michigan, and four
men wounded in the lst Wisconsin.
The lst Wisconsin belongs to Logan's
brigade, Of McCook's division, aud had
been sent due east by Gen. Croxter, pia
Dublin, Col. Minty had distributed bis
command all along the south bank Of the
Ocmnlgee and Altamaha. This accounts
for the collision between parts Of the first
and I'd division, and shows the zeal of
the command in pursuit. have directed
increased vigilance on the part Of the
command in the hope Of catching the 9th.
or assassins. Our dispositions of men
are good, and so far none of the rebel
chiefs have been able to get through
Breckinridge and son were captured night
before last, eleven miles south Of here
/ will send further details as soon as re-
ceived.
: III. WILSON, Brevet Maj. Gen.
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 waiting orders from you,
as directed, feeling that the whole object
of the expedition is accomplished. 1t will
take me at least three days to reach Ma
con, as we are seventy five miles out, and
our stock much exhausted. l hope to
reach Hopkinsville to night.
have the honor, ETC.,
B. d. PRITCHARD,
Lieut. Col, 4th Mich. Cav.
y MACON, Ca, 9.3o A. M, May l3.
To the. Hon. II. M Stanton:
Lieut.. Col. Harden, commanding the
1st Wisconsin, has Just arrived from Ir-
winviIle. He struck the trail Of Davis
at Dublin, Irwin Co., on the evening of
the 7th and followed him closely night
and day, through the pine wilderness of
Alligator Creek and Green Swamp, vio
Cumberlapdsville to IrwinyilIe. At Cum
berlandsville, Col. Harden met Col Pritch-
ard, with one hundred picked men and
horses of the 4th Michigan Cavalry
Harden followed the trail directly south,
while Pritchard, having fresher horses,
pushed down the Ocmulgee towards Hope
we'll, and thence by House Greek to IT.
winville, arriving there at midnight on the
9th. JEFF. Davis had not arrived. From
q citizen Pritchsrd learned that bis party
were sncamped two miles out of town.
He made dispositions Of bis men and sur
rounded the camp before day. Harden
bad camp, at 8 P. M, within two miles,
as be afterward learned, from Davis. The
trail being loo indistinct to follow, he push
Cd 90 at three A. NJ, and had gone little
more than one mile when bis advance was
fred on BY the men Of the 4th Michigan.
A fight snsued, both parties exhibiting
the greatest determination. Fifteen min
sites elapsed before, the mistake was dis
covered. The firing 10 this skirmish was
the hrst warning that jeff Davis receiv-
cd. The capton report that be hastily
put on one Of bic sites drssses and start