Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-05-19

! The following details OF the capture
of Jeff. Davis, while attempting to
make his escape i'm his wife's clothes.
have been received from Major General
/ Wilson. -.-a-
...- F. M. STANTON,
| f.. .... ..'a Secretary of War.
| MACON, Ga, May l2--N An.
1.-THE following dispatch, announcing
handed me by Col. Mentz, command
ing the I'd division
"HEADQUARrERs It'll MICHIGAN cav 70,
Cumberland, Ga, May II. J
I" C1fa r. ". Scott, A. @. I'd Dicisioa.
"SIR Il have, the honor to report
that at daylight yesterday, at Twins
vile, 1 surprised and captured jeff. Da-
Wis and family, together with his wife
and sisters and mother, his Post Master
General Regain, his Private Secretary
Col. Harrison, Col. johnson, a. ID. {.
on Davis staff; Col. Morris Lubbock,
and Lieut.. Halfway; also q train of
five wagons and three ambulances, ma
king q most perfect success. Had not
most painful mistake occurred, by which
the 4th Michigan and 1st Wisconsin
came in conflict, we should have done
better. Their mistake cost us two kill
ed and Lieut. Boutle wounded through
the arm, in the 4th Michigan, and four
men wounded in the 1st Wisconsin,
This occurred just at daylight, after we
had captured the camp. BY the adj
vance of the 1st Wisconsin, they were
mistaken for the enemy. / returned to
this point last night, and shall move
right on to Macon without waiting or
ders from you, as directed, feeling that
the whole object of the expedition is
accomplished. 1t will take me, at least,
three days to reach Macon, and we are
seventy-iive miles out and our stock
much exhausted. / hope to reach Haw-
kinsville tonight.
"Ihave the honor, etc.
"B. u. PRIIClTARD,
'Lieut. Col. ith Michigan Cavalry.
The 1st Wisconsin belongs to Logan's
brigade of McCook's division, and had
been sent due cast by General CroXton,
ria Dublin. Col. MentZ had distrib-
uted his command all along the south
bank of the Ocmulgee and Altamaha.
This accounts for the collision between
parts of the 1st and I'd divisions, and
shows the zeal Of the cavalry i'm pur-
suit. have directed increased yigi-
lance or the part Of the command in
the hope of catching the other assas-
sins. Our dispositions of men are good,
and so far none of the rebel chiefs have
been able to get through. Brecken-
ridges son was captured night before
last, eleven miles south of here. VIII
send further details as soon as received.
J. II. WILSON,
Brevet Major General.
MAcoN, Ga, May 1880 a. N. .
Hon. r. M Stanton:
Lieut.. Col. Harden, commanding the
1st WISCONSIN regiment, has just ar
viz Iryt-tnSN-il1n
train of Davis at Dublin, Laurens Co.,
on the evening of the It'll, and followed
him closely night and day through the
pine wilderness Of Alligator Creek and
Gaien swamp rid Conference.-The to
1rwinsyile. At conference.-the Col.
Harden met Col. Pritchard with 100
picked men and horses of the 4th Mich
igan. Harden followed the trail direct
~ south, while Pritchard, having fresh
or horses, pushed down the Ocmulgee
towards Hopewell and thence by Horse
Creek to Irwinsviile, arriving there ut
midnight on the 9th. jeff. Davis had
not arrived. From a citizen, Pritchard
learned that his party were encamped
two miles out of town. He made a dis
position of his men and surrounded the
camp before day.
Harden had camped at 8 P. NJ. within
two miles, as he afterwards learned,
from Davis. The trail being too indi-
rect to follow, he pushed on at "A. NJ,
and had gone but little more than one
mile when his advance was fired upon
by the men of the 4th Michigan. A
| fight occurred, both parties exhibiting
the greatest determination. Fifteen
minutes elapsed before the mistake was
discovered. The firing in the skirmish
was the first warning Davis received.
yI<,f In I<fof; In .nay
on ono Of his scite's dresses and started
for the woods, closely followed by our
men, who at first thought him wo-
man, but seeing his boots uhiie running
they suspected his sex at once. The race
was short one. The rebel President
was soon brought to bay. He brandish-
ed a bowie-knife and showed signs of
battle, but yielded promptly to the per-
suasion of Colts revolvers, without
compelling the men to fire. He ex-
pressed 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
proroke the President o. he might hurt
some Of Mem!
Regain behaves himself with dignity
and resignation. The party evidently
were making for the coast.
j. III. WILSON,
Brcvet Major General.