The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-07-19
The CAPTURE Of jeff, Davis The
--latest Account.

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cumstances attending his capture will
continue to be written about, and the
public will read and read until all kinds
Of opipions are formed as to the manner
of manhood shown by the fallen official
in the closing scenes of his cventiul
career.
Some rebel officer TTho left Richmond
with the Presidential party on the eve
of the evacuation, and who travelled with
Davis most Of the time: has writtep out
for the n. Y. Herald lengthy account
of the grand hrsira, including the cap
,urc in Georgia. There is no reason to
suppose that his story may not be SUBJ
s,antially true. 1t reads like pretty
straightforward narrative, and from the
dates, references and incidents given,
may be accepted as 4 basis for public
opinion hcreaftcr-at least until some.
thing more reliable makes its appear.
ance. The following extract is the con-
cluding portion Of the rebel officers mar,
rativc:
AT last he got information that his
own wife and family were in danger from
the assaults of military maraudcrs. Mrs.
Davis, with her three children, and ac-
companied by her sister, Miss Howell,
had u wagon train OF her own, about
twenty or thirty miles from her hus.
band party. She was very anxious to
90 her own way, and bc no cmbarrass'
u.cut to him. She lclt equal to the task
ufpro;cc,ng herself from reckless Con-
!ederatcS, and felt sure Of avoiding fed
erals. But. 70 sooner did lie ascertain
that she was in danger, tha, two gangs
had cOnccclcl 4 scheme 10 seize all her
trunks under the impression that she
carried the rebel gold, than he resolved,
at all hazards, to 20 to her rescue. II
was fond husband S,.a fond father : ia
faluation. No rcmonstrance ava!lcd.
lie sc, out and rode eighteen miles to
meet the object of his love and soiictudc.
lie met them, aud. the first to rcbuke
him for his cxccss Of Iondncss was the
anxious wife and mother. \ tent or
two WAS already pitched, and he, weary
to exhaustion, went to sleep, intending
to rctracc his steps before morning. Had
he not gone to assure himself Of his
wife ) safety, and had he not been cxccs.
>ivcly rari sued while there, Colonel
Pritrhard would be without the honor Of
capturing him, for nothing was easier
than his escape, as BreckiGridge and
Wood aud the writer Of this Know, and
by meeting no interruption themselves
have proved. Their immunity might
have been his.
But Davis ran his risks and took his
chances, fully conscious Of imminent
danger, yet powcrless, from physical
wcariucss, to do all he designed doing
agains, tho danger. When the wusket.
ry firing was heard i'll the morning, at
" dim gray dawn" it was supposed to
be between the rebel marauders aud
Mrs. Davis few camp defenders. Under
this Impression he hurricdly put on his
boots aud prepared to 20 out ior the pur.
pose Of iuterpoSing, saying:
"Thcy Will at least as yet respect me"
AS he got to the door thus hastily
equipped, aud with this good intention
OF preventing an ciEuson Of blood by an
appeal in the name Of fading but not
wholly faded authority, he saw few
cavalry ride Up the road and deploy in
front.
Ha, federals :" was his exclamation
"Then you are cap,urcd,' cried Mrs.
Davis with emotion.
In a moment she caught an idea-a
womaus idea, and as quickly as women
in au emergency execute their designs,
it was done. lie slept in 4 wrapper-a
loose ouc. 1t was yet around him. This
she fastened ere he was aware Of it, and
then bidding him adieu urged him to 60
to the spring, n short distance off, where
his horses aud arms were. Strange as it
may seem, there Was not even II pistol in
the tent. Davis felt that his only course
Was to reach his horse and urms, and
complied. As he was leaving the door,
followed 10y servant with 4 water
bucket, Miss Howell flung a sha'cl orer
htS hea1 There was no time to remove
1t without exposure and barrassmeut,
and as he had not far to 20 he ran the
chance exactly as it was devised for him.
In these two articles consisted the wo.
mans attire, Of which 80 much nonsense
has been spoken or written, and under
these circumstances and in this way was
Jefferson Davis going forth to perfect
his escape. No bonnet, no gown, no
petticoats, no crinoline, no nothing of all
these. And what there was happened to
be excusabls under ordinary circumstan.
ces, and perfectly natural as things
were.
But it was too late for any effort to
reach his horses, aud the Confederate
President was at last o prisoner in the
hands Of the United States. 4
What attended his capture you have
heard in all ira Eorme and vhat followed