Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-05-18

OFFICIAL.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, l
May 18th, 1868. (

May 18TH, 1860. III
To Major General Dir: n
The following despatch has just
been received from Gen. Wilson, an
nonncing the surprise and capture of
JEFF. Davis and his Staff by Col. Pritch-
ard, of the 4th Michigan cavalry, on
the morning of the 10th inst, at Irwin
vile, Irwin county, Georgia.
E. NJ. STANTON:
D-u-.aa MACON, GA, IA. M. May 18th.
To Lieut.. Gen. U. s. Grant:
have the honor to report that at
daylight on the 10th inst, Col Pritch-
ard commanding the 4th Michigan cav
airy, captured JEFF. Davis and family,
with Regain, Postmaster General Col.
Harrison, Private Secretary Colonel
Johston, A. d. c.. Col. Morris, Col.
Lubbock, Lieut.. Hathaway and 9TH
ers. Col. Pritchard surprised them in
camp at Irwinville, Irwin county,
Georgia, seventy-tive miles southeast
of this place. They will be here
tomorrow night, and will be forward
ed under strong guard without delay.
| will send further particulars at once.
J. H. WILSON.
Brevet Maj. General.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, |
.1N May l4th, 1865.
To Major General Dir:
The following details of the capture
of JEFF. Davis, while attempting to
make his escape in his wife's clothes,
have been received from Major Gener-
al Wilson. ... Il. NJ. STANTON
-...a .. MACON, Ga, May IL, IL An
To Hon E. NJ Stanton ...... ...
The following despatch announcing
the capture of JEFF. Davis, has Just
been handed me by Col. Mentz, com
handing the I'd division of the 4th
Michigan cavalry -'a
CUMBERLAND GA, May l1th
TO Capt. ~ W. Scott, of the I'd Dirisiom:
SIR ~ have the honor to report
that at daylight yesterday, at Irwin
vile, Georgia, l surprised and captur-
ed jeff Davis and family, together
with his wife and mother and his Post
master General Regain his private
Secretary, Col. Harrison Col. John
son, A. d. G. on Davis Staff; Col Nor.
ris Lubbock and Lieutenant Hatha-
way, also a number of unimportant
names and a train of wagons, and
three ambulances, making most per.
feet success, and had not most pain
full accident occurred, by which the
4th Michigan and lst Wisconsin came
in conflict, we would have done better.
This mistake cost us two killed aud
Lieutenant Boutle wounded of the 4th
Michigan, and four of the Wisconsin
lst were wounded. This occurred
just at daylight, after we had captur-
ed the camp, by the advance of the lst
Wisconsin. They were taken for the
enemy. retreated to this point last
night, and will move right on to Ma
con without further orders from you
directed, feeling that the whole expe-
dition is accomplished. 1t will take
me at least three days to reach Ma
con, and we are seventy-fve miles
out, and our stock much exposed.
hope to reach Hawkinsville tonight.
D D. PRITCHARD. aat
Lieut.. Col. 4th Michigan Cavalry.
The lst Wisconsin, belonging to Lo-
gan's brigade of McCook's division,
had been sent down by Gen. Craxton.
Col. Moody had distributed his com
mand along the south bank of the
Oconee and Altamaha. This accounts
for the collision between parts of the
LIST and I'd divisions, and shows the
zeal of the commander in the hope of
catching the assassins. Our DISPOSE
ton of the men is good, and so far
none of the rebel chiefs have been
able to get through. Breckinridge's
son was captured night before last,
eleven miles south of here. / will
send further details as soon as re-
ceived j. III WILSON,
Brevet Major General.
~ MACON. GA, May I3--9 80 A. N.
To Hon f. "a. Stanton ....s g.. ..
Lieut.. Col. Hardee, commanding the
lst Wisconsin, has just arrived from
lrwinvllle. He struck the train of
Davis at Dublin, Lawrence county, on
the evening Of the It'll, and followed
him closely night and day through the
pine wilderness of Alligator Creek and
Green Swamp ria Cumberland to IT.
winville. At Conference.-The Colonel
Hardee soon met Col. Pritchard with
$50 picked men and horses of the 4th
Michigan. Hardee followed the trail
directly south while Pritchard, having
fresher horses, pushed down the Ock-
mulgee towards Hopewell, and thence
by House Creek to Irwinville, arriv-
ing there at midnight ON the 9th. JEFF.
Davis had not arrived. From citi-
zen Pritchard learned that his party
were encamped two miles out of the
town. He made dispositions of his
men and surrouded the camp before
day. Hardee had camped at o'clock
P. NJ. within, as we afterward learned,
one mile of Davis. The trail being
too indirect to follow, he pushed on at
3 A. N. and had gone but little more
than one mile when his advance was
fired upon by the 4th Michigan. A
h6AS ShS"Su, Do'i PoitiSo SAiiuitiIS
the greatest determination. Fifteen
minutes elapsed before the mistake
was discovered. The firing in this
skirmish was the first warning Davis
received. The captors report that he
hastily put on one of his wife's dress
es, 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 sus-
pected his sex at once. The race was
a short one, aud the rebel President
was soon brought to bay. He bran
dished bowie-knife and showed
signs Of battle, but yielded promptly
to the persuasion of Colts ievolvers
without compelling the men to fire.
He expressed great indignation at the
energy with which he was pursued,
saying that he had believed our Gov
ernmcnt too magnanimous to hunt
down women and children. Mrs. Da-
Wis remarked to Col Hardee after the
excitement was over, that the men
| haI L.