Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-15
HEADQUARTERS 4TH Mich. CAv.,l
CUMBERLAND, GA, May IL. I

10 capt. i. W. Scott, "A. u. "a Dt0.: .
SIR have the honor to report that at
daylight yesterday, at Irwinvile, | sur
prised and captured JEFF. Davis and family,
together with his wite's sisters and mother :;
his Postmaster General, his private secre-
tary, Col. Harrison, Col. johnson, A. ID. G.
on Davis staff, Col. Morris Lubbock, and
Lieut.. Hathaway; also several other ilnpor
tant personages, and train of five wagons
and three ambulances, making most per-
feet success.
Had not most painful mistake occurred,
by which the 4th Michigan and lst Wis
consin came in conflict, we should have
done better. This mistake cost us two kill
ed and Lieutenant Boutle wounded through
the arm, in the 4th Michigan, and four men
wounded in the lst Wisconsin. This oc-
Cured just at daylight, after we had cap
tured the camp. BY the advance of the
1st Wisconsin they were mistaken for the
enemy.
returned 10 this point last night, and
will move right on to Macon without wait
ing orders from you as directed, feeling
that the whole object of the expedition is
accomplished. twill take me at least three
days to reach Macon, as we are about sev-
enty-five miles out and our stock much eX-
hausted. hope to reach Hawkinsyille to-
night. ..r
/ have the honor to be, yours,
[Signed] b. ID. PRITCHARD,
Lieutenant, &c.
The 1st Wisconsin belongs to Logan's
brigade of McCook's division, and had been
sent due east by General CroXton, via Dub
lin. Col. Mentz had distributed his COM
mand all along the south bank of the Oc-
mulgee and Attama. This accounts for the
collision between parts of the 1st and I'd
divisions, and shows the route of the COM
mand in pursuit. have directed increased
vigilance on the part of the command, in
the hope of capturing the other assassins.
Our dispositions of men are good, and so
far none of the rebel chiefs have been able
to get through. Breckinridges son was
captured night before last, IL miles south
of here. Will send further details as soon
as received.
[Signedl j. III. WILSON,
Brevet Maj. Gen.
MACON, GA, 9:30 A. NJ, May 13.
Hon E. III. Stanton:
Lieut.. Col. Harden, commanding the 1st
division, has just arrived from Irwinville.
He struck the trail of Davis at Dublin,
Lawrence county, on the evening of the
9TH, and follwed him closely night and day
through the pine wilderness of Alligator
creek and Green Swamp, via Cumberlands-
vile and Irwinvile. At Cumberlandsville
Col. Harden met Col. Pritchard, with 150
picked men and horses of the 4th Michigan.
Harden followed the trail directly South,
while Colonel Prtchard, having fresher
horses, pushed down the Ocmulgee
towards Hopewell, and thence by
| House creek to Irwinville, arriving there
at midnight on the 9th. jeff. Davis had moi
arrived. From citizen Pritchard learned
| that his party were encamped two miles
out of the town. He made dispositions o
| his men and surrounded the camp before
| day. Harden had camped at p. M. within
| two miles, as he afterwards learned from
Davis. The trail being too indistinet Il
follow, he pushed on at 3 A. NJ, and ha(
gone but little more than one mile when hi:
| advance was fired upon by men of the 4tt
Michigan. A fight ensued, both parties
exhibiting the greatest determination
| Fifteen minutes elapsed before the mistake
| was discovered.
The firing in this skirmish was the first
warning that Davis received. The captors
report that he hastily put on one of his
wife's dresses 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 suspected his
sex at once. The race was short one, and
the rebel President was soon brought to bay
| He brandished a bowie-knife and showed
signs of battle, but yielded promptly to the
preponderance OF Colts revolvers, without
compelling the men to fire. He ex-
pressed great Indignation at the en-
ergy with which he was pursued
saying that he had believed our Govern
ment too magnanimous to hunt down wo-
men and children. Mrs. Davis remarked
to Col. Harden, after the excitement was
over, that the men had better not provoke
the President, as he might hurt some ol
them, although he behaved himself with
dignity and resignation. The parties were
evidently making for the coast.
| j. H. WILSON,
--' Brevet Brig. General.