Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-05-24
CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.
HIS POSTMASTER GENERAL. FAMr-
Lf, AND STAFF CAPTURED.
lofFlCIAL GAZETTE.

10Th INST, at lrwinsville, in irwin county,
Georgia. Il. NJ, STANTON
Secretary of War.
Macon, Georqia, Nav 10.
L-Gen. U. S. Grant, and Hon. Sec'v of
War; Washington, D. g:
! have the honor to report that at dav-
ligh on the 10Th inst, Col. Pritcbora
commanding the 4th Michigan Cavalry
captured jeff. Davis and family. with Re.
gan, the Postmaster General. Col Tarri.
son, ms private secretary Col. Johnson,
A. ID. Z; Col. Morris Col. Lubbock. Lieut.
Hathaway, and others.
Col. Pritchard surprised their camp at
!rWinsville, in Irwin county, Georgia, rs
miles east of this place.
They will be here tomorrow pigbt and
will be forwarded under strong guard.
without delay. | will send further par.
ticuIafs at once. J. II. WILSON,
Brovet-Maj-Genera
PARTICULARS OF THE CAPTURE.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, May IA, 'G5.
Ma-Gen. Dix, New York:
.he following details of the capture oS
), iierson Davis, while attempting to
make his escape in his wife's clothes, have
been received from Gen. Wilson.
Il. NJ. STANTON, Sec. of War.
ltacon, Georgia, May Il.
Hon. E. NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War:
The following despatch, announcing the
capture of Jeff. Davis has Just been hand
ea me by Col. Minty, com dg 2nd division.
HDQRs 4TH MICHIGAN CAVALRY,
Cun,bsrlmavW5, Ga, May IL ,'G5.
10 Capt I w Scott A. G. Second Division.
Sir have the honor to report that at
daylight yesterday, at Irwinsyille, | sur
prlsed and captured JEFF Davis and fami-
ly, together with his wife, sisters and
brother, his Postmaster General. Reagan,
his private Secretary. Colonel Harris; Col.
= Johnston, A. ID. Z, on Davis staff; Col.
Morris Lu5bick and Lieutenant Hatha-
way; also several important names, and a
train OF five wagons and three ambulance
es-making perfect success, had not
most painful mistake occurred by which
the 4th Michigan and lst WISCONSIN coli
del, which cost US Two KILLED, and Lieuten-
ant Boutelle wounded through tho arm,
in the 18th Michigan; and four men wound
cd in the lst Wisconsin. This occurred
just at daylight, after we had captured
the camp, 10y the advance of the lst Wis
cOnsin. They were mistaken for the enc
my.
| returned to this point last night and
shall move right on TO Macon without a.
waiting orders from you as directed, feel.
ing that the whole object Of the expedi-
tion is accomplished. 1t will take me at
least three days to reach Macon as we are
seyenty-fve miles out and our,stook is
much exhausted hope to reach Haw-
knsyilie to night. have the honor etc.
(Signed) D. b. PRITCuARD.
Lieut.. Col. 4th Michigan Cavalry.
The lst Wisconsin belongs 10 Lagranges
brigade, McCook's division and had been
sent due east by General Croxton via
Dublin. Colonel Mintz had distributed
his co mmaud all along the south bank of
the Ocmulgee and Altamaha. This ac-
counts for the collision between parts of
the First and Second divisions, and shows
the zeal of the command in pursuit.
have directed increased vigilance on the
part Of the command in tho hope Of catch
ing the other assassins. Our dispositions
are good, and so far none of The rebel
chiefs have been able 10 get through.
Breckinridgc's son was captured night
before last, eleven miles south from here.
| will send further details az soon as re.
ceived.
(Signed) J. II. WILSON,
Brevet Maior-General.
Macon, Ga,, $50 Il, H., Nay l3.
Hon. L. NJ Stanton, Secretary of War:
Lt. Colonel Marden, commanding Ist
Wisconsin, has just arrived at Irwinsvile,
lie struck Davis trail at Dublin, Lau-
reps county, on the evening Of the 7th,
and followed him closely night and day
thru ogh the pine wilderness of Alligator
Creek and Green Swamp, via Cumber-
landyile to Irwinsvile. AT Cumberland.
vile, Colonel Harden met Colonel Prit-
chard with $50 picked men and horses Of
the Attn Michigan. Harden followed
the trail directly south, while Pritchard
having fresh horses, pushed down the Oc'
mulgee towards Hopewell, aud thence by
House creek to lrwinville, arriving there
at midnight of the 9th. JEFF. Davis had
not arrived. From ctizons Pritchard
learned that his party were encamped
two miles from town. lie made his ais
positions and surrounded the camp be-
fore dav. Harden had encamped at Z.
NJ, within two miles, as he afterwards
learned from Davis.
The trail being too indistnct to follow,
he pushed on at A. NJ, and had gone
but little more than one mile when his
advance were fired upon by men OF the
lth Michigan. A fight ensued both par.
ties exhibiting the greatest determination,
Fifteen minutes elapsed before the mis-.
take was discovered The firing iu this
skirmish was the first waning Davis re
ceived. The oaptors report that he hast
ily put on one ofhis wife's dresses, and
started for the woods closely followed
by our men, who at first thought him
woman, but seeing his boots while run.
ming, suspected his sex at once. The
race was short one, and the rebel Presl.