The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-19
e. NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
MACON, Ga, II A. NJ, May II.

e.. - Secretary of War;
g., MACON, Ga. II A. NJ, May r.
To Lieut.. Gen. U. s. Grant and Hon. Il. ".
Stanton Secretary of War:
I have the honor to report that at day.
light on the 10th inst. Col. Prtchard, COM
handing the 4th Michigan cavalry, captured
jeff Davis and family, and bis wife's sister
and mother; the Post Master General;
Col. Harrison, private secretary; Colonel
johnson, A. D. c.; Col. Morris, Colonel
Lubbreck, Lieut.. Hathaway, and others.
Col. Pritchard captured their camp at
Irwinville, Irwin county, Ga, seventy-five
miles southeast Of this place. They will
be here to morrow night, and will be for
warded under strong guard without de-
lay. Will send further particulars at once.
J. II. WILSON,
Brevet Major General.
WAR DEPARTMENT.,
WASHINGTON, May IA, 1866 {
To MAJOR General Die:
The following details of the capture of
jeff. Davis, while attempting to make his
escape in his wife's clothes, have been
received from Brevet Maj. Gen. Wilson
Secretary of War.
MACON, Ga, May 13-11 A. NJ.
To Hon. Z. u. Stanton:
The following dispatch, announcing the
capture of jeff Davis, has just been hand
ed me by Col. Mentz, commanding the Cd
division.
HEADQ'Rs 9TH MICHIGAN CAvALRY,l
CUMBERLANDvILLE, Ga, May II. :
To Capt. A. Scott. 4. d. c..
have the honor to report that at day
light, at Irwinville, surprised and cap
tured jeff Davis and family, together with
his wife's sister and mother, his postmaster
general, his private secretary, Col. Harri-
son, Col. johnson, A. D. @. in Davis staff,
Col. Morris, Lieuts. Lubreck and Hatha-
way, and several other important persons.
Also train of five wagons and three am
Misunderstanding a most perfect success
Had not a most painful mistake occur
red, by which the 4th Michigan and the Isl
Wisconsin came in contact, we should have
done better This mistake cost us two
killed and Lieut.. Boutle wounded through
the arm. in the 4th Michigan, and four
men in the 1st Wisconsin. This occurred
Just at daylight, after we had captured the
camp.
We returned to this point last night, and
shall move right on to Macon. 1t will
take me at least three days to reach Ma
con, as we are 70 miles out, and. our stock
is much exhausted. / hope to reach
Hawkinsville tonight.
BID. PRITCHARD,
Lieut.. Col. 4th Michigan Cav.
The First Wisconsin belongs to Logan's
brigade of McCooks division, and had
been sent due east by Gen. Grafton via
Dublin. Col. Meintz had distributed his
command along the south bank of the
Ocmulgee and Alatamaha.
This accounts for the collision between
parts of the LIST and I'd corps divisions, and
shows the zeal of the commands in pursuit
l have directed increased vigilance on the
part of the command in hopes of catching
the other assassins. Our disposition of
men is good, and SO far none of the rebel
chiefs have been able to get through.
Breckinridge's son was captured night be-
fore last, eleven miles south of here. We
will send further details as soon as received.
(Signed) H. WILSON,
Brevet Major General.
MACON, May 13-9AM
To Hon. E. H. Stanton, Secretary of War:
Lieut.. Colonel Harden, of the 1st Wis
consin has Just returned from Irwinville.
He struck the train of Davis at Dublin,
Lawrence county on the evening of the
7th, and followed him closely night and
day, through the wilderness of Ali
gator Greek and Green Swamp via Cum
berland to Irwinville.
At Conference.-The, Colonel Harlem
met Colonel Pritchard with $50 picked
men and horses of the 4th Michigan cav
airy, Harden followed the train directly
South while Pritchard having fresh horses,
pushed down the Ocmulgee toward Hops
well, and thence by House Greek to Irwin
vile, arriving there at midnight on the
9th, Davis had not arrived. From citizens
Pritchard learned that his party were en-.
camped two miles out of the town. He
made disposition of his men, and sur
rounded the camp before day. Harden
had camped at 9 P. NJ, within two miles as
he afterward learned from Davis, the trail
being too indistinct to follow. He pushed
on at three A. NJ, and bad gone but little
more than one mile when his advance was
fred upon by men of the 4th Michigan.
A fight ensued, both parties exhibiting the