Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-05-30
JEFF. DAVIS.

t'ritchdrd-Fdtiguiag March IN Pursuit Of he
Faginges-ArriUai Of the Cdpiors in Washing
toH-Dapis' Apparel Turned oper 10 Secretary
Stanton-0ol. Pritchard and his Men Thanked
and CoHgratuldted-AH 10 Have Medals.
On Thursday morning, Lieutenant Colonel b.
ID. Pritchard, Capt. c. r. Hudson, First Lieu
tenant Silas j. Sawlurrd, Lieutenant A. B
Primpton, and twenty three men of the 4th
Michigan cavalry, (;he regiment that captured
Jeh. Davis) arrived in tho CITY, from Fortress
Monroe, on the mail steamer City of Albany
Capt Martin. The Colonel and several of his
officers took rooms at Williards, and between
Y and o'clock, P, NJ, Colonel Pritchard and
Captain Hudson proceeded TO the War Depart
ment and delivered to Secretary Stanton, in per-
son, Mrs Davis garments which had been used
by Jeh Davis rs u disguise in which to escape
from his camp after il had been surrounded
also beautiful silk flag, found in Davis trunk,
which had been captured from the Tooth Penn
sylvania regiment, besides large lot Of papers
found with Davis and C. G. CLAY
The garments presented were waterproof
cloak, well worn, part cotton aud part WOOL
and OF pepper and salt color, and black
woolen shawl with fancy coored border. The
clothing flag, and papers were by the Secretary
OF War turned over to his Adiutant General for
safe. keeping.
Mr.. Stanton then thanked Col. Pritcbari and
his men, in the name Of the President and tbe
people Of the United States for the faithful per-
tormance of his task, and congratulated him on
his success
The Secretary here Informed Colonel priteb.-
ard that the reward offered tor JEFF. Davis
would he distributed according TO the oficer's
report Of the Affair." aud that each soldier would
be presented suitable medal lie then re-
quested the Colonel to report to him at the War
Department Friday, ut ten O'Clock. when Colonel
Pritohard and Captain Hudson Withdrew from
the room, and returned 10 the hotel
Among the spectators of this interesting
scene, were Senators Wilson, of Massachusetts,
and Foote, of Vermont; Governor Fenton. of
New York. Assistant Adjutaut Generals Town.
send Nichols Major Eckert, superintendent
of Military Telegraphs, 80.
ORDERS FOR TIE CAPTURE
On the 9TH instant Colonel Pritchard received
orders to proceed, with his regiment. from
Macon, Georgia. seventy five Of a hundred miles
down the Ocmulgee river, and take possession
OF all the ferries below llswsville, Georgia. and
70 throw out scouts along the north side Of the
Oomulgee river, and scour the country for Jeff
Davis and party. or for any other of the escaping
"diguitaries' of the South.
The Colonel left Macon at y O'Clock of the
same evening, with four hundred and pineteen
men and twenty officers At o'clock p. M. of
the next day (the 8tb,) he halted three miles
beyond Hawklnsyille, having marched fifty one
mlles IN twenty one hours. lie then kept on
10 Abbevllle, where he arrived at q o'clock
on the morning Of the 9th, and where he met
the Lieutenant Colonel Of the lst Wisconsin
cavalry, who was in pursuit of Davis, with
seventy men, ami who informed Colonel Pritoh-
ard that train OF wagons had crossed TO the
north side OF the Ocmulgee, at Browns ferry
that morning.
Colonel Pritchard then moved three miles fur.
'her down the road, where he met a negro Up
on being closely questioned this negro informed
Colonel Prltchard that party with wagons,
had crossed early in the morning-about i
o'clook-hnd that they could not make change
to pay the ierryman. The lerryman said he
would strike light so that they could see to
change the money but to this the party OBJ
Jeeted, saying they would pay we'll for the lob
without light They then gave the ferryman
some money, which he afterwards found to be
ten dollar gold piece and ten dollar Coufedo.
rate note,
Colonel Prtchard had, by this time. travelled
seventy three miles but, determined 10 push on.
he selected from his regiment 1873 men, and the
best horses, and ngain started, leaving the re-
mander Of his Regiment in charge Of Captain
Hathaway TO take charge of all tho ferries. and
scour the country as originally directed lie
then proceeded twelve miles down the Ocmul-
gee to WiIco1's mill in southeasterly direction.
From here he went eighteen miles further in a
sOuthwesterly direction, to Irwinsyille which
point he reached at one o'clock on the morning
Of the 10Th having marched his men 1Os milel
in htty four hours, without sleep
Colonel PrtohRrd, In order to conoeal the
OBJECT and character OF himself and men, Or
dered them to pass themselves as Confederatet
alter uark lie, accordingly, on entering Ir-
Winaville, enquired for our tram, He wns asked
what train, and replied that it was small
train Of few wagons and men from Richmond
and that he and his men had been left at th,
ferry to fight back the Yankees
Colonel Pritchard was then informed thu
; the train had encamped about q mile portheas
Of IrwiDsville.
The Colonel then impressed darkey as
guide, and proceeded to within a halG-mile n
: = JEFF. Davis camp. Here he halted. and dis
mounted twenty hVe men, whom he sent, unde
Lieutenant Purnton, to gain possession of thu
= roaus IN rear OF the camp, and charged then
r to mold the position, and create no alarm unit
he charged the camp. At the first dawn of da
, Colonel Pritchard charged the camp, and sue
ceeded in getting to within four rods Of the cam
t before they were discovered.
y In about five minutea after thew eained mi.
session, sharp firing was commenced by Lieu
tenant P1rintOn, about one hundred yards i
:, rear Of the tents. Colonel Pritohard immed
= alely ordered strong guard to be posted beyon
. the sWamps IN the vicinity of the camp, b
!" thinking his men had been attacked bv M
\, guard which was reported as accompsnyin
- Davis After sharp skirmish of about te
minutes, Colonel Pritchard discovered that b
| was hiring into our own nlen-the lst Wisoonai
k cavalry-and withdrew his men, when he asoe,
+ tanned that two Of his men we're killed and on
Lieutenant severely wounded, and that the Ii
Wisconsin had three men severely and seyert
slightly wounded.
During the CoOnel's Absence Mrs. Davis al
B. peaTed al the door Of her tent in her nigl
. clothes, aud stated that no one was in there bt
defenceless women and children. and desirs
that she might accompany her old mother
the creek to get water to wash In. Permissio
was given her, and, in few minutes she can
Df out with person, bearing on her arm watt
ie pail, and proceeded toWaTk the creek She bs
10 gone but ten rods, however, when Corporal AIul
8, ger noticed that the "old mother WAS yeI
y tall lady. lie also noticed, when she held |
s. her dress, that the articles on her feet were n
J. slippers, but pair of cavalry boots, into whit
the pantaloons were stuffed
al He then halted the pair, at the same tin
10 raising his earbine and cooking it, and placu
Or the muzzle about four feet from the suspioioI
ID individuals face. Mrs. Davis here threw h
ID arm around her partners neck, and placed h,
hand over the face, at the same time prayir
n the corporal not to shoot him, and urging ,iM
i Davis" to keep quiet, he having muttefed som
I thing about wanting to die fright here" M
" being "ready 10 meet his DOOM" By this Tin
" some four or Eve had ridden up and had the
carbines cooked and pointed at Davis. III
IS, pair were then taken back to AdJutsnt Dickel
70 son.
Colonel Pritchard then returned to the can
ly and ascertained that they had captured Jei
K Davis, his wife and four children Miss Howe
70 JEFF. d. Davis, Mrs Davis sister and brother
In John H. Reagan, Postmaster General, Colon
johnson (son Of Sidney Sohnson, who was kille
os at the battle of Shiloh > and Colonel Lnbbnci
~ both aides de-camps on jeff. Davis staff Bn,
y ton IN. uarEia. nriraIa snnratar-. ~. ~