The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-05-15
Further Particulars Of the Capture
The Rebel President Attempts 10 Es-
cape 10 the Woods disg guised as We

The Rebel President Attempts TO Es-
cape 10 the Woods disguised as Wo,
man.
Press Dispatch.l
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WAsHINGToN, May IA.
| Major General DiI:
The following details of the capture OF
JEFF. Davis, while attempting to make
his escape in his wifes clothes. have
been received from Major General Will
son: [Signedl E. NJ. STANTON.
MACON. Ga, May 10, II A. NJ.
Hon. +. II. Stanton:
The following dispatch announcing
the capture of JEFF. Davis, has just been
handed me by Col, Mentz:
HEADQ'Rs 4TH Mich. CAV,
CUMBERLAND GAP, May II.
To Capt. T. NJ Scott, 4. 4 G., Cd Dir:
SIR: / have the honor to report that
at daylight yesterday, at Irwinville, !
surprised and captured jeff Davis and
family, together with his wife's sister
and mother, his Postmaster General, his
Private Secretary, Col. Harrison, Col
johnson, A. D. c. on Davis staff Col.
Morris, a train of five wagons and three
ambulances, making most perfect sur
prise. Had not a most painful mistake
occurred, by which the 4th Michigan
| and 1st Wisconsin came i'll conflict, we
should have done better. This mistake
cost us two killed and Lieut.. Boutele
wounded through the arm, in the 4th
Michigan, and four men wounded i'll the
Ist Wisconsin This occurred just at
daylight. After we had captured the
camp by the advance of the lst Wiscon-
sin, they were mistaken for the enemy.
l arrived at this point last night, and
shall move right on to Macon without
awaiting orders from you, feeling that
the whole object of the expedition is ac-
complished. 1t will take me at least
three DAYS to reach Macon, as we are
seventy-five miles out and our stock
much exhausted hope to reach
Hawkinsville tonight.
have the honor to be,
[Signedl B. ID. PRITcHARD,
Lieut.. Col. 4th Mich. Cav
The Ist Wisconsin belongs to Logan
| brigade, of McCook's division, and had
been sent due east by Gen. McCOok.- -
Col. Mentz had distributed his command
all along tne south bank of the Ocmul-
gee and Altamaha. This accounts for
| the confusion between parties of the lst
| and I'd divisions, and shows the zeal OF
| the commands in the pursuit | have
directed increased vigilance on the part
| of the command, in 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. Breckinridge's son was cap.
tured night before last, II miles sonth OF
here. will send further details as soon
| as received.
(Signed.) }. II. WILSON,
Brevet Major General.
MACON, GA, May l3-9 A. NJ
Hon. E. NJ Stanton:
Lieutenant Colonel Harden, command.
| ING the Ist Wisconsin, has just arrived
from Irwinyille. He strnck the train OF
Davis at Dublin, Lawrence county, on
the evening of the eth, and followed him
closely night and day through the pine
wilderness of Alligator Greek and Green
Swamp, via. Cumberlandsville, to Irwin
Vile. At Conference.-The Colonel Har.
den met Colonel Pritchard with $50 pick
| ed men and horses of the 4th Michigan
Harden followed up the train directly
with his whole command, having fresher
horses. He pushed down the Ocumulgee
| to Hopewell and thence by Horse Creek
to Irwinville, arriving there on Wednes-
day the 9th. JEFF. Davis had net arrived
Fromla citizen Pritchard learned that
his party were encamped two miles out
of town. He made dispositions of his
| men and surrounded the camp before day.
Harden had camped at P. NJ. within
two miles, as he afterwards learned, from
Davis The train being too much out of
| repair to follow, he pushed on at 3 A. NJ
and had gone but little more than a
mile when his advance was fired upon
by the men of the 4th Michigan A fight
ensued, both parties evincing the great
| eat dissemination. Fifteen minutes
elapsed before the mistake was discov-
cred. 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 run
ming, they suspected his sex and pursued
at once. The race was o short one and
the rebel President was soon brought to
bay. He brandishsd bowie knife and
showed signs of battle, but yielded
promptly to the persuasion of Colts re-
yolvers, without compelling the men to
fire. He expressed great indignation al
the energy with which he was pursued
saving that he had believed our Govern
ment to magnsnimous to hunt down wo
u ms1 and children. Mrs. Davis remark
| a - Oci Harden altar tha aYeifaynent