The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-05-18
GOOD NEWS.
JEFF, DAVIS CAPTURED ]!

JEFF DAVIS CAPTURED +!
He tries to play Old Granny.
IT DIDN'T win. y
War Department. Washington,l
May IA, 1866.
TO. Maj. Gen. Dix: - go Pr
The following details of the capture Of
JEFF Davis, while attempting to make his es
cape in his wife's clothes, has been received
from Maj. Gen. Wilson
(Signed) E. NJ. STANTON.
Sec'y. Of War.
g.. Macon, Ga, May ALI a.. m.
To Hon. E. NJ Stanton: seal .Esl s. g..
The following dispatch, announcing the
capture of jeff Davis, has just been handed
me BY Col. Mentze, commanding the End
division: .. .., = .... ... Q. Id a-iE ..,...f.
Headquarters Attn Mich. cavalry,) -.
.r... Cumberland, Ga, May IL,
Capt. I. w. Scott. A. G. I'd division: ...
SIR:-I have the honor to report that at
daylight yesterday, at Irwinsville, I surpris.
ed and captured jeff. Davis and family, to-
gether with his sisters and mother, his Post
Master General Regan, his private secretary
Col. Harrison, Col. johnson, A. D. G. on
Davis staff, Col Morris ShuLrick and Lieut.
Hathaway also several other important
persons and train of five wagons and three
ambulances, making most perfect success.
Had not most painful mistake occurred,
by which the 4th Michigan and LIST Wiscon.
sin come ir'confct, we should have done
better. This mistake cost US two killed and
Lieut.. Boutte wounded through the arm in
the 18th Michigan. Four men were wound.
ed in the LIST Wisconsin. This occurred just
at daylight, after we had captured the camp,
by the advance Of the LIST Wisconsin. They
were mistaken 70: the enemy. .s.d
returned to this point last night, and
shall move right on to Macon without wait.
ing orders from you as directed, feeling that
the whole object Of the expedition is. accom-.
plished. 1t will take me at least three days
to reach Macon, as we are rs miles out and
our stock much exhausted. I hope to reach
Hawkinsville tonight. 90 to ..a1 -
/ have the honor, &C., . esE9 1900 t..t.
(Signed) RI aaa B. D. PRrrcHARD.
s., aso.g@ nj, It.. Co.. 4th Mich. cavalry.
The LIST Wisconsin belongs to Logan's
brigade of McCook' 5 division, and had been
sent due east by Gen. Truxton, by Dublin.
Col. Mentze had distributed his command
all along the south bend of the Ocmulgee
and Altamaha. This accounts for the col.
lission between parts of the Ist and I'd d
visions, and shows the zeal OF the command
in the pursuit have directed increased
vigilance on the part the command in the
hope of catching the other assassins. Our
dispositions Of men are good, and 50 far
none of the rebel chiefs have been able to
get through. Breckinridge's son was cap.
tured night before last. eleven miles below
tere. will send further details as soon as
received gra" ."s'D 81.
(S.gned .e& E j. H. WILSON. g=
s-v-.---r----r---- Bt--ot- Maj. Gen.
-s..... Macon. May 1873 80 a. IN.
To Hon. E. NJ Stanton: '.y .ads
1t. Col. Hardin, commanding the LIST
Wisconsin, has just arrived from Irwins.
vile. ..-- r'A 1'i HazE# ~r
He struck the rain of Davis at Dublin,
Lawrence Co., on the evening of the 7th and
followed him closely night and day through
the pine wilderness of Alligator Creek and
Green's swamp via Conference.-The to Ir.
winsville. At Conference.-The Col. Har.
din met Col. Pritchard with $50 men and
horses Of the 4th Michigan. Hardin follow.
ed the trail directly south, while Prtchard,
having fresher horses, pushed down the DC.
amulgee towards Hopewsll and thence by
House Creek to Irwinsville.. .. arriving there
at midnight on the 9th. JEFF Davis had
not arrived. From citizen Pritchard learn.
ed that bis party were camped two miles
out of the town. He made disposition of
his men and surrounded the camp before
day. Hardin had camped within two miles
at 9 p. m. as he afterwards learned, from
Davis, the train being to inoistinct to follow.
He pushed on at three q. m and had gone
but little more than mile when his advance
vas fired upon by men of the 4th Michigan
A fight ensued, both parties exhibiting the
greatest determination. Fifteen minutes e.
lapsed before the mistake was discovered.
The firing in this skirmish was the first
warning Davis received. The captors report
that he hastily put on one of his wife's dres-
ses and started for the woods closely pur.
sued by our men, who at first thought him
q woman, but seeing his boots while he was
running they suspected his sex at once
The race was q short one and the rebel Pres.
ident was soon 5roush. to bay. He bran
dished bowie knife and showed signs of
battle. but yielded promptly to the persua.
sions of Colts revolvers without compelling
the men to fire. He expressed great indig-
nation at the energy with which he was pur
sued, saying that be believed our govern.
ment too magnanimous to hunt down wo-
men and children. Mrs. Davis remarked to
Col. Hardin, after the excitement was over
that the men had better not provoke the
President or he might hurt some of them