Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-10

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A Detailed AceDuns OF the Capture q Exs
IS President Davis, rs Drawn ffQm the
Narrative OF Mr.. Reagan.
II will be remembered by an who have net yet
hreotten the names Of the persons eapt1fed with
Mr.. Davis, that Mr.. Reagan was Of the nnIhher.
So many and such conflicting accounts Of the man
ncr Of the capture, and the coadact Of Mf. Davis
at the time, have been put forth by persons Nha
new very little, Il anything, Of what they affirmed,
that account Of the occurrence, as given by not
only an "eye witness" but one Of the captured
persons himself-Mr, Reagan-wll not fail to prove
interesting to all who desire 70 sec truth prutertvd
to fiction 20 D. ia9 iek aaals.
On a certain day, the date Of which, sven h
remembered could have no imp0rtant bearing on
the real state Of facts as here recited, Mr.. Dasis
and party had for reasons best known TO theul>
selves, separated each taking = different route,
though, as mutually agreed beforehand, 1t was the
intention of both parties to meet at given place
at as near q stated period OF time as circumstances
would allow. From the time of this parting notha
ing of interest occurred OF served 10 hinder their
progress until the following morning, as We shall
see by the facts of the case stated by Mr.. Reagan
Night coming on, they chose place for encanapI
ment As they supposed themselves, for the time
being at least in no danger from the Federal cav-
airy. and their horses were IN sad want OF rsst
and fodder, they were just on the point OF un-
encamped for the night when they learned that the
party of which the presidents family was portion
were in danger Of being plundcred aud murdered,
perhaps, by certain gangs Of marauders who had
just been disbsnded from an Aiehima brigade, af
On the receipt of this alarming intelligence Mr.
Davis said to those around Tim: Gentlemen, my
wife and family are In danger, and must 20 and
give them what protection can" '' .'' I.H9
Hll the other gentlemen immediately made
known their intention Of accompanying him
They Immediately put spurs 70 their horses, and
rode of in search Of the other party. It being
dark and stormy night, and as the country was q
strange one to Mr.. Davis and his suite and having
no guide with them great difficulty was experienced
in getting on the right track Of the party. How
ever, after a hard ride Of over twenty-five miles,
they overlook them. The following day the two
parties journeyed on together, and night coming on,
they chose eligible locality for camp and pre-
pared 70 make themselves as comfortable NJ cir
cumstances would permit. Mr.. Davis and his
family occupied tent on one side Of q row Of
wagons, while Reagan and Wood, and 1--WE Others,
encamped on the other side. ts,
During the journey Of the day preceding the
eveEing Of which we are now speaking certain cir.
cumstanees which seemed 10 them e. showing that
the Federal troopers were not in their vicinity, led
them to the belief that they were running
no risk of capture II they encamped that night.
Had they been aware of the real state Of affaiys,
and would have, In all human probability, eluded
the parsut Of the Union troops.
However, they encamped. Just about day
break, Mr.. Reagan said he was awakened hy loud
reports of musketry which seemed to proceed from
behind their position, at no great distance from
their enoampment. The firing was growing loudef
and louder, when, suddeply the Federal cavalry
dashed upon them from the opposite direction
whence the noise of the firing seemed to proceed.
Some Of the troopers dashed in on the side Of tho
wagons where Mr.. Davis and his family were,
while others galloped to the side occupied by Mr.
Reagan and his companions. ~,
| The latter told Federal Captain who appeared
upon the scene, that although he had as far as be
was personally concerned no particular interest %
servo in putting and end to the firing going ON be-
hind them, nevertheless be would do well to stop
H. ic- e they had no troops with them, tho Fede-
rails must be fighting among the mselsea. The ON
Ger gave credence TO this at FIRST but In the end
he must have followed Reagau's suggestion, "a,
soon after his departure, the firing ceased In tho
meantime Reagans companions fed and made
good their escape WHILE as he had himself resolved
never to leave tho country, be elected 10 remain
and share the fate Of Nj, Davis, were II even
death.
| Mr.. Davis Immediately on hearing the firing,
sprang from the placi where he had been passing
the night and advanced toward the door of abs
tent. As he did SO, thinking that tho firing pro-
ceeded from the marauders Of the Alabama brigade
before mentioned, who probably had come 10 con.
tact with his own small escort intent on plunder
and carnage, exclaimed aloud "Those men have
attacked us at LAST surely have authority enough
len to prevent my own men from killing ono
another Saying this he opened the mouth Of the
tent and was just stepping out, when his wife, eth-
er beside herself with terror, and not knowins
clearly what were the nature Of her acts, or think
ing that the garment rnight render him unrecogni
Fable to his pursuers, threw morning gown over
his shoulders. At that moment he was captured.
4 Ii will be seen by the unvarnished narrative of
actual occurrences that the story Of Davis being
caught in bis wifes pettioOats sheer fabrca-
ton, and that all the stories of his running into
the woods from the pursuing soldiers are equally as
false since Il appears from the statement OF one who
was present at the time that the principal cause Of
Mr.. Davis going out Of his tent was hrst to obtain
possession Of his revolyer which, for the hrst night
since his flight he had left in the holsters on the
saddle of bis horse that he might provide against
the danger he would incur in carrying out bis in
, tcnton Of endcavoring to put an end TO what he
! thought was deadly strife between his own men,
Mr.. Reagan further says that had the ladies Hot
! been with him, they would never have been taken
without firing their last shot, they had so resols-
cd on commencing their fight. The thought that
any resistance on their p,rt would entail an indis-
terminate slaughter of the ladies aud children,
alone deferred them from firing on their pursuors.
This statement should think, should 3 title all
dispute concerning the capture Of Jefferson Davis
The reports that mere so industriously circulated
throughout the country after the fall OF the Con-
federate capital TO the effect that Mr.. Davis was
running away 10 parts unknown with an immense
amount Of treasure stolen from the Richmond
: banks Mr. Reagan annihilated, by relating an in
cdent which occurred during Mr.. Davis hight.-
They were talking about what money they had
and for some reason 1t proposed to inye tigate
the richness Of their valises. Mr.. Davis counted
his money, and found that he had little over SITS
In Confederate notes. And this was the mighty
treasure the radicals have howled themselves hoarss
about The only considerable amount Of money
In possession Of any one Of Mr.. Dayis party waa
held by Mr.. Reagan himself and that was not by
any means TO 30 counted by many thousands. n