Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-07-05
Z he Davis PettiCoat Canard.
from tho World of Yesterday ]

The reason which We gave the other
day for disbelieving the War Department
fiction regarding Mr., Davis capture and
attempt to escape disguised in his wife
petticoats, have not been ccntroverted,
so far as we have seen, by any Journal in
the country. Nor has it been attempted
TO be denied, so far as we know, by even
the most facile organ of the War Depart
ment, that Colonel Pritchard's name,
which gave the story all its early curren-
cy, has been Withdrawn from it. Colonel
Priichard never believed, much mole
never endorsed il. The story is as5u"edly
false, and 10 American but what will be
glad to see its ialseity doubly confirmed
IN the letter below, on tho authority Of
Confederate officers, with Mr.. Davis
at the time of his capture, whose word
wall not be disputed
WLApELPuIA, June -.
10 tie Ed,or Of the H'rht;
SlR-l have noticed in the columns OF
tie lHorlia statement Of reasons fer dis
believing the absurd reports see aloat in
|regnrd to the capture OF Mr.. Davis, and
having the facts from first hanGs, doom
il but right in the cause Of truth 10 let you
know them.
Mr. Davis was with his party, consisting
of from ten to fifteen persons, WAS travel
lug on different road from that takeE
by Mrs. Davis and her wagons, making
way leisurely toward the trans Mississippi
Department, when hu was alarmed 10y re-
ports that Mrs. Davis was in danger OF be-
ing robbed 10y struggling bands Of deser-
ters. and LEFT in the road without means
of moving to shift for herself lie i'm
mediately set off late in the e9ening, a.
bout tSodays before Lis capture .aud rode
all night TO Join her. Finding that the
dan ger was not exaggerated, he remained
to protect her from molestation intend
| ing 10 have resumed his separate journey,
Iuulncumdered by baggage. on tho very
morning Of his cOp'uree The party had
no idea of being pursued, and the first no.
/ liication Of it they had was from the ir-
/ |ruption Of the cavalry into their camp
Mr.. Davis was sleeping in his wIe's tent
and had not yet risen. The cavalry were
lin possession Of the camp for nearly hall
an hour before they seemed to find out
whom they had captured, when some one
shouted We've got old jeff" or some
lotEer words. When taken, he was in his
! |dressing-gown, in which he had slept, and
acted with the dignity which all who
knew anything Of him, friend or zoe
would have expected. He was treated
with perfect respect by his oaptors, nc
Isccno ofany sors t0linr place, and none
|or the prisoners heard anylhiug OF the pet
ticoal story until the learned it from the
/ Northern papers On their agriYa, q, For.
/ lros5 Monroe.
| 1t seems almost absurd to combat . ca-
uard which has no responsible author, bat
/ is based on the report dic,um Of some prI
Yates Of The Michigan cavalry, who prob
Ihly had never before seen gentleman
drcssing-gown and might very easily ha.,
mistaken it for laly's dress. Yctas q
matter Of history, and since the story bos
made 50 much notice; IL ID to be hoped
that tho press OF the country will have
sufficient generosity 10 acknowledge then
error and retraCt the caluunies they have
aided to disseminate concerning a ialle,
: foe.
The authorities for the statements il
/ this note are Colonel Lubbock, cX-Goy.
ernor Of Texas, and Colonel Johnston, sor
of General Albert Sidney Johnston, aides
| do-camp TO Mr.. Davis, and captured a
, the same time with him. Both are gen
tleman of unimpeachable honor and yer
acity, whose testimony no candid man hes
itates to accept IN opposition to the vague
rumors ailont about this matter. They
cannot tell their own story, therefore
speak for them, they being now, unless
trn toll gt
Delewure, and any doubts 10 the facts
contained in this communication can be
settled 6y reference to them.
1t seems to mo good plan always tc
hear both sides before believing q story
especially where the accused is powerless
even to speak his own defense, if indeed
such petty malice deserves to be dignLied
by a reiutaton. Audi AL7ERAM PARrBM.
The following note from the Rev. Dr.
Fuller, Of Baltimore, who accompanied
Chiel-Justice Chase on his recent journey
10. South Carolina, confirms the above
statement
10 The Editor ofHe Examiner and Chronicle {:
! notice your remark as to Mr.. JeHer-
aon Davis escape, believe from an im-
partial examination of the testimony (and
! am Impar,ial), that he was in bed when
CoIone, Prilchard's squadron surrounded
the tents and that he arose and dressed
himself hastily, throwing shawl around
his shoulders, and was thus captured. /
may be mistaken, but the first stories
have already been stripped OF their ludi-
crous decorations, and ITO this complex
ion" the truth will come at last. At my
request, the papers which are copying
from you here will omit my assertion that
the account is "a fable" / am satisfied
that it is.
II
is only by supposing him inJac 10
that anybody can believe he hoped to get
away in female attire, with his military
boots on" (tor 40 the story goes), when he
saw himself surrounded at daylight
X. FULLER.
Baltimore, June IL.
Phil. Sheridan "Disloyal."
[From the Chicago TimOs.l
Gen. Sheridan recently made visit to
L =. L a