The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-05-22
CAPTURE OF Mr.. DAVIS.

maam-The Flight and Copture-
arrival IN Macon, &c., &c.
When the armistice agreed upon by
Gen. Johnston, Of The Confederate
army, and Maj. Gen. Sherman, com
manding the Federal army, was COM
munlcated to Mr.. Davis, and all hope
of further resistance on this side Of the
Mississippi thus vanished, he deter
mined to escape to Texas. What
were his intentions after arriving there
are not known to any one save his
confidential advisers.
A strong cavalry escort, consisting
of Fergurson's, Vaughan's, Dukes and
Breckinridge's brigades were selected
to accompany and protect Mr.. Davis
and his family, and Immediate personal
friends, in their. flight. The men and
officers Of all these brigades were con
sidered Of the ,ruest Southern chivalry,
and it was known that they had each
faced death thousand times during
the sanguinary conflict which has just
terminated.
The whole party, consisting of Mr..
Davis, John H. Reagan, Ex-Governor
Lubbock, Of Texas, A. u. c., Burton
y. Harrison, Private Secretary to MI.
il. Davis, Col. VIM. Preston Johnston.
and the brigades above mentioned,
arrived at Abbeville. S. c., on the 9th
of April, without any particular inci-
dent having occurred along the route.
y When Mr.. Davis arrived at Able
willie, which was on thel211h QGApril,
he discovered that there was universal
disaffectlon among his escort. and they
were determined to make no resistance
in the event they were attacked, no
matter how great or small the attack
ing force might be.
But little or no effort was made to
induce them to follow the fortunes of
their chosen and once revered leader
farther. They all chose to remain
behind. except six noble Kentuckians,
of Dukes brigade, who n,anfully re-
mained by him.
The following are the names Of the
soldiers who refused to leave Mr.. DAVIS.
They all belonged to the I'd Kentucky
cavalry: Lieut.. Baker, privates San
ders, Smith, Heath, Walbert, and
Harkness.
Mr.. Davis had, several DAYS before
leaving Charlotte, sent off his family,
consisting of his amiable lady and four
sweet little children. They were ac-
companied by his wife's sister, Miss
Howell, of New Orleans, and her
brother, Midshipman Howell, c. S.
Navy, Lieut.. Hathaway, c. S. Army,
and perhaps one or two other indi-
|viduals.
Mr.. Davis arrived at Washington,
GA, on the 4th instant, and much to
his chagrin, found that only eight men
of his escort came up with him; and
to still farther aggravate the case, un-
pleasant rumors reached him of the
probabilities of an attack upon his
family, who were one day yet in ad-
vance, oy guerlllas. Passing through
Washington, he took the Sandersville
road, almost due South, but for certain
reasons left the village to the right.
At Irwin's Cross Roads, in Washing
ton County, band OF desperadoes
made a demonstration upon the car.
riages and ambulances containing Mr..
Davis family, and again at Dublin,
but after hearing who the distinguished
occupants were, and being assured
they could not rob the party without
first shedding blood, they desisted and
drew off. At Dublin they amounted
10 at least thirty men. and consisted of
eeserters from both the Federal and