The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-06-30

SlldlOlJOONIIC r
Hearing that a skirmish- line, or pat
rol, had been extended across the coun'
try from Macon to Atlanta, and thence
to Chattanooga, he thought best to 60
helow this line, hoping to join thu
forces oil his relative, Lieutcnant-Gen'
eral Dick Taylor, after crossing thu
ChatMhoochie. He would then cross
the Mississippi, joining Taylor's forces
to those Of Kirby Smith-ofwhom nc
spoke with marked acerbity--and
would have continued the fight us long
us he could find any Confederate force
to strike with him. This, not in any
hope of final success, but to secure for
the South some better terms than sur
render at discretion. "To this com
plexion,' said Mr.. Davis, chad the
reputation of General Sherman's terms,
and the surrenders of Lee and John
son, brought the Southern cause
Mr.. Davis left Washington accom-
panied by Postmaster general Reagan
three aides. and an escort of ten mount
ed men with II pack-mule. Riding
along, they heard distressing reports
Of bands Of marauders going about the
country stealing horses and whatever
else might tempt their cupidity--these
rumors finally maturing into informa-
ton which caused him to change his
course and follow on to overtlkc the
train containing his wife and family, for
whose safety he began to feel apprc-
tensions.
This object he achieved after riding
seventy miles, without halt, in a single
day, joining Mrs. Davis just at day
light, and in time to prevent party
he had passed on the road from steal
ing her two fine carriage horses, which
formed Il particular attraction for their
greed. II have heard he added,
/" since my Imprisonment, that it was
supposed there was q large amount of
specie in the train. Such was not the
fact, Mrs. Davis carrying with her no
money that was not personal property,
and but very little of that.
Having joined his family he travel
ed with them for several days, in con
sequence Of finding the region infest-
ell with deserters and robbers engaged
in pIunderiny whatever was defenselcss,
his intention being to quit his wife
whenever she reached Il safe portion OF
the country, and to bear west across
the Charlottesville. The very evening
before his arrest he was to have car
ried out this arrange ncnt, believing
Mrs. Davis to be now safe, but was
prevented by Il report brought in
through one ofhis aids that a party Of
guerrillas, or lfghwaymen, was coming
unat night to seize the horses and
mules Of his wite,S train. 1t was on
this report he decided to remain another
night.
Toward morning he had just fallen
into the deep sleep ofeXhaustion, when
his wife's faithful negro servant, Robert,
came to him announcing that there was
iiring up the road. He started up,
dressed himself and went ont. 1t was
Just at gray dawn, and by the imper-
feet light he say 4 party approaching
the camp. They were recognized as Fed
cral cavalry by the way in which they
deployed to surround the train. and he
stepped back into the tent, to warn his
wife that the enemy were at hand.
The tent WAS prominent being isola-
ted from the other tents Of the train,
and as he was quitting it to find his
horse, several Of the cavalry rode up,
directing him to halt and surrender
To this he gave Il defiant answer. Then
one whom he supposed to be an officer
asked, had he any arms to which Mr..
Davis replied, "If had, you would
not lie alive to ask that question" His
pistols had been left in the holsters, rs
it had been his intention the evening
before TO start whenever the camp was
settled but horse, saddle and holsters
were in the cncmy's possession, and he
was completely unarmed.
Colonel Pritchard commanding the
Federal cavalry, came up soon, to whom
Mr.. Davis said: IL suppose, sir, your
orders are accomplished in arrcsting
me. You can have no wish to inter
Icre with omc and children; and |
beg they may be permitted to pursue
their Journey The Colonel replied
that his orders Were to take every M
found in my company back to Macon,
and he would have t. do 50, though
gricved to Inconvenience the ladies'
Mr.. Davis said his wife's party was com
posed of paroled men, who had com
mitted no act of war since their release.
and begged they might be permitted
to 90 to their homes but the Colonel
under his orders, did not feel at libcr-
to grant this request They were all
taken to Macon, reaching it in four
days, and from thence were carried by
rail to Augusta-Mr. Davis thanking
Major General j. II. Wilson for having
treated him with all the courtesy pos
sible to the situation.
The party transferred to Augusta.
consisted of Reagan, Alexander II.
Stephens, Clement c. Clay, two of his
own aids and private Secretary, Mrs.
Clay, his wife and four children, four
servants and three paroled men, who
had generously offered their protection
20 Mrs. Davis during hr journey.
Breckenridge had been with the caval-
~ brigade which had been the escort
of Mr.. Davis, and did not come up at
Washington. lie and Secretary Ben
jamin had started for Florida, expect
ing to escape thence to the West Indies.
There was no specie or public treasure
in the train-nothing but private funds
and of them very little. Some wagons
had been furnished by the Quartermas-
ter at Washington, Georgia, for the
transportation of his family and the
paruled men who formed their escort,
and that was the only train. Mr.. Da-