The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-25
WASHINGTON ITEMS.
Distribution Of $ seeds at the soutb

OlbNElDhNlom OF SEEDS at the south.
The Commissioner of Agriculture ls now daily
sending to the South seeds and cereals i'm ac
cOrdance with the provisions OF the recent law
transferring S5u, 900 from the Freedman,s Bureau
fund 10 aid IN relieving the general destlIution
OF garden and farm seeds IN the South to rive
to that region new and improved varieties and
thus help to avert famine in the Immediate
future. The regular statistical corps of CORES.
pondents, SO lar AS appointed, wilt represent the
department IN the distribution within their o wn
counties ana agents are designated in other
counties to assist in the work. Individual re-
quests ior small parcels are also regarded, and
the distribution is thus made as general and
equal as possible. The quantity OF seeds at the
disposal of the Commissioner, however, will fall
far short OF the demqnd and of the expectations
OF the people, who do not realize the extent and
destliuuon OF the country to be supplied. Com
missioner Newton Is entitled to the credit OF
suggesting, urging, and securing this timely
ASSISTANCE to the Southern people.
The Official Report Relative to the Cap.
ture of JEFF. Davis.
Last January the House Committee on Claims
was Instructed to investigate and report all the
facts connected with the capture Of jeff. Davis.
The evidence taken purs uant to that authority
has just been published, and contains u few
interesting details. The main facts are the
same as appeared INN ediately after JEFF. DAVIS
capture but there are some points cleared up
which have been enveloped until now in some
little doubt aud uncertainty. The evidence
comprises deposition of General j. II. vii.
son, made before The Committee on the 9th
OF January last; lengthy report by the same
officer 10 General Grant, bearing date January
IL, 1867; and reports by Generals +. +. WinsloW
and A. j. Alexander, Colonel Henry Harndcn,
Lieutenant o. P. Clinton, and private
j. j. Apn, of the lst Wisconsin Cav
airy. The report OF General Wilson gives a full
account OF the capture, the unfortunate mis-
take between Colonels PrItchard and Harnden,
and the condition OF the arch traitor at the mo-
ment OF his apprehension. The General sticks
to the old version, that JEFF. Davis was disguised
partially in the attire of female, alluding to the
snbject IN the iollo wing language:-"Durlng the
firing OF the skirmsh Just referred to, the adju-
tanJ OF the Atm Michigan. Lieutenant j. q. Dick
1nson, after having looked TO the security of the
Rebel camp, and sent forward number OF the
3 men who had struggled, was about to go to the
t1ont hlmselt, when his attention was called by
one OF the meI to three persons in female
attire, who had apparently just left one
OF the large tents near by, and were moving
towards the thick woods. he started at once
towards them, and called out, Halt But
not hearing him, or not caring to obey, they
continued to move of. just then they were con-
tronted by three men, under direction OF Cor
poral Munger, coming from the opposite direc-
tion. The corporal recognized one of the per-
sons as Davis, advanced carbne, and demanded
his surrender. The rhree persons halted, and
by the actions of the two, who afterwards
turned out 10 be women, all doubt as to the
identity of the third person was removed. The
individuals thus arrested were found to be Miss
Howell, Mrs. Davis, and Jefferson Davis. As
they walked back TO the tent from which they
had tried to escape, Lieutenant Dickinson
observed that Davis high top boots were
not covered by his disguise, which fact,
probably, led to his recognition by Corporal
Munger. AS the friends of Davis have strenu-
ously denied that he was disguised as a woman,
it may not be improper to specify the exact
articles OF womans apparel which he had upon
him when first seen 0Y Lieutenant Dickinson
and Corporal Munger. The former states that
he was one OF the three persons dressed in
woman's attire, and lad black mantle wrapped
about his head through the top of which could
be seen locks of his hair Captain g. w. Law
ton, of the 4th Michigan Cavalry, states eX-
plicitly, upon the testimony of the officers
present, that Davis, in addition to his tull
suit OF Confederate grey, had on "A lady's
waterproof cloak, gathered at the waist
with a shawl drawn over the head, and
carrying tin pail. Colonel Pritchard says,
in his official report, that he received from Mrs.
Davis, on board the steamer Clyde, off For
tress Monroe, waterproof cloak or robe which
was worn by Davis as a disguise, and which
was identified by the men who saw it OF him
at the time of the capture. He secured the
balance of the disguise the next day. 1t con-
sisted of a shawl, which was identified in
similar manner by both Mrs. Davis and the
men. From these circumstances, there seems
to be no doubt whatever that Davis sought to
avoid capture by assuming the dress OF a
woman, or that the ladies OF the party endea-
vored to pass him off upon his captors as one of
themselves"