Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-05-08
OFFICIAL REPORT RELATIVE TO
THE CAPTURE OF JEFF. DAVIS.

Last January the House Committee
On Claims was instructed to investigate
and report the facts connected with the
capture of JEFF. Davis. The evidence
taken pursuant to that authority has jusd
been published, and presents few inter-
esting details. The main facts are the
same as appeared Immediately after Jeff.
Davis capture, but there are somc points
cleared up which have been envelped un-
til now in some little doubt and uncer-
tainty. The evidence comprises depos-
ition Of General J. Ell. Wilson, made be-
fore the committee on the 9th of Janu-
AIRY last; a lengthy report of the same Of
fcer to General Grant, bearing date Jan
uary IT, 1867, and reports by Generals
E. f. Winslow and A. j. Alexander,
Colonel Henry Harnden, Lieutenant O..
?. Clinton, and private j. j. Alpin Of
the lst Wisconsin cavalry The report
Of General Wilson gives full account of
he capture, the unfortunate mistake be-
tween Colonels Pritchard and Harnden,
and the condition of the arch traitor at
the moment of the apprehension. The
General sticks to the old version, that
JEFF Davis was disguised partially in the
attire Of female, alluding to the subject
IN the following language During the
firing Of the skirmish just referred to, the
Adjutant of the 4th Michigan, Lieuten-
ant J. G.. Dickinson, after having looked
to the security of the rebel camp, and
sent forward number of the men who
had struggled, was about to go to the front
himself, when his attention was called by
one of the men to three persons in FEM
ale 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 caringt to obey they continued to move
off. just then they were confronted by
three men, under direction of Corporal
Munger, coming from the opposite direc.
tion
''The Corporal recognized one of tl8
persons as Davis, advanced carbine and
demanded his surrender. The three per
sons halted, and by the actions of the two
who afterwards turned ut to be women,
all doubts as to the identity of the third
person we're removed. The individuals
| thus arrested were found to be Miss How
| ell, Mrs. Davis and Jefferson Davis. As
they walked back to the tent from which
they had tried to escape, Lieut. Dickinson
Observed that Davis high top boots were
not covered by his disguise, which fact,
probably, led to his recognition By Cor
poral Munger" AS the friends of Davis
have strenuously denied that he was dis
guised as woman, it may not be improp-
er to specify the exact articles of woman's
apparal which he had upon him when first
seen by Lieut.. Dickinson and Corporal
Munger. The former states that he "was
one Of the three persons dressed in wo-
mans attire, and had a black mantle
wrapped about his head, through the top
Of which could be seen locks of hair. -
Captain G. ". Lawton, of the 4th Mich
gan cavalry, states explicitly, upon tho
testimony Of the officers present, that Da-
Wis, in ad ition to his full suit of Confed-
crate gray, had on "a lady's waterproof
cloak, gathered at the waist, with shawl
drawn over the head, and carrying tin
pail" Colonel Pritchard says, in his
official report, that he received from Mr..
Davis on board the steamer Clyde, of
Fortress Monroe, a water proof cloak, or
robe, which was worn by Davis as dis:
guise. and which was identified by tLs
men who saw it on him at the time of
capture He secured the balance of she
disguise the next day. It consisted 6f d
shawl, which was identified in similar
manner by both Mrs. Davis and the mbh
From these circums tances 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
endeavored to pass him off upon his cap
tors as one of themselves.
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