The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-05
JEFF DAVIS.
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF HIS CAPTURE.
JEFF ARRESTED IN woMANs APPAREL.
REPORT OF HAJOR GENERAL J. H. WILSON

REPORT w AAJOR GENERAL J. II. WlLSON
/ DAVENPORT, iowa Jan. II, 1867.
Brevet Major General JOHN 4. RAwLss, Chief Of Stan
| United States Army, Warrington, d. c.
GESERAL-As Q matter Of historical interest and In
justice 70 my late command the cavalry corps Of the
Military Division Of the Mississippi. have the honor
to submit the following report of the pursuit and capture
Of Jefferson Davis and request that the may be
made part Of the official records OF the War Depart
ment This report il prepared from the original In
formation in my possession together with the Official
reports Of the officers serving under in the closing
| campaign through Alabama and Georgia
will DO remembered that after the capture Of Selma
and the passage OF my command TO the south side Of
the Alabama It's march directed to the eastward by
the way Of Montgomery, Columbus and West Point 20
Macon On the evening Of the llth day Of April 1885,
| one OF my officers brought in copies Of the
| Montgomery papers Of the 9th and 7th. contain
| ing tho first news which had reached mo
| Of the operations Of General Grant about Peters
burg, and from which. making allowance for rebel
coloring, supposed be had gained decisive victory
II was stated that Davis and the rebel had
already gone to Danvie, but that their not
yet lost On the 14h and 18th information received
confrmatoFy OF Lees defeat and the evacuation OF
Richmond II was also reported that Grant press
ing the rebel army back upon Lynchburg From these
facts together with the many from all quarters
indicative Of unusual excitement among the rebels,
became convinced that thoy had with great
ter Virginia; but. matter OF course could obtain
definite or reliable Information It's extent tho
probable course that would be adopted BY the rebel
| government ! assumed, however, that they would
either cndeavor to concentrate their forces In North
Carolina and mako further head against our armies or
that they would disband and endeevor save them
selves oy flight In either clearly the duty
1f IN md N in thnfnh TIM
which 1t moving with the greates; possible rapidy
oin in the final and decisive struggle assist
in the capture of such important mig seek
| safety in flight. Accordingly march from Mont
gomery to Macon, distance OF two hundred aud thirty
five miles made in loss than days ana included
the passage OF the Lhattahooche Flint and
the capture of the two fortified towns of Columbus and
OF operations and to obtain such important
in regard TO rebel movements might enable act
advisediy, deachments sent of 10 The right and
left OF the main conmn.
At Macon arrested by armistice concluded
between Generals sherman and Johpstone though till
conference with Generals Cobb G. W. smith, on the
evening OF the goth OF April received the reliable
information in regard to Lees surrender and the
OF events in Virginia
Tue situation OF nv command was peculiar. Origi-
naliy organized corps under General Sherman
commanding general the Military Division OF the Mis-.
sisspp aud not having been transferred II still formed
a legitimate part or his command wherever he nigh.
b. General ShermanS with the body OF his army
that time in North Carolina, moving norhw ward.
Before leaving North Alabama ne had instructed TO
division, to Major General George H. Thomas to
assist in the operations against Hood. 1t was
the intention Of Genera Sherman, however, devel
oped in frequent conversations with wnle lying at
Gayiesy le Ala, in October 1864, that Hood
could be disposed of aud command could DO reorgan.
ize and renoGnted should gather together every
and horse that could be made M for service and march
through richer parts of Alabama aud Georgia for the
prpose Of destroy the railroad communications and
supplies OF the rebels and bringing my command into
tho theatre Of operations towards which all 81
armies we're moving In tho campaign terminating al
Macon lad actually moved under the direct instruc-
lions Of General Thomas, but With The ampIsst latitude
OF independent commander transmitted through
him from neral Grant in person.
found myself cut OF from all communication with
these generals bur liable orders from either
all OF the and from the Secretary OF War In addition
Ny rst duty clearly take care Of the public In
teess reconcile orders afterwards shoLid they
| in conflicting terms from different directions.
In anticipation Of laai break up OF the rebel
for DAYS and The leading auhorties As soon as
satisfied by reliable ntormants from Gsperal
sherman that ne had actually concluded an armisce
and Intended IL Apply 10 command, felt bound 10
observe IT, bat only upon the condition that the rebels
should also comply with us PROVISIONS IN equal good
faith One OF these provisions that neither party
should make any changes ia the station oftroops during
the continuance OF the armisnce; whe remaining in
camp command therefore kept on the al.rt aud
really to any direction Having heard from
citizens, however that Davis was making his way
towards the South with an escort, directed my CON-
mand take possession OF The railroads and to send
IN all directions in order eht receive
declared null and void by President least
day before had been advised OF this through Gene
raj Sherman cipher despatch informing me OF tho for
NAL termination OF hosthit ly the surrender Of Gene
raj Johnston ana al ne FORCES under ms command
cas- o. the Chatahoochie THIS was on the
| 27;h day Of ApriI. | bad already taken pre-
cautions to prevent persons OF Importance
from escaping by the railroads, and Immediately upon
the receipt OF the final surrender made dispositions OF
command for the purpose OF taking Of the
important points Georgia and parolng the rebel prs
oners Who might have TO pass through them In order
reash their homes. felt certain that Davis and his
Cabinet would enieavoT escape to tho side OF the
1 Notwithstanding
surrender, aud therefore gave instructions the diier
capture him and all other persons Of rank authority
| In the rebel government
On the 2slh OF April Breve, Major GeacraI Upton was
ordered with detachment OF his division the Second
60 proceed BY rail to Augusta while the balance OF the
DIVISION under Brcvet Bngadier General y. +. Winsow,
was ordered TO march by The direct route Az
lanta, regiment unGy Colonel u. B. Esgleson having
been sent by rail TO that place Immediately after the
receipt OF General Snerinan's telegram. General h. d.
McCook commanding the First division, win q detach-
ment OF ssse en- hundred men. was directed 10 proceed
tho most direct route to Tallahassee, Fla, whilst
General Crcxton, with the balance OF the division,
held at Macon with orders issued subsequently satch
tbs line OF the 0cmuigoe from mouth Of Ysow
Brovo, Brissd,er General R. H. @. Min,y. eomman ding
the Second divson-General Long having wounded
>clms-was directed the same time to send de-
tachmenis TO Cuthbcrt aud Eufaua, and TO watch the
line Of tho Ocmugee from tho right OF the First division
10 Abbesille, and much Of the Flint and Chattahoo
chic TO the practicable The ostensibe and prn
cpa object OF this disposition OF troops
prisoners and military and to take possession OF
the important strategic points aud lines OF comnunca-
ton but the different were directed TO keep
yigiant watch for Davis aud other members OF tho
rebel government.
| The lrst direct information which received Of
Davis movements the sd oath OF April, from
| q citizen who had seen him at Charlotte, N G., only
three four days before, and had learned that he
on his way, with train and escort OF cavalry,
TO the South, intending TO go 10 the trans
Mississippi Department. This Information re-
Rarded entirely reliable and hence the officers
| In charge OF the different dctachments aftcrwards
sent out were directed 10 dispose OF their
commands 30 as to have all roads and crossings vigil
| antly watched IL thought at FIRST that DAVIS
| would call about him select force and endeavor 70
escape BY marching 70 the westward through the hily
country Of Northern Georgia 10 prevent this Colonel
Eggisston was directed 10 watch the country all d.
rections from Atlanta Brevet Brigadcr General A. j..
Alexander with the second brigade Uptons division,
having reached Atlanta In advance Of the DIVISION was
directed by General Winsow the country 20 the
nortbward ~ far Dalton, until he should meet the
troops under General steedman that region. On be.