The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-05-23
"Hisiory SCI Right,

aI Under this caption the Argus publishes a let
ter signed James III. Parker" and purporti,,e
to have been written at "Eilburnyille." Pennsvl-
yania, ON the 9th instant. Mr. Parker writes
with the laudable purpose of settling the dis
pute about Jefferson Davis-whether the
'stern statesman" was actually taken pr. soner
in petticoats or pantaloons-and takes pains to
explain that he is no admirer Of JEFF. Davis but
Yankee, born between Saccarappa and
Gorham's Corner, and full OF Yankee preju-
dices," but also persuaded that it is wicked to
lie, even about the devil himself, This candid
and conscientious person then proceeds as fol-
lows: Asl.@A p 4Esa~.
was with the party that captured Jeff. Da-
yis,-saw the whole transaction from its begin
ming. l now say, and hope that you will
publish it, that Jefferson Davis did NOT have ON
at the time he was taken, any garment such as
Is worn by women. He did have over his shoul-
ders waterproof article of clothing, some
thing like "Havelock." 1T was not in the
least concealed. He wore hat, and did not
carry pail Of water ON his head, nor carry
pail, bucket or kettle in any way. To the best
of my recollection he carried nothing whatev-
er in his hands. His wife did not tell any per-
son that her husband might hurt somebody if
he got exasperated. She behaved like lady,
and he as a gentleman, though manifestly he
WIS ChdSriutu at DelDS taken 1Qt0 CUSTODY
Our soldiers behaved like gentlemen, as they
We're, and our officers like honorable, brave
men, and the foolish stories that went the
newspaper rounds, of the day, telling how
roughly and disrespectfully he was treated and
how wolishly he deported himself, were all
false. know what am writing about. 1 saw
Jefferson Davis many times while he was stay
ing in Portland many years ago, and think
that was the first one who recognized him at
the time of his arrest. s..oe a. ftgr.ls.al I
When it was known that he was certainly
taken, some newspaper correspondent-Ik knew
his name at that time fabricated the story
about the disguise in an old woman's dress.
heard the whole matter talked over as q good
joke, and the officers who knew better, never
took the trouble to deny it. Perhaps they
ed all the contempt that could be put upon
him. think SO too, only lwould never per
petuate falsehood that by any means would
become a history. 'ilHt 'I. .' .t.frs
And further, would never slander woman
who has shown SO much devotion as Mrs. Da-
Wis has to her husband, no matter how wicked
he is or may have been ti'f 'i't iaH
defy any person to find single officer OF
soldier who was present at the capture of JEFF
Davis, who will say upon honor that he was
disguised in wonian's clothes, or that his wiie
acted in any way unladylike or undigni-
fed on that occasion. i go for trying him fol
| his crimes, and if he is found guilty punisl
him. But would not lie about him when tn,
truth will certainly make him bad enough.
| Mr. Parker evidently has not seen the report
| of the Congressional Committee on Claims
| which has recently investigated all the facts
connected with, the capture of Davis. The
testimony taken by the Committee has beer
published, and we take leave to invite Mr.
Parker's attention to the statement of, Gen. j
III. Wilson, who after relating the mistake un
| der which two detschments of our troops firet
| into each other, continues as follows: ~.
During the firing of the skirmish just re.
| ferred to, the Adjutant of the 4th Michigan
Lieutenant j. G. Dickinson. after having look
| ed to tlie security of the rebel camp and sent
forward a number Of men who had struggled
/ was about to 60 to the front himself, when his
4 attention was called by one of the men Il
| three persons in female attire, who had app3r
| emily Just lett one OF the large tents near by
| and were moving toward the thick woods. Ht
| started at once toward them, and called ou
Halt But not hearing him, or not Gazing t.
obey, they continued to move off. just then
| they were confronted by three men, under the
direction of 81 Corporal Munger, coming
4 from the opposite idirection.nr The cor
1 poral recognized one of the persons as Davis
| advanced carbine and demanded his surrender
The three persons halted and by the action OF
the two, who. afterward turned out 10 bt
women, all doubt as to the identity ofthe thirt
| person was removed. The individuals thu!
| arrested were found to be Miss Howell, Mrs
Davis, and Jefferson Davis. AS they wake
| back to the tent from which they had just trie,
| to escape. Lieutenant Dickinson observe,
| that DAVIS high top boots were not covered b,
his disguise, which fact, probably, led to hi
recognition by Corporal Munger. As tn
friends Of Davis have strenuously denied tina
he was disguised as a woman, it may not b
l improper to specify the exact articles G
woman. apparel which he had upon him whe
first seen by Lieutenant Dickinson and Coz
| poral Munger. The former states that he "wa
L one of the three persons dressed in womansa a
tire, and had a black mantle wrapped aroun
his head, through the top OF which could b
seen locks of his hair"
i Captain CIV. Lawton, of the fourth Mioh
| gan Cavalry, states explicitly upon the test
imony OF the officers present. that Davis, i
addition TO his tull suit OF Confederate gra,
had on "lady's waterproof cloak, gathere'
| at the waist, with a shawl drawn over tn
head, and carrying tin pail" "Asa NJ
| Here then is the testimony of Lieut. Dicl
inson, Corporal Munger, Captain Lawton, an
other officers and soldiers, presented an
youched for by Gen. Wilson, and nnanimousl
affirming that President" Davis was disgui'
ed in female attire when he was taken.
/ seems tous that this is sufficient reply to NJ
Parkers challenge. We have only to say i
i conclusion, that the name of "James III. Pa
| ber'' does not occur in the list of officers an
soldiers to whom the reward for the capture c
| Davis was distributed, nor does the Gazettee
mention any such town as "Eilburnville"
\ Pennsylvania Have onr neighbors of the Al
aus been imposed upon? 10