The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-05

We give In another column On account Of
the capture Of JsR Davis, in the ofacial report
Of Major General Wilson, who, 1t will be re-
membered, commanded the cavalry division BY
portion Of which the rebel leader was taken;
and this account valuable in itself for the
romantic and peculiar personal interest OF the
narrative, win be the more acceptable just now,
a. :.sas neat approach for y. ,a:J areS tor
Davis' appearance in court at Richmond con-
centrates public attention again on his career,
and gives certain importance to the more
striking points in his history.
By General Wilson's report We learn that ne
was acting in practical independence OF any
superior at the date Of Davis fight from Rich
mond. having fifteen thousand cavalry under
his immediate direction In Middle Georgia.
He anticipated at once that on the break up at
Richmond there would be general stampede
in his direction Of distinguished fugitlves, and
made his arrangements to intercept whoever
might come. He had his mon very judiciously
posted, when he was informed OF General
Sherman's armistice with Johnston, in virtue
Of which the movements Of troops were TO cease
on each side. Though acting independently, his
troops were part Of Sherman's command, and
he was bound by Sherman's agreement
and thus became inactive; but anticipat-
ing that the enemy would not respect
this arrangement he held himself and
troops in readiness to act if the course OF
the Confederates made it necessary. His en-
barrassment on this head continued only till
the authorities declared Sherman's armistice
null, and this gave the General ample time to so
arrange his force that he had double line OF
scouts drawn nearly across the whole country
between Chattanooga and the Florida line,
before Davis came into his neighborhood.
News of Davis first came to Wilson's camp
on the Gath of April, when a citizen reported
having seen him at Charlotte, N. c., few
days before, attended by an escort Of Con-
federate cavalry. His purpose, as given out at
that time, was to cross the Mississippi. 1t was
expected from this report that he would move
through the hilly country Of Western North
Carolina and Northern Georgia and the por-
ton OF General Wilson's force in that direction
was stimulated to increased activity. AT the
Lieutenant J. 0. Yoeman, were detached from
an Ohio regiment on . peculiar and difficult
duty. They were sent ont to obtain definite
information Of the Davis cavalcade, and were
disguised ~ rebel soldiers. This party went
to the upper crossings Of the Savannah
river and there fell in with Davis and his
escort of two divisions Of cavalry. They
joined this body and continued with 1t
several days, "watching for an opportu-
nifty to seize and carry of the rebel chief"
But this daring purpose was " frustrated
by The vigilance Of the rebel escort" Learning,
upon his arrival in Northeastern Georgia, OF
the national force at Atlanta, ard OF the troops
out in all that country, Davis apparently de-
SPARED Of escaping in that direction, and seems,
for while, hardly TO have been able to de-
termine which way 70 move. Here his cavalry
escort became mutinous, and was disbanded
and sent way, and from this point information
was sent by Yoeman that Davis chad relin.
quishcd his idea Of going into Alabama, and
would probably try to reach the Gulf or South
Atlantic coast and escape by sea-"
Thxs an entirely new direction was given
to the hunt; and it was the other end OF
Wilson's long line that now had to look sharp.
That river, the upper part Of which is called
the Ocmulgee, and the lower part the Altamaha,
rises near Atlanta, and runs in southeasterly
course to the Atlantic; and Davis, in his south
ern flight had necessarily to cross it General
Wilson, therefore, arranged to have all the
crossings Of the stream that Davis could pos
sibly reach closely watched, thus establishing
line OF scouts that il was confidently ex-
pected be could nor pass unseen. In addition
TO this the First Wisconsin cavalry, under Col
onel Henry Hamden, was on the scout north
ofthe Ocmulgee to Dublin, on the Oconee. Fol-
lowing the departure Of Hamden to Dublin, the
conviction that Davis would make for Florida
growing stronger on Wilson's mind, he extended
his operations down to the Ocmulgee, which
before went only SO far south as Hawkinsville.
| Colonel Pritchard, with the Fourth Michigan,
was now sent down the right bank of the
| Ocmulgee to watch all the crossings, with
orders to pursue Davis IL he should discover
his trail. From this point the whole interest
Of the narrative Is concentrated on the move
ments Of Hamden an Pritchard.
Hamden was started across the Ocmulgee
eastward toward Dublin on May s. Pritchard
was started down the right bank Of the Ocmul-
gee on the next day. Dublin Is about thirty
miles distant from the Ocmulgee at the point
al which Hamden crossed. but the Ocmulgee,
going toward II directly south from Dublin, is
about 6fty miles from that town. Hamden
reached Dublin at night on the 7th, having we'll
secuted all the country to the north and oil the
roads near the town. He bivouacked without
hYing. made any discovery, though he had
thought the white people Of the place sus-
,Riciously civil. At midnight "an intelligent
contraband came into camp and gave infor-
nation that Davis mounted on . fine bay
horse " and accompanied by his family and