The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-11-25
GEN, J. II. WILSON'S LECTURE.
The Capture of JEFF Davis.

Gen. j. ii. wilson, IN CuhFge VI 'h' y
per Mississippi rapids improvement ut this
point aud Keokuk.deliyerei Il lecture before
the Davenport Young Mems Library Asto.
ciation last evening 1t 10 geHeF"'S
known historical fact that jeff, DAVIS was
captured, by an officer OF Gen wilson
command. Gen. W'ls"~ - "'"'' Aho"n per
aonaily to citizens hereabouts as he resided
ia Davenport for considerable length OF
time. Gen. " is a man Of great literary
talent, beside, that quieHness Of perception
which constitutes ready aud interesting
lecturer. 1t became known to some OF his
Davenport friends that he had collected such
facts as he could obtain in reference to the
light, pursuit and capture OF JEFF Davis Ac
cordingly he was requested by the lecture
committee of the Association, to deliver
lecture on the subject. To this request be
ncceded on condition that his services in the
matter be accepted by the Library Assocla
ton gratis. lie accordingly appeared be
fore Davenport audience, respectable 10th
in size and intelligence, last evening. We
have not space for the full and interesting
abstract which appeared in the Gazette, but
publish that portion Of special interest TO
our readers, having reference to the capture
| Of the ex.presdeut Of the so-caIed conieder
acy. We would premise the remarks 81
Gen. w., by saying that in the minds Of
u.ost Americans the story of jeff. Davis'
! strange disguise, is somewhat epocryphal
| aud it is matter on which two distinct be,
leiis will ever be held Those desiring to
credit the story, will do 80; and those who
do not will utterly dlsbelieye it, until as time
passes on, and the history Of this country is
written half century hence, by some one
superior to partisan prejudices it will take
rank with the stories of Pocahontas and
| Smith, aud Washington and his Ratchet as
containing an excellent moral, but not being
eiyicthJ true But to Gen. Wilson's account,
which is not from his own observation.
The eliminating point Of interest in the
lecture was reached in the description OF
the capture and costume OF Davis, at this
his last chance to die IN the last ditch. 1t
was Lieutenant }. &. Dickinson, Of The
Fourth Michigan Cavalry, who approached
three persons dressed in female apparel, one
Of them carrying tin pail, leaving a large
! cent anA s,~'""r g. ,I;~l, rvoods and Il
whom he cried halt an orden which The,
did not obey until confronted By three men
to whom they surrendered. They were Mrs
Davis, Miss Howell and JEFF, Davis, and thu
latter was detected by the appearance of hi
top boots, which were not entirely covered
bv his disguise. Various humorous detRilt
of the capture were related.
Gen. Wilson said that the friends Of Da
Wis strenously denied that he WAS disguised
~ woman, and he therefore detailed the
prdots, with considerable minueness. Lieut.
Dickinson states that Davis had q blacI
mantle wrapped around his head through
which could be seen, locks of his hair Capt
G.. W. l.awton, of the Ih Michigan Cavalry
. asserts explicitly that Davis had on q lady'
water proof cloak, gathered at the waist
with shawl drown over the head and car
' ryiug tin pail. Colonel Pritchsrd in hi.
!. official report says that he received from
Mrs Davis, on board the Clyde, off Fort
y ress Monroe q waterproof cloak or robe
Of dark or almost black water proof stuff
which WAS identified by the men VINO saw j
Il on him the time Of the capture Pritchsrt
secured the other part of the disguise tn
next day 1t consisted Of small hlacl
q, shawl, with red border four or FIVE iuche
d deep, which was identified in a similar man
ner by Mrs Davis and the soldiers. 4 con
n vincing circumstance in this connection wa
>, related. In looking over the articles OF
board the steamer for the shawl, Col, Prit
? chard picked out one like it, when little JEFF
e boy Of seven or eight years, said: "Tha
It ISN'T the shawl my father wore when cap
IA tured; this is the one'-pickiug up the RICH
one Even the friends of Davis, SAID tn
y General in their efforts to e1plain away the
t. story, have confirmed It in AL its essentia
i particulars. Col Harrison of Davis s.af
@ admits that Mrs. Davis had thrown over hin
-, dressing gown, and Pollard says that
II shawl was thrown across his shoulders