Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-01-22

The follows from a Northern
regarding a well worn and
thoroughly veil understood mater
how readily that people
can be satisfied with the false
trash that passes with them
for 80 good thing" We would
not give the extract space on
" we wish to show upon how
aimsy q basis Is built the story Of
Mr.. Davis female apparel. Il is
from 3 report Of a lecture by Gen.
Wilson, who is said TO have been
the captOr of President Davis:
The eliminating point Of in
terest in the lecture was reached
in the description Of the capture
and costume of JEFF. Davis, at this
his last chance to die in the last
ditch. It was Lieutenant j. G.
Dickinson, of the 4th Michigan
cavalry, who approached three
persons dressed in female apparel
one OF them carrying q tin pail,
leaving q large tent and starting
for thick woods, and to whom he
cried halt, an order which they
did not obey until confronted by
three men, TO whom they surren-
dered, They were Mrs. Davis,
Miss Howell and JEFF. Davis. and
the latter was detected by the APP
pearance of his boot tops, which
were not entirely covered by his
disguise. Various humorous de-
tails of the capture we're related.
Gen. Wilson said that the
friends Of Davis strenuously de-
MED that he was disguised as q
woman, :and he therefore detailed
the proofs with considerable min
uteness. Lieutenant Dickinson
states that Davis had q black man
tie wrapped around his head,
through which could be seen locks
ofhis hair. Capt. G. W. Lawton,
OF the 4th Michigan cavalry, as.
serts explicitly that Davis had
on a lady's water proof cloak
gathered at the waist, with q shawl
drawn over the head, and carry
ing an old tin pail. Col. Pitch
ard in his official report, says that
he received from Mrs. Davis on
boad the Clyde, Off Fortress Mon
roe, "a water proof cloak or robe
of dark or almost black water
proof stuff, which was worn by
Davis as q disguise and which
identified by the men who saw 1t
on him at the time Of the
capture: Pitchard secured the
other part of the disguise the
next day. 1t consisted Of a small
black shwal, with a red border
four or five inches Deep, which
was identified in q similar manner
by Mrs. Davis and the soldiers.
A convincing circumstance in
this connection was related. In
looking over the articles on board
the steamer for the shawl, Colonel
Pitchard picked out one like it,
when little JEFF, a boy of seven or
eight years, said THAT inst the
shawl my father wore when
captured that is the one !"-pick-
ing up the right one. Even the
friends Of Davis, SAID the General
in their efforts to explain away the
story, have confirmed it in all its
essential particulars. Col. Har-
rison, of Davis staff, admits that
Mrs. Davis had thrown over him
q dressing gown, and Pollard says
that q shawl was thrown across
his shoulders.
Gen. Wilson related the subse
) Quent events attending Davis ca
reer, to his arrival at Fortres.
Monroe, with particulars con
corning the capture Of other prom
inent rebels. lie gave q sketch Of
conversation between Davis aht
himself at Macon where the playeC
! out rebel was very free in his ex
! |, pressions concerning his own AM
the leading Federal Generals, en-
) tertaining a high opinion of Grant
= Sherman and Thomas, and speak
. ing OF President Lincoln in terms
Of great respect.
, -