Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-10
JEFF. DAVIS DISGUISE.

who lately visited Allegan. called upon
Gen. Benjamin D. Pritchard, now a
resident OF that town, who was, during
the war, Colonel of the Fourth Regi.
ment of Michigan Cavalry, and had
the good fortune to capture Jeff Davis.
In conversation with him the cores
pondent inquired as to the circumstan-
ces of Davis attempted escape, and
2iges sile. story thus:
Gen. Pritchard said: After the es-
cape of Davis from Richmond I receiv-
ed reliable Intelligence, and which ap-
peared TO me to be all the more relia-
bic from the situation and the necess
tiles afs his case-that is to say. that
he would endeavor to make his way
across the Mississippi into Texas where
he intended to put himself at the head
of his forces still quite strong, and
around which he could gather all his
remaining strength in the South west,
and then still to carry on the rebellion
.insthose vast and compa lively inaccess
ibe regions, trusting to the cont ued
recruiting of his forces from escaping
squads of his defeated armies in all
quarters, and from Mexican sympathi
zers, guerrillas, and dissatisfied, reck-
less, desperate, and lawless spirits from
every direction, and not altogether with
out hope of aid from foreigners. TO
reach there he had but one way of es-
cape ; he had to make his way from
Virginia to Georgia, and thence west
ward along a belt Of country that lay
between our forces on the Gulf on the
south and our forces that occupied Vir-
ginia, Tennessee and westward, on the
north. So | governed myself accord
ingly, and set my command in motion.
as if on the double quick" !" right
through that region. w soon struck
the tr,il Of Davis on the Ockmulgee
river in Georgia. He was accom-
panied by some of his military staff
and the chiefs of his Government.
His wife and the wives and female re-
latives aud companions Of some of his
subordinates were with him Thus
we followed until we reached small
village in Georgia, where we lost all
track of them. We surrounded the
village. | made the most particular
and all manner of inquiries ,of th' : n
habitants, but not one of them kuew
a thing and were properly astonished
at my asking them the question s.as if
they knew!" Still | had no doubt
that they all knew well. So L resort
ed to what never or seldom failed me
| got an African alone, and be 500 n
told me where the game was to be
found-about two miles from the vii.
lage, in sort Of wild, bushy, woody
place By this time it had grown quite
lninto the uigbt. the weather being beau
tful and the sky bright, | soon had
my command at the spot, where we
touhd small encampment, consisting
of two or three tents with wagons stand
ling about The tents, as was afterward
discovered, were occupied by the wo-
men and Davis and one or two of his
masculine favorites, the remainder of
the party lying about under the wagons
1t was now about midnight or after
[ gave orders to have the encampment
surrounded. giving the most positive
command that no living thing under
any circumstances should pass outward
| through the lines. Thus we waited
for day.
In the early dawn-almost before
dawn--an old woman was seen making
her way from, out Of one OF thetents. She
Was dressed IN waterproof cloak from
| her waist down. the cloak coming down
SO low as to cover her feet. around
| her body was a shawl, arranged and
tied; on her head something like a
hood or bonnet, that concealed her
face; in her hand pail. AS the tent
door was opened, a female voice from
within spoke out in loud tones "Bring
me bucket of water-quick We
want to wash our faces" And then,
as if addressing any sentries that might
be within hearing, the voice said, in
still louder tones: Let my old woman
servant pass and bring us bucket Of
water-we want to get up and dress
ourselves. So the old lady passed
on, the one Or two or more soldiers
within hearing allowing her to make
her way, but keeping bright eye up
on her. Pretty soon, as the old lady
was going through bushy place, and
by that means disarranglng her water
proof, a soldier discovered her boots
and something that looked like the
step and stride of a man SO he hailed,
advanced before, and stopped her.
Soon two or more soldiers came up and
began to quiz her, asking her to give
au accout Of herself but she uttered
not word. Then I came to the spot
myself and put some questions but
not word said the old lady in reply.
[ then advanced, took off her hood, IN
tied her shawl, and exposed her boots
she all the time making stout re-
sistance. When [ had succeeded in
throwing off her disguise there she
stood-a being that looked very much
ike an elderly man. "You are a likely
cd women ," 7 saia word from