The Grange advance., 1874-09-23
Correspondence N. Y. Herald

| 1
WASHINGTON, Sept. lit is a part
of the history of the rebellion that its
representative leader, Jefferson Davis,
was captured, disguised in female wear
ing apparel, while endeavoring to make
his escape from the country. At the
same time his personal effects were also
captured and forwarded to the War
Department by Gen. James Fl. Wilson,
now Of New York city. The box
containing them was taken in personal
charge by Secretary Stanton,
who was very fond, for the time being,
Of holding and exhibiting to visitors
the petticoat that Davis wore when cap
tured. Eventually the box was passed
over to the charge Of Adjutant General
Townsend, he being, by usage, the Gus.
todian Of all the odds and ends accu-
mulating in the department. The box
was strapped and sealed by the Adju-
tant General, and for nine years had
the quiet of sarcophagus.
Ex.fREs1DENr DAVIS AFTER DOCUMENTS.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Davis had his
memory jostled by business transac-
ton, which made it important to have
certain private papers slowed away in
the catacomb Of the War Department.
Through Southern friend he commu-
n!cated with the Secretary Of War, and
! asked if there was any improperly in
| requesting the return Of such unimpor-
tant documents and letters as would
only be of service to him in business re-
lations. General Belknap thought
there would be none, and
THE URN OF THE CoNFEDERAcY
was brought forth, the seal broken, and
the contents examined. The letters
and private papers were ordered to be
returned. A ring, several boxes of
cigars brought by blockade runners,
and not having the loyal evidence of
internal revenue stamps, underwear
and linen shirts, in as good state Of
preservation as any cloth about the
mummies Of the Smithsonian Institute.
were also included in the category. But
the petticoat,
ALAS! THE PErTICoAT!
The moths had destroyed this histor-
&c garment and reduced it's ample folds
to mass of chawed material. Not all
the delicate hands of the tenderest fe-
males in General Spinner's redemption
division could have handled the cele.
brated gown so as to preserve it's shape
| or even its identity. At the bottom of
the box were exhumed dreadful en-
| blems Of war, a pair Of revolvers and a
carbine: Should these, too. be re-
COUNCIL OF WAR.
was held, at which General Townsend
General Vincent and the Secretary of
War were present. It was solemnly re-
solved that at the present critical june
ture in the affairs of the South it
would be imprudent for the War De-
partment to furnish arms to the en-
President Of the deceased Confedcracy.
The rusty revolvers might have in them
elements Of new rebellion and wise
craftsmanship dictated that these silent
weapons Of death should again be- con-
signed to the catacombs Of the
War Department, where demo-
cratic successor of the present Secretary
alone can wake them to glory. 1t can
be stated that this affair had nothing
whatever to do with the recent outrages
in the Southern States. Mr.. Davis
gets his private papers, some Of his
friends have been favored with the dried
up cigars as souvenirs of the lost cause,
and all that is dangerous, the revolvers
and carbine, again repose peacefully in
the War Department., for the seal of
General Townsend has consigned the
box to its old position,wrapped about
with red tape and marked, *'handle
with care"