The New York herald., 1878-03-02
JEFF DAVIS CAPTURE
The Version Authorized by the Ex-
Confederate President.
DENIAL OF THE FEMALE DISGUISE STORY
Colonel William Preston Johnson's Ac-
count of the Affair.
RICHMOND. Va, Feb. 27, 1878


Innumerablc stories of flight and capture OF JET
ferson DAVIS have been published both North and
South by writers In both sections. Until now, how.
ever Jefferson DAVIS own account has never been
in print The Southern Historical Society Papers IN
It's March issue, Will fuil narrative OF that
memorable affair, written by Major W. !. walthall the
private Secretary OF Mr. Davis It known here thai
this article gotten up under the eye OF Mr. Davis,
and special supervision. and is therefore
regarded as DAVIS OF his fight and cap
,ure Tho writer says
On the evening OF the second day (which was the
ytn OF May) preparations were made for departure
Immediately alter nghtIull, when Colonel W. r John.
ston returned from neghDoring village with the re.
port that band Of 100 men were to attack the camp
that night
his holsters and blanket III place, was IN charge Of
his body servant aud he himself was lying clothed
booted ana even spurred, when. httle' after day.
break the alarm gwen that the camp was at.
tackled. springing TO his eet and stepping out Of
the tent he 81 al once, from the manner in which
The assailanls deploying around the CAMP that
they trained soldsrs ana not irregular bandIt,
and returning ne so infor med Mrs. DAVIS
AS wo aave sad, the Pres dent was already fully
dressed. He hastily took leave OF his wiie, who
per, either as protection from the dampness Of the
early morning or In the hope that II mght serve as
a partial disguise or perhaps Win woman's ready
rapid tnoug ghtuness oil Its possible use or both
these purposes. Mrs. Davis also directed female
servant, who was present, 10 take an empty bucket
and accompany MN IN the direction OF the spring,
his horse on the other side OF tho camp bong cut
OF by the interpostion OF The assaiantx
He mad advanced only u few Steps from the door OF
the when ho was challenged by mounted
soldier, who presented his carDne aud ordered HIM 10
'surrendeE" me answer was, ~ never surrender to
a band OF thieves" the carDlno still presented.
but rcrained from hring-lt is but lair 10
sumo from an unwi ihngnoss to kali his Adversary
while the President continued TO advance. This
not from desperation or iocihardy reoklessness but
man, VINO was naely mounted. was SO near as to DO
considerably above him. he had little apprehension Of
oelnr MT ana beov cd that by taking advantage Of
Xs.IiaF mi ant a
from the saddle ana get possession oi his horse The
feasibility OF this design was not TO be tested how
ever, ior at TINS moment Mrs Davis seeing only his
danger. aud animated by CHARACTERISTIC and heroic
determination to share 1t, ran forward and threw
excamation, which proOably none of the parties
present would be able 10 repeat correctly. Tho only
hope escape had depended upon bringing tue mat
ter 10 an Immediate issue, and, seeing that this was
lost. the President simply SAID, GOODS will be
doIe," as he quietly turned back and seated himsef
upon lallen zee, near which camp hre was burn-
Ing.
A letter written by Colonel William Preston John.
son. late aide Mr.. Davis, the Of the arti-
Gle, Major WathalI, confirms this statement
LEXINGTON, Va, July Ia, 1871
Major W. I. WALTHALL, Mobile, Ala -
My DEAR SIR-Your letter mas just come to hand,
anu repiy At ouoe. WILSON'S monograph Is written
no sense historical 1t bears upon lis ali the
marks OF special pleading. He states matters Of
his own knowledge, ana which he must have picked
up rumor or mere gossip. Single errors oil this
used as fact and argument troy become what you
truly Call tnem, ''caiumny."
For instance, Mrs. DAVIS is represented as leaving
Richmond with President My recollection is that
she lett some weeks beforehand Breckinridgs lett
on horseback aud went TO General Lee, reJoning Mr.
DAVIS ~ Danvitle do not doubt that all the account
OF 'the preparations Tor hIgnt" is purely hctiuous.
His statement OF tho conditions OF the armssve Is
correct
You will have the facts OF retreat and capture
from many sources My b. st plan 10 tell you only
eaW
negative but In SO Tar as goes will probably aid you.
Ny understand ny was that we were to part with MIRA
DAVIS train morning Of the 9th. We did not
and the President contnueu 10 ride IN the ambulance
he was s,ck und good deal exhausted, but not
the man 10 say tning about u. The day previous
be had leit little JeT shoot bis Derringcrs at
mark, anu handed me one of the unloaded pistols,
which he asked NE 10 curry, as IL incommoded him.
Al tnat time spoke 10 hun about the size of
our train and our route, about which mad not
previously talked, as no bad said nothing
and | did not wish force his confidence. 1t was,
however, distinctly understood that going 70
could get west through MISSISSIPPI, ana that BY
rapid movements ard bold attempt NY from tue
Florida coast We wore more likely to reach Texas
safely and promptly. be REPLIED ut IS true-every
negro IN Mississippi Knows me-" also talked with
Judge Reagan ana Colonel Wood this topic. Tue
impression left on my own mad was however, that
| Mr. Davis intended to turn west south Of Albany;
but had dslniteideu OF his purpose whether 20
by sea land Indeed, my scope OF duty simply
to follow and obey MN anu, long was
suited, was well content 10 DO this and more I
CONFESS did not have kreut hopes OF escape, Enough
apprene az the lme OF capture. Scouts,
ten picked mcn, were explicit that 10 iederais
near ana tnat pickcts were out Botn OF these were
errors. ON the night oil the 9th | very muon
worn out with travel and Watching ana lay down at
tho loot OF pine Tree TO sleep.
Just Ut gray dawn Mr. DAVIS servant Jim awakened
me. de said, ''Colonel, do you hear That hrngY"
/ sprang up SAID, ''Run wake the Presldent.''
He did So Hearing nothing as pulled on my boots,
walked 10 the camp IRE, some hty or less steps of,
and asked the cook II Jun was mol mistaken AT tuIa
road toward me- 1 thought they were gueriIlas try.
ing 10 stampede The STOCK ran To my saddle, wnere
mad SLEPT, AID began unlastenng the holster got
out my revolver, put they were tCo quick tor ine
Three men rode up and demanded my pistol, which,
AS soon AS got out gave up 10 tho oador bright,
slim, sodicrly fellow dressed IN Confederate gray
clothes lhc same man, believe, captured Colonels
Wood and Lubbock just alter One OF my captors or.
dered the camp lire ana guard mo.
l became aware that they were fedorais.
In tho meantime the dring won't on Alter about ten
minutes, maybe more, my guard lett me and walked
10 Mrs. Davis tent, ABOUT lity yards of. Mrs.
DAVIS was in great distress. SAID 10 the President,
who was sitting outsiae on camp stool, ''rhis Is
bad business, SIR" he replied, supposing knew
OF his capture. "I would have
heaved tbs sooundre oil his horse ho came up but
she caught me around the arms" understood wnut
he meant, now he had proposed to dismount tho
trooper and get his horse, for he had taught
trick. l merely REPLIED 'lt would have been use-
| less.u
Mr. Davis was dressed as usual He had on knit
wooen visor. which he always wore at night for
| ralgla He wore cavalry boOLs He complained Of
cnilliness and said they mad taken away his Rasan,"
believe they we're So called, Iisht aquascutum or
spring overcoat, sometimes called waterproof" I
| nad exactly similar, except In color / went to
look Tor IL, aud either or my Instance,
found 1t, and he wore II aiterward HIS was not
| restored.
AS vas looking for this coat, the firing still
tinulng, met mounted officer who, II am mis-
taken, was Captain Hodsun. Feeling that the
was lost, ana not wishing useless boolshed said
him, captain, your men lighting each other
yonder." He answered very positively, "You have
an armed escort" replied, "You have our whole
camp; know your men are hghtIng each other. We
have NOBODY on that side OF the slough" He thcn
rode oil Colonel Lubbock had conversation nearly
identical with Colonel Prltcnard, who was not polite
| l believe. You can learn from Colonel Lubbock
| about It,
Not long aiterward seeing Mr.. Davis In alteration
| with an oilicer-Colonel Prichard--I went up. Mr..
DAVIS was denunciatory In MS remarks. The account
gwen ny Wilson Is fabulous, except so TAR as Dir.
Davis remark Is concerned, tnat their cone
duct was not that oil gentlemen, but ruflana"
Pritchard did make the reply attributed
| 10 him; ! could swear 10 that My recollection ID
tnat he In substance, and IN an offensive manner
THAT he Davis was prisoner and could afford 10