The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-03-15
JEFF DAVIS CAPTURE.
The Version Authorized by the EN-Con-
fcdcrate President.

writers i'll both sections. Until now,
however, Jefferson Davis own account
has never been in print. The Southern
Historical Society Papers, in its March
issue, contains a full narrative of that
memorable affair, written by Major
w. T. Walthall, the private secretary
of Mr.. Davis. 1t is known that this
article was gotten up under the eye of
Mr.. Davis, and under his special super
vison, and it is therefore regarded as
Davis own account of his flight and
capture. The writer says:
On the evening of the second day
(Which was the 9th of May) prepara-
tions were made for departure imme-
diately after nightfall, when Colonel w.
p. Johnston returned from neighbor-
ing village with the report that Il band
| of $50 men were to attack the camp
| that night.
Meantime his horse (Davis'), al
ready saddled, with his holsters and
blanket in place, was in charge of his
body servant and he himself was lying
clothed, booted and even spurred,
when, a little after daybreak, the alarm
was given that the camp was attacked.
| Springing to his feet and stepping out
| of the tent he saw at once, from the
manner in which the aSsailantS were
deploying around the camp, that they
were trained soldiers and not irregular
banditti, and returning he so informed
| Mrs. Davis.
AS we have said, the President was
already fully dressed. He hastily took
leave of his wife, who threw over his
shoulders waterproof cloak or wrap
| per, either as a protection from the
dampness of the early morning or in
the hope that it might serve as a partial
disguise, or perhaps with woman's
ready and rapid thoughtfulness Of its
possible use for both these purposes.
Mrs. Davis also directed a female serv
ant who was present to take an empty
bucket and accompany him in the
direction of the spring, his horse on
the other side of the camp being cut
off from access by the interposition of
the assailantS.
He had advanced only few steps
from the door of the tent when he was
challenged by mounted soldier, who
presented his carbine and ordered him
to "surrender." The answer was, "I
never surrender to a band of thieves -
The carbine was still presented, but
the man refrained from firing-it is
but fair to presume from an unwilling
ness to kill his adversary-while the
President continued to advance. This
was not from desperation or foolhardy
recklessness, but of deliberate pur.
f. pose. X n Observing that the man
Q who was finely mounted, was so neal
as to be considerably above him, he
, had little apprehension of being hit
. and believed that by taking advantage
of the excitement of the shot, he NIGH
|, easily tip him from the saddle and ge
possession of his horse. The feasibility
of this design was not to be tested
however, for at this moment Mrs
Davis, seeing only his danger, anC
: animated by a characteristic and heroic
If determination to share it, ran forward
: and threw her arms around his neck
with some impassioned exclamation
= which probably none of the parties
!. present would be able to repeat cor
rectly. The only hope of escape haC
i depended upon bringing the matter tt
e an immediate issue, and, seeing tha
Il this was now lost, the President simply
1t said, "God's will be done," as h,
&c quietly turned back and seated him
self upon fallen tree, near which
- camp fire was burning.
A letter written by Colonel William
le Preston johnson, late aide to MI
'e Davis, to the writer of the article, Ma
ior Walthall, confirms this statement
y. LEXINGTON, Va, July II, 1877.
Major w. Il. Walthall, Mobile, Ala:
l.; My Dear Sir-Your letter has jus
pe 1e come to hand, and L reply at once
I'd Wilson's monograph is written wit
n a very strong animus, not to say virus
- 1t is in no sense historical. 1t beal
upon its face all the marks of specit
he pleading. He states as matters of fa'
IT. numberless circumstances which coul
O. not be of his own knowledge, an
nix which he must have picked up
Of rumor or mere gossip. Single errors
this sort are blemishes; but when the
are grouped and used as fact and arg
ment they become, what you tru
lily call them, ''calumny."
,he For instance, Mrs. Davis is repr
I'm I'm sented as leaving Richmond with Il
Of President. My recollection is that 81
his left some weeks beforehand. Brecki