The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-03-21
JEFF. DAVIS, CAPTURE.
The Version Authorized by the Ex-Cou-
federate President.

JEFF. DAVIS CAPTURE.
The Version Authorized by tho EI-Con-
federate President.
From the N. Y. Herald
RICHMOND, VA, Feb. 27, 1878.
Innumerable stories of the flight and
capture of Jefferson Davis have been
published both North and South by wri-
ters in both sections. Until now, how
ever, Jefferson Davis own account has
| never been in print. The Southern His
torical Society Papers, in its March issue,
will contain full narrative of that MEM
orable affair, written by Major w. T.
Walthall, the private Secretary of Mr..
Davis. It is known here that this article
was gotten up under the eye of Mr.. Da-
Wis, and under his special supervision,
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) preparations
were made for departure Immediately
after nightfall, when Col. w. P. john
ston returned from neighboring village
with the report that band of $50 men
were TO attack the camp that night.
Meantime his horse (Davis, already
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, 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, return
| ing, 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 wrapper,
either as a protection from the dampness
of the early morning, or in the hope that
it might serve as q partill disguise, OF
perhaps with woman's ready and rapid
thoughtfulness of its possible use for both
these purposes. Mrs. Davis also directed
a female servant, 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, be-
ing cut off from access by the interposi-
tion of the assailants.
Gle had advanced only few steps
from the door of the tent when he was
challenged by q, mounted soldier, who
presented his carbine and ordered him to
surrender The answer was, I never
surrender to a band of thieves The
carbine wa, still presented, but the man
refrained from iiring-it is but fair to
presume from an unwillingness to kill
his adversary-while the President con-
tinued to advance. This was not from
deliberation or foolhardy recklessness,
but of deliberate purpose.
Observing that the man, who was finely
mounted, was so near as to be considera-
bly, above him, he had little apprehen'
sion of being hit, and believed that by
taking advantage of the excitement OF
the shot he might easily tip him from
the saddle and get 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, and
animated by Characteristic and heroic
determination to share it, ran forward
and threw her arms around his neck,
with some impassioned exclamation,
which probably none of the parties pres
ent would be able to repeat correctly.
The only hope of escape had depended
upon bringing the matter to an immedi-
ate issue, and, seeing that this was now
lost, the President simply said, GODS
will be dons,' as he quietly turned back
and seated himself upon fallen tree,
near which campfire was burning"
A letter written by Colonel William
Preston johnson, late Aid to Mr.. Davis,
to the writer of the article, Major Walt
hall, confirms this statement?
LEXINGTON, VA, July "A, 1877.
Major W. T. Walthall, Mobile, Ala.
My Dear Sir: Your letter has just
come TO hand, and reply at once. Will
sons monograph is witten with very
strong aninius, not to say virus. 1t is not
historical. 1t bears upon its face all the
marks of special pleading. He states
as matters of fact numbers of circum-
stances which could not be of his own
knowledge, and which he must have
picked up as rumor or mere gossip. Sin.
gle errors of this sort are blemishes; but
when they are grouped and used as fact
and argument they become, what you
truly call them, 'calumny.'
"For instance, Mrs. Davis is represent
ed as leaving Richmond with the Presi.
dent. Nv recollection is that she left
some weeks beforehand. Breckinridge
left on horseback and went to General
Lee, rejoining Mr.. Davis at Danville.
do not doubt that all the account OF the
preparations for flight is purely ficti'
tious. His statement of the conditions
of the armistice is incorrect. J.
"You will have the facts of cur retreat
and capture from many sources: My
best plan is to tell you only what l know
and saw myself. The testimony is chiefly
negative, but in so far as it goes vii
probably aid you. My understanding
was that we were to part with Mrs
Davis train on the morning of the 9Th
We did not, and the President continued
to ride in the ambulance. He was sicl
and good deal exhausted, but was no
the man to say anything about it. The
day previous he had let little Jeff shoe
his Deringen at mark, and handed mt
one of the unloaded pistols, which hi
asked me to carry, as it incommoded him
At that time 1 spoke to him about thu
size of our train and our route, abou
which had not previously talked, as h'
had said nothing and did not wish t,
force his confidence. 1t was, however
distinctly understood that we were goinl
to Texas. l that day said to him that
did not believe we could get west through
Mississippi, and that, by rapid movement
and bold attempt by sea from the Florid
coast We were more likely to reach Texa
safely and promptly. He replied, 1T j
true-every negro in Mississippi know
me- l also talked with Judge Reagan
and Colonel Wood on this topic. Tn
:. impression left on my mind was, however