The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
Capture OF the Confederate Pres
tcent--Authentic Account

"a - = q = 49,
published both North and south bv
writers IN both sections. The Southern
historical Society Papers IN its March
i.s1ie. VIII contain a full narrative ~
that memorable affair. written hy
MAJOR W. I. Walthall. the private
Secretary of Sir. Davis. IL Is known
That this article was gotten up under
the eye Of Mr.. Davis. and il l. there
fore regarded - his own account OF
the fight and capture. The writer
says:
On the evening Of the second dav
(which was the 9th Of Nav prepara-
tlons were made for departure imme-
dlately after nighifall. when Colonel
W /. Johnston returned from a neigh
boring village with the report that \
hand OF 80 robbers were to attack the
camp that night.
Meantime his horse Davis ALREADY
saddled. with his hostlsrs and blanket
In place. was In charge of his BODY ser
vaLt and he himself was living clothed.
booted and even spurred, when. a little
after daybreak, the alarm was gwen
that the camp was attacked. Spring
ing TO his feet and stepping out OF
the tent he saw al once. from the man
ner IN which the assailants were de
pioying around the camp. that they
were trained soldiers and not irregular
bandltti, and returning he 50 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 a water proof cloak or wrap
per, either AS a protection from the
dampness of the early morning or in
the hope that ii might serve as a partial
disguise, or perhaps with womans
ready and rapid thoughtfulness of its
possible use for both these
Mrs. Davis also directed q female
servant, who vas present, 10 take an
empty bucket and accompany him in
the direction of the spring. his horse.
on the other side of the amp, being
cut off from access by the interposition
of the assailants.
He had advanced only a few steps
from the door of the tent when he was
challenged by a mounted solder. who
presented his carbine and ordered him
to surrender" The answer was. Il
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-
pose. < : Observing that the
man. who was finely mounted, was so
near as to be considerably above him,
he had little apprehension of being
hit, and believed that by taking adj
vantage of the excitement of the shot,
he might easily tip him from tie sad
die and get possession of his horse.
The feasibility of this design was not
to be tested, however, for at this mo-
ment Mrs. Davis, seeing only his
danger, and animated by a charac-
t~eristic and heroic determination to
share it, ran forward and threw her
arms around his neck, with some i'm
FASHIONED exclamation, which probably
none of the parties present would be
able to repeat correctly. The only
hope of escape had depended upon
bringing the matter to an immediate
issue, and, seeing that this was now
lost, the President simply said, Gods
viii! be dene," as he quietly turned
back and seated himself upon a fallen
tree, near which a camp fire vas burn
ing.
A letter written by Colonel William
Preston Johnson, late aide to Mr.. Davis,
to the writer of the article, Major
Walthall, confirms this statement
LEXINGTON, Va, July IA, 1877.
Major w. 7. WALTHALL, Mobile, Ala:
\ \ X
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 sick and a good
deal exhausted, but was not the man
to say anything about it. The day
previous he had let little jeff shoot his
| Derringers at a mark, and handed me
one of the unloaded pistols, which he
asked me to carry, as it incommoded
him. At that time | spoke to him
about the size of our train and our
route, about which l had not previous
ly talked, as he had said nothing and
l did not wish to force his confidence.
1t was, however distinctly understood
that we were going to Texas. / tina:
day said to him that | did not believe
we would get west through Missis-
sippi, and that by rapid movements
and a bold attempt by sea from the
Florida coast we were more likely to
reach Texas safely and promptly. He
replied. 1t is true-every negro IN
Mississippi knows me-" | also talked
with Judge Reagan and Colonel Wood
on this topic. The impression left on
my own mind was. however, that Mr..
Davis intended to turn west south of
Albany but l had no definite idea of
his purpose whether to go by sea or
land. Indeed, my scope of duty was
simply to follow and obey him and,
so long as / was not consulted. | was
well content to do this and no more.
l confess | did not have great hopes of
escape, though not apprehensiye at
the time of capture, as u scouts, ten
picked men. were explicit that no fed
erals were neal and that pickets were
out. Both of these We're errors. On
the night of the 9th | was very much
worn out with travel and watching.
and lay down at the foot of a pine tree
to sleep.