The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-06-24
JEFF DAVIS, CAPTURE. ]
From M. Daris, Forthcon. i,,g Book. i

From, Mr. Daris Forthcoming Book
Afer short time was hailed by d voice
which recognized as that of my private
secretary, WHO Informed me that the maraud-
e-s had been hanging around the camp, and
that he and others were on post around IL
aud expected an attack as soon as the moon
went down. A Silly story had got abroad
that 1t was treasure train, aud auri sacra
flames had probably instigated these maraud-
ers, as 1t subsequently, stimulated General D.
III. Wilson to send out large force to cap
iure the same train. For the protection Of
my family travelled with them two or three
DAYS. when, believing that they had passed
out of the re- ion of mararders. determined
to leave their camp at nightfall to execute
my original purposes. My horse aud those
of The parry proper we're saddled, pleparatoT
ry to a art, when one of my staf, who had
ridden into the neighborirg village, returned
ard told me that maraudingparoy intended
to attack the party that night. This decided
me TO wait to see Il the.e was anyting In the
rumo-, which supposed would be ascertain
ed in few hours. My horse remained sad
d,ed and my pistols in my holsters, and /
Law down, fully dressed, to rest. Nothing
occurred to rouse me until after dawn, when
my coachman, free colored man, who faith
fully clupg to OR fortunes. came and told
me there was firing over the branch, just be-
hiud our encampment. l stepped out of my
wire's tent and saw some horsemen, whom
Immediately Recognized as cavalry, deploy-
ing a, ound the encampmeut. turned back
and .old my wife that these were not the ex-
pected marauders, but regular troopers. She
imDlo, ed me to leave her at once. hesita-
ted, from unwillingness to do so, aud lost
few precious moments before yielding to her
npolsunity. My horse and arms were near
the road on which expected to leave, and
dow which the cavalry approached; it was,
therefore, impi acticable to reach them. l
was compelled TO start in the opposite di-
rec: ION. As 1t was quite dark In the tent !
picked up what supposed 10 be my "ra5-
lana waterproof, light overcoat, without
sleeves. it was subsequently, found TO be
my wife's, so very much l'sa my own as 10 be
mistaken for it. As / started my wife threw
shawl over my bead and shoulders. had
gone perhaps fifteen or twenty yards when
trooper rode up and ordered me to halt and
sur, ender, 10 which | gave defiant answer,
and, dropping the shawl and raglan from my
shoulde s, advanced toward bin. He leveled
bis c..rbiae, but expected IL he fred he
would miss me, bot my intention was In
that event 20 put my hant under his foot.
tumble him off his seat, jump iu,o the saddle
and attempt 10 escape. NV wife, who had
been watching, when she saw the soldier aim
his carbine at me, ran forward and thew her
arms around me. Success depended on In
stan:aneous action, and, recognizing that The
opportunity had been lost, l turned back,
and. the morning being damp and chilly,
passes on 70 u nre beyond the teut. Our
pursues had taken different rpads and APP
preached the camp from opposite directions !;
they ecounte ed each other and commenced
firing, both supporting they had met our
armed escort, and some casualties resulted
from their conflict with an imaginary body
OF Confederate troops. During the confu-'
sion, while attention was concentrated on
myself. except by those who were engaged In
pillaye, one of my aids, Colonel j. Taylor
Woods, with Lieutenant Barnwell, walked
offunobsersed. His dar:pg exploits on the
sea on the pars Of the Federal Government
haa made him an object of special hostility,
and rendered it quite proper that he should
avail himself of every possible means of es-
cape. Colonel Pritchard went over to their
battle field and / did not see him for long
time, surely more than an hour after my
capture. He subsequently, claimed credit, in
conve sat ioa with me. for the forbearancs
shown by his men In not shooting me when
re fesea to surrender. H@ta st'H sEs.t ~
Wilson and Others have uttered many
falsehoods in regard to my capture, which
have been posed Ia publications by persons
| by Secretary Reagan, by the members of
my pc, sonal staff and by my colofed coach
man, Jim Brown, which must have been
convincing TO all who were mot givea over TO
believing It was lie. For this reaton
vii postpone TO some othee time and more
appropriate place any further notice of the
sto.y and It's variations, all the spawn of a
malign;ty that shames the civilization of the
age. We were, when prisoners, subjected to
petty pillage. 221 = "" y 5E2 stil H4t
aW #r