Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-07
JEFF. DAVIS CAPTURE.
The story as Told by Himself in HIS New
Book,

Book.
After a short time | was hailed by voice
which recognized as that of my private sec
had been hanging around the camp, and that he
and others were on post around it and were ex-
pecting an assault as soon as the moon went
down. silly story had got abroad that II
was treasure train, and anri sacra flames had
probably instigated these marauders, as it
subsequently stimulated Gen. j. II. Wilson to
send out large force to capture 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 region of ma
rauders, | determined to leave their encamp-
ment at nightfall to execute my original pur-
pose. My horse and those of my party pro-
per were saddled preparatory to start when
one of my staff, who hads ridden into the
neighboring village, returned and told me that
he had heard that q marauding party intended
to attack the camp that night. This decided
me to wait long enough to see whether there
was any truth in the rumor, which suppos-
ed would be ascertained in few hours. My
horse remained saddled and my pistols in the
holsters, and l lay down, fully dressed, to
rest. Nothing occurred to rouse me until
just before dawn, when my coachman, free
colored man, who faithfully clung to our for
tunes, came and told me there was firing over
the branch, just behind our en-.
campment. stepped cut of my wife's tent
and saw some horsemen, whom Immediately
recognized as cavalry, deploying around the
e1campment. turned back and told my wife
these were not the expected marauders, but
regular troopers. She implored me to leave
her at once. I hesitated, from unwillingness
to do so, and lost few precious moments be-
fore yielding to her importantly. My horse
and arms were near the road on which l ex-
pected to leave, and down which the cavalry
approached; it was therefore impracticable to
reach them. l was compelled to start in the
opposite direction. AS it was quite dark in
the tent, Ipicked up what was supposed to
be my "raglan," a waterproof, light overcoat,
without sleeves; it was subsequently found to
taken for it; as started my wife thought
fully threw over my head and
shoulders shawl. had gone perhaps fifteen
or twenty yards when trooper galloped up
and ordered me to halt and surrender, to
which gave defiant answer, and dropping
the shawl and raglan from my shoulders, ad-
vanced toward him. He leveled his carbine at
me, but expected if he fired he would miss
me, and my intention was in that event to put
other side, spring into his saddle, and attempt
to escape. My wife, who had been watching,
when she saw the soldier aim his carbine at
me, ran forward and threw her arms around
me. Success depended OH instantaneous ac-
tion, and, recognizing that the opportunity
had been lost, turned back, and the morning
being damp and chilly, passed on to a fire be-
yond the tent. Our pursuers had taken differ
ent roads, and approached our camp from OPP
posite directions; they encountered each other
and commenced firing, both supposiDg they
had met our armed escort, and some casual
ties resulted from their conflict with an imag-
mary body of confederate troops. During
the confusion, while attention was concen-
trated upon myself, except by those who were
engaged in piliage, one Of my aides, Col. j.
Taylor Wood with Lieut. Barnwell, walked
of unobserved His daring exploits on the
sea made him on the part Of the federal gov
ernment, an object Of special hostility, and
rendered it quite proper that he should avail
Col. Pritchard went over to their battlefield,
more than an hour after my capture. He
subsequently, claimed credit, in a con-
versation with me, for the forbearance shown
by his men in not shooting me when refused
to surrender.
Wilson and others have uttered many falsa-
hoods in regard to my capture, which have
been exposed in publications by persons there
present-by Secretary Reagan, by the members
of my personal staff, and by the colored coach.
man, Jim Jones, which must have been con.
vincing to all who were not given over to be.
lleve lie. For this reason l will postpone to
some other time and more appropriate place
any further notice of the story.