Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-16
JEFF DAVIS CAPTURE.


After short time | was hailed by a
voice which | recognized AS that Of my
private secretary, who informed me
that the marauders had been hanging
around the camp, and that he and 9th.
ers were on post around IL and were
expecting an assault as soon AS the
moon went down. A silly story had
got abroad that IL was treasure train,
and auri sacra flames had probably in.
stigated these marauders, as it subse.
quently stimulated General 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,l when, believing that they had
passed out of the region OF marauders
| determined to leave their encamp.
ment at nightiall to execute my original
purpose. Ny horse and those OF my
party proper were saddled preparatory
TO a start, when one of my staff, who
had ridden into the eighboring village,
returned and told me that he had heard
that a marauding party intended to at
tack the camp that night. This decided
me to wait long enough to see whether
there was any truth in the rumor, which
! supposed would be ascertaiued in
few hours My horse remained saddled
and my pistols in the holsters, and lay
down. fully dressed, to rest. Nothing
occurred to rouse me until Just before
dawn, when my coachman, free color
ed man, who faithfully clung to our for.
tunes, came and told me there was
firing over the branch Just behind
our encampment. | stepped out Of my
wlie's tent and saw some horseman
whom | Immediately recognized as cav.
airy, depoying around the encamp.
mcnt. | turned back and told my wife
these were not the expected maraudcrs,
but regular troopers. She implored me
10 leave her at once. hcsitated, from
unwllingncss to do so, and lost a few
precious moments before yielding 10 her
importantly. My horse and arms were
near the Soad on which ! expected TO
leave. and down which the cavalry ap.
pronched il was therefore, impracti
cable 10 reach them. ! was compelled
20 start in the opposite direction, As
IL was quite dark IN the tent, ! picked
up what was supposed to be my rag.
Ian, waterproof, light oycrcoat with.
out sleeves; It was subsequently found
TO be my wIie's, so very like my own ns
TO be taken for it. As / started my wife
thouehttully threw over my head and
shoulders a shawl. ! had gone perhaps
fifteen or twenty yards when "A trooper
gailoped up and ordered me to halt
and surrender, to which gave a defiant
answer and, dropping the shawl and
raglan from my shoulders, advanced
1 ' 4 4. &c..
me, tut ! expected If he fred he would
miss me, and my intention was, in that
event, 20 put my hand under his foot,
tumble him oil on the other side. spring
into his saddle and attempt to escape
Ny wife, whs had been watching. when
she saw the soldier aim his carbinc at
me, ran forward and threw her arms
around me. Success depended on in
stautaneous action, and recognizing that
the opportunity had been lost, ] turned
back, and, the morning being damp
and chilly, passed on TO fire beyond
the tent. our pursuers had taken dii.
tcrcnt roads and approached our camp
from opposite directions; they eucouu
tered each other and commenced firing.
both -upposing they had met our armed
escort and some casualties resulted from
their conflict with an imaginary body Of
Confederate troops. During the con'u.
sion. while attention was concentrated
upon myself. except by those who were
engaged IN pillagc. one OF my aides. Col.
j. Taylor Wood, with Lieutenant Barn.
well, walked of unobserycd. His dar.
ing exploits on the sea had made him
on the part Of the federal government
an object Of special hostility and rem.
dercd it quite proper that he should
avail himself OF every possible means
Of escape. Colonel Putchard went over
to their battle field and | did not see
him for q long time, surely more than
an hour offer my capture. lie subse.
qucutly clsimed credit, IN a conyersa.
ton with me, for the iorbearance shown
by his men in not shooting me when
refused TO surrender.
Wilson and Others have uttered many
falsehoods in regard to my capture,
which have been exposed IN publica.
tions by persons there presently Sec.
retary Reagan, by members of my per.
sonal stall and by tho colored coach.
man, Jim Jones, which must have been
convincing to all who were not given
over to believe a lie. For this reason |
will postpone TO some other time and
more appropriate place any further
notice of the story and its variations.
all the spawn Of msligniiy that
shames the civilization Of the age. We