The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-03-30
JEFF Davis Capture.


WEEKLY TIMES, Is as follows
On the evening of tho 9TH of May,
1865, the Fourth Michigan Cavalry
Regiment, to which | belonged, was
ordered to start Immediately, without
knowing whittier or why. We rode on
the whole night, only making short
pause to take lunch. We did like
wise the next day, but had in the even
ing to take refuge from thunder.
storm in some woods. where we sought
to shield ourselves in the best possible
manner against the incemency of the
weather. The next morning, some.
where between nine and ten o'clock,
we met n vehicle with only three wheels,
driven by colored man. Colonel
Pritchard bade him halt and answer
our questions. lie told us he had fall
en- in with troop of "Yankees' Sit
became evident he did not know the
difference between Union and Confed-
crate soldiers-who had taken wheel
from his wagon, probably to prevent
him from revealing their flight too
quickly, for, as he said, il was n sure
thing that they were trying to escape.
Such was the story of the negro, and
now the reason for our being engaged
in this exciting chase flashed in upon
us.--that we were hunting for no less
noble prey than the beaten leader of
the Confederacy, on whose head the
government had set a large prize. Our
rs n matter of course, took
notes of this statement and ascertained
the exact place where the meeting had
taken place. Then we were ordered to
hold ourselves in readiness A harder
work than we had yet done was impen-
ding. Those who had confidence in
themselves and their horses for fur
ther ride of forty or fifty miles were
told to announce themselves. One
hundred and twenty-eight men did so,
| among them, and we started. Twelve
o'clock at night between the 9th and
10lh of May, we arrived at Irwinsville,
Irwin county, Ga, where Davis, accor-
ding to all probability was to be
found.
THE CAMP DISCOVERED.
In whispered tones we were ordered
to distribute ourselves in groups of
thirteen in all directions and be on the
lookout for all suspicious persons in the
place. The group to which | belong
ed, after having ridden on for nearly a
mile, discovered a campfire in south
western direction, which was near ex-
very suspicious ciroum-
stance --tha1 made our hearts beat
quicker with joyous anticipation. 1t
being, however, yet dark we could do
else for the present than impa-
tiently wait for the dawn of day. The
eastern sky had scarcely Redeemed be-
fore we advanced as noiselessly as posi-
BILE and almost stumbled over two tents,
whose inmates evidently were yet slum-
bering and who thus could be
easily surprised was foremost in
entering one of these tents, and, sure
enough, found the fugitive and his
family lying there in profound sleep.
Jefferson Davis rested in gray cos
tune on the left side of the tent. AS
soon as he was awake and had COM
pretended the situation he tried, evil
IDENTIFY for the purpose of concealment,
to cover himself with something-I
cannot at this time tell exactly what,
but of resistance he offered none at ALL
| then tlrned to the other tent, where
found part of the staff of the Con-
leader Here, also, perfect
luietude reigned, easily explainable by
The exertions and excitement incident
10 their flight. They were surprised to
the extent that | tore away saddle
from under the head of one of the
sleeping officers and they all surrender
ed Internationally, without offering
The slightest resistance.
FIRED UPON BY FRIENDS.
Not until the capture of Davis and
his associates had been thus accom-
plished was the signal shot that had
been agreed upon the previous day
fired, which soon brought Colonel
Prilchard and his companions to the
scene of action. This shot, however,
was, TO our great astonishment, at once
responded to by heavy fire from the
woods, which fire we, of
course answered. BY this skirmish we
had one young man killed, his heart
being pierced by bullet, and one
wounded. Orr astonishment increased
greatly when we took one of our assail-
ants prisoner and discovered that he
belonged, like ourselves, TO the Union
army, They formed, in fact, part OF,
the First Wisconsin Cavalry regiment,
and had, like ourselves, arrived the
evening before in the neighborhood of
lrwinsville without knowing or having
the slightest idea of the presence of Da-
Wis, still less of our own. The victims
of this fatal encounter were buried with
honors. We had breakfast,
to us, rs n matter of course, very Joy
ous one, in which Jefferson Davis and
our other prisoners participated, and
then we rode back to head quarters,
THE COMMON STORY UNTRUE
Such is the history of the capture of
Jefferson Davis, and, as every one can
see il differs materially from the COM
monty accepted story, not alone in re
spect to the feminine apparel and the
e-knife, but also in regard to the
short encounter between Union soldiers
which furnished, so to speak, the last
victims on the altar of the ambition of
the Confederate leader have very
relic of this affair in my
possession, After having entered the
tent of Davis and accomplished his cap,
ture travelling bag was found among
what little baggage there was, contain
ing a shirt and three collars, besides
children's soiled linen. These natural.
ly became interesting spoils for the sol.
diers, who distributed them among
One of these collars is
still in my possession. The collar which,