Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-20
GESERALSE.L DOW.
Account of His Capture Given
by One OF the CaPturers.

(Ark.l Tines.
WALsUT RIDGE, ARK, Soy. Z, 's8
/ noticed an account 10 the Arkan-
saw Democrat, given by Hon. g. u.
Simms, Of the capture Of General
Neal Dow, and as was one OF the
party making the capture, have been
requested to add my mite to the truth
Of history.
About the 9th Of July, 1868, our
command, consisting Of the Eleventh
and Seventeenth Arkansaw Volun
teers, was encamped near Whites
Town, Miss. John l.. Logan and
John Griffith we're in command.
Banks was besieging Port Hudson,
and the Coniederates were paying
close attention to his wagon trains
Lieutenant Chadwick was sent 10
Jackson, La, with detail to watch
the roads. After being around
the Federal lines some time several
young men in the neighborhood
Joined us. On the morning in ques-
ton a squad consisting Of the following
men were sent. down to as nelY the
Federal lines as possible. This squad
consisted Of the following men: John
McEwen, Bragg McNeeley, John
Petty and Wilson +. MedeaFis. Lieu
tenant Chadwick and Robt. Medearis
remained in jackson on some other
business. The squad was not under
the charge Of any one in particular.
Near the picket lines we met two Ia
dies in a buggy. Recognizing US as
Confederates they asked usitwe would
go with them and captureGeneralNeal
Dow, he having his headquarters at
their house. One Of the ladies', Mrs.
Smith, lived outside Of the lines. We
went to her house and she arranged
matters with Mrs. Cage. We hid
behind Mrs. Smiths house until night
and she brought us supper. We then
started, met Mrs. Brown who said
everything was right and that Mrs.
Gage Joined in the plot. On reaching
the house Petty, McEwen, McNeely
and w. Il. Medearis made rush into
the house, capturing two guards and
General Dow's baggage, but he was
not there. Mrs. Cage said he had
gone up the road about 200 yards to
take supper with two COlonels, and we
might capture all three. Simms and
Berkley remained in charge OF the
prisoners aud baggage and the rest
rode slowly up the road. To the right
lay the Federal encampment with
thousands of camp fires family flicker.
ing and, the moon shone brightly to
guide US on our way. Within 100
yards we halted a man and asked il
he we're General Dow. He said he
was aud surrendered. We went back
to Mrs. Cages, where Simms and
Berkeley we're guarding their prisons
ers. All mounted, and as we rode
rapidly away we heard the long roll
beating in the Federal camp. One of
the prisoners had no saddle, and as
we were going at full speed he fell and
was badly hurt. General Dow said
his neck was broken, but Petty re.
vived him with cooked pistol. He
remounted with saddle and we gal
Hoped on. | will state here that Gen
eral Dow had on linen buster when
captured, and was lamenting the fact
that he would have to appear before
our General 10 that guise. | gave him
bis uniform coat, which | had, and be
thanked me kindly. While stopping
for breakfast at Mr. McNeeley's, an
uncle of Bragg McNeeley, Bragg took
the Generals watch, but when Dow
said the watch was given him by his
father 80 years ago, returned it, saying
he would not take it for anything 10
the world. la the afternoon VIC stop
ped and divided the spoils into six
parts by lot. His horse, a very fine
one, fell to John Petty, of Camden,
Ark, his pistols aud holsters TO John
B.Simms; his sword to John McEwen;
his saddle and bride TO w. II. Me
dearis; the guards horse and pistols to
Berkely and McNeeley. We turned
our prisoner over to Brigadier Gen
eral John l.. Logan, OF Camden, Ark,
and | understood that he was ex-
changed for General JEFF Thompson,
of Missouri.
| have tried faithfully to make a
truthful statement Of this affair, and
to do justice to all parties. If have
failed 1t is a fault Of the head and not
Of the heart, and would be pleased to
hear from others who took part in the
moonlight ride twenty years ago.