Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-26
THE CAPTURE OF JEFF DAVIS.
His Private Secretary's Account Of the
Affair.

| Burton n. Harrison, jefferson Davis's pri-
vale sccrelary, who was an eyewitness Of
the Confederate Presidents capture. describes
| it in the November century as follows !:
I'VE were taken by surprise, and not one Of
us exchanged shot with the enemy. Col.
Johnston tells me he was the first prisoner
taken. In moment, Col. Prtchurd rode
directly to me and, pointing across the creek,
said, what does that mean? Have YOU any
men with your Surprising the firing was
done by our teamsters, replied, of course
we have-dont you hear the firing 2 H.,
seemed to be Dettled at the reply, gave the
order, charge and boldly led the way him
self across The creek, nearly every man in
his command following. Our camp was
thus left deserted for few minutes,
except by one mounted soldier near
| Mrs. Davis's tent (who was after
ward said to have been stationed there
by Colonel Pritchard in passing) and by the
lew troopers who stopped to plunder our
| wagons. l had been sleeping upon the same
SIDE OF the road with the tent occupied by Mrs.
paws, and was then standing very near it.
LOOKING there, saw ner come out and heard
her say something to the soldier mentioned /;
perceiving she wanted him to move oil, /
approached and actually persuaded the fel-
low 10 ride away. AS the soldier moved into
the road, and walked beside his horse, the
president emerged for the first time from the
tent ~ the side farther from US, and walked
away into The woods 10 the eastward, and nj
| right angles to the road.
PRESENTLY looking around and observing
| somebody had cone out of the tent. The
soldier turned his horses head and, reaching
the spot he had first occupied, was again an.
preached by Mrs. Davis, who engaged him
~ conversation In a minute, this trooper
was joined by one or perhaps two of bis
comrades, who either had Jagged behind the
eoiuuin ana were Just coming up The road,
or hau at that moment crossed over from the
other (the west side, where few of them
mad fallen TO pundering, as have stated,
instead OF charging over the creek. They
remained on horseback, and soon became
violent In their language with Mrs. Davis.
ne oruer 10 halt was called out by one
Vi mem 10 the president. /. was not
oDeyed, and was quickly repeated in loud
voice several times. At last one of the
men threatened to frs, ard pointed car.
pine at the president Thereupon, Mrs.
DAVIS, overcome with terror, cried out in
apprehension, and tho president (who had
now walked 10 or so PAGES away into the
unrestricted woods turned around and
came BACK rapidly to his wife near the tent.
Az least one OF the soldiers continued his
president reproached him for such conduct
10 her' when one of them, seeing the face of
the president, as he stood near and was talk.
ing, said, MIR. Davis, surrender | recog-
nlze you, SIR Pictures of the president
were SO common that nearly or quite every
man In both armies knew his face.
~ was as yet. scarcely daylight.
>, The president had on waterproof cloak.
lie had used il, when riding, as a protection
against the rain during the night aud morn
ing preceding that last halt and he had
probably been sleeping in that cloak at the
moment when the camp was attacked.
NJ, while all these things were happening,
bliss Howell aud the children remained with. |
In tho other tent. TIE gentlemen of our
party had, with the single exception of Capt. |
Moody, all slept on the west side of the road |
ana IN or near the wagons. They were, so |
Iar as Know, paying no attention to what |
was gong on at the tents. have since talk
ca with Johnston, Wood and Lubbock, and
WIN others, about these matters and
nave h not found there was any one except
Mrs Davis, the single trooper at her tent.
ana myself, who saw all that occurred aud
neard all that was said at the time ANY
one else who gives an account of il has had
g reply upon he r:ay or his im"gl-s ioa fcr
ais story,