The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-16
THE CAPTURE OF JEFF DAVIS.
The Old Man Rises and Denies ALI the State
ments of Lieutenant Isgrigg.

To the Editor of the New York Herald:
On my return after "a protracted absence from
home, received slip from your journal, which
| inclose for greater convenience in noticing its
contents
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Aug. Is. 1885-At the
recent reunion of the veterans of the Fourth
Indiana Cavalry. In this city, Lieutenant Isgrgg.
OF the command, who was provost marshal at
Macon Ga. at the time of the capture of Jeffer
son Davis, related the circumstances of the cap
ture. He described his participation in the affair
as foilows 1 went out to the line of my juris-
dlction to receive Davis. Two miles and half
from Macon he became my prisoner, and
Drought him to the city in an old farm wagon.
1t was vehicle with great deal to condemn it
IN the way of unsightliness. It had weaknesses
all over it. but sufficient strength to hold Jeffer
son Davis, myself and his secretary The rebel
ch!e1 sat between us, and over his head, from a
pole hxed to the seat hung the hoop skirt, calico
wrapper and an old straw hood, which formed
his disguise when captured"
$50 jeff was disguised?"
Yes. 1t is no use to question the fact The
articles OF his costume hung from that pole.
Davis bore himself with the fortitude of brave
man In trouble He was courteous to me and to
the guard; talked freely on every question but
that relating to the result of the war.
when we stopped at the International Hotel,
and were about to get out of the wagon Captain
Thompson of the Fourth Indiana Cavalry, drew
his revolver to fire at Davis. I saw his move
ment, struck the weapon with my arm, and the
bullet tore my coat and shirt. AT the moment
Davis, seeing Thompsons purpose, cried out,
For Gods sake, lieutenant save my life" got
the prisoner out of the wagon and into the hotel
with good deal of alacrity
After that l met Davis at the Louisville
Hotel in 1872, where he recognized me, and ap-
preaching said: must thank you again,
Lieutenant Isgrigg, for saving my life We had
quite chat about the war then. Before this
had received letter of thanks from him. He
was my prisoner. eight days, together with his
These three we took into Macon in an old
family carriage. jeff was not sulky as prisoner,
but one could see that the breaking of the Con-
federacy bore grievously on his thoughts"
Though accustomed to see slanderous pubica-
tons in regard to myself, have read this with
no little surprise, because of the total absence of
any foundation or pretext on which to build the
fiction avail myself of your usual courtesy in
asking you to publish this seriatm refutation of
the several statements of the story.
1t is not true: as stated, that was turned over
to the custody of one Lieutenant Isgrigg, two
and half miles Tor any other distance) from
Macon. The troops by whom / was captured
remained my guard to Macon and detachment
of them accompanied me to Fortress Monroe in
charge OF their own officers.
Equally untrue is it that rode with the said
!sgrlgg and my secretary Tor with any one else)
IN IAN old fam wagon" My private secretary,
Burton N. Harrison, now member OF the bar
of New York, was captured with me, and rode on
horseback to Macon. / had for several days oc-
cupied an ambulance with my wife and children
and rode into Macon in it.
There was no such cowardly attempt to offer
insult to me as would have been shown by hang
ing over my head the articles of clothing which
lSgrigg falsely AYERS | had worn at the time of
my capture. Nor did my captors obtain at the
time of my capture the hoopskirt, ETC., which
Isgrigg describes unless they were found among
the apparel taken when the trunks of my wife
and female servant were pillaged. On our
arrival at the hotel in Macon a small body of
troops In front of the entrance were at open
ranks, facing inward. When | got out of the
ambulance to enter the hotel they presented
arms while passed through, and received the
salute expression of the feeling brave men
show to fallen foe.
The story of Captain Thompson. of the
Fourth Indiana Cavalry" attempting to shoot
me as / entered the Macon hotel is wholly ficti-
tious, and leave it to that regiment itself to
repe the imputation that of its officers would
have been guilty of SO dastardly an assault on a
prisoner
Upon that charge the narrator hangs another;
that met him at the Louisville Hotel in 1872
recognized him and renewed thanks to him ''for
saving my life, and that had previously writ
ten a letter of thanks to him. I have not been
In the Louisville Hotel since the war; do not
remember ever to have seen or heard of this
Lieutenant Isgrigg at any time or place. and it
is not true that as he alleges. was eight days
in his custody, or that have ever written to
him letter of thanks 1 remained at Macon
but few hours, and was sent forward to Fort
ress Monroe the evening of the day of my arrival
there. Yours respectfully. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
BEAUvoIR, Miss, Sept g. 1885.
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