The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-08-31
EHE CAPrUua OF JEFFERSON
DAVIS.
n Hye Witness Describes His Recep-
tion In the Federal Campat


DALLAS, Aug. % = Editor HER.
ALDl-I happened to be in Ma
con, Georgia, in the summer of
1865, and remember the reception cf
President Davis in the Federal camp
as wildly as If it had occurred yester-
day. That city had been captured by
General w. II. Wilson, who com
manded cavslry and artillery force
of 1900 men about one month previ-
ously. We suspected at tho time that
anoted Polander, who was quarter
master in the Confederate service, gave
General Wilson the information that
MIR. Davis and his party had crossed
the Oconce river 100 miles below, At
any event, General Wilsoa knew from
some source Or another the route be,
Ing Travelled by the Confederate chief,
or the Fourth Iowa marched direct
from Macon to il aud captured him.
On the morning OF the ARRIVAL /
rode out to tho residence of Colonel
John Rutherford, Two miles from the
city, and there awaited the prisoners,
not without feeling some alarm, for
the Federal troops had often been
heard to threaten TO kill him on sight,
NhltO biAb uOusBs On INC iltl-
mediate roadside, Mrs. Rutherford
presented me with q beautiful bouuet,
In 4 little while after, noticed great
oommotien down the road, and saw
Federal soldiers leaving their camps
ana running toward the road. | got
on my horse, rode forward, and di. !
rectly met line of four or five ambu. |
lances, upon either side OF which was |
an almost solid line OF cavalry, armed !
with carbines, pistols and sabres. !
Riding to the colonel, asked: sin |
which ambulance Is Mr.. DsVis?" "In |
that one ahead with the curtains down !
all around" he replied. Going for
ward until l could look back into the |
ambulance, saw and recognized Mrs.
Davis on the front OF one Of tao omui-
bus shaped seats. 1impuisivalJ ana
unChoughtedly threw the boquet Mrs.
Rutherford had given me, to hor, and
was glad to see it fall in her lao. [
only had time 10 zee her bow and
smile, for trooper hgG his carbine by
my head and demanded to know
what meant. "Ohl only littlo gsl-
lantry, 10 ALL" "Get away from here,
or I'll blow your blank brains out.D /
was glad enough 10 get away instead OF
getting the contents OF his gun.
l will never forget the pale and care
worn look Of Mrs. Davis, nor the
bright countenanc0g of her little
children who were, child like, crowd
ing 10 the frontof the vehicle, the cur
tains 5beiRg closely drawn, and that
being their only way TO look out. Mr.,
Davis sat back 40 he could not be
seen.
We thus moved along al walk for
over two miles right through the Fed
eral camp, and with perhaps 5000 SOL
diers gathered along the road. To
their credit, be IL said, there was not
cheer, not q jeer, not word spoken by
them which could be heard ia that am
bulance. At no time was farther than (
20 steps from it, but little to the rear
OF my angry friend friend now, but I
enemy them the trooper.
Arriving at tho Lanier House, Null
berry street, then saw Mr.. Davis for
the first time, as he was getting out Of {
the rear end OF his ambulance, and,
Offering his arm to his wife, and hand
TO one OF his children, they went up
the steps and TO room, and until they /.
were taken to the train that night and
started to Fortress Monroe, no one was
allo u ed to hold any conversation with
MIN or any member OF his family.
There IL not one sc!ntilla OF truth In
the story that mis- lie was attempted
on that occasion, iof there was not
even an insult offered.
II. O. STEvENsoN.