Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-10-01
surrounding the. Unsuspecting Camp
Under the Cover of Night.
Especial Dispatch to the Enquirer,l

WAsHfNaroN, D. c., September Is.
The many untruthful accounts
which have appeared in print from
time to time concerning the capture of
Mr.. jefferson Davis seem to call for
an official statement of the circum-
stances surrounding that event. in or
der to effectually silence the many
would-be historians. The disguise
worn by Mr.. Davis at the time of his
capture is now in the hands of general
r. G. Drum, Adjutant- General United
States Army, who guards the articles
with jealous care, and allows no one to
know where they are secreted. The
disguise consists simply Of "a lady's
waterproof and very costly shawl,
which it is said was wrapped around
the Confederate Presidents head
when captured. Lieutenant. Colonel
Pritchard, who apprehended Mr.. Davis
in his fight and conducted HIM to
General N. A. Miles at Fort Monroe,
Va, made the following official report
Immediately after turning over his
prisoner, which has been secured by
the Enquirer representative from the
War Department in order to set at
rest all controversy on the subject:
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH MICH. CAV. DIET.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 25, 1865.
Hon. E. M. Stanton. Secretary of
War, Washington, D. C.-Sr: I
have the honor to report that in
obedience to orders received from
Colonel R. H. G.. Minty, comman ling
Second Division Cavalry Corps, M. D.
M., / left Macon, Ca, at eight o'clock
p. M, on the 7th inst, in command of
the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, with
numerical strength Of (4l9) four hun
dred and nineteen enlisted men and
(20) twenty commissioned officers,
with directions to move down the
south bank OF the Ocmulgee River,
from seventy-five to one hundred
miles, to take possession of all ferries
below Hawkinsville, picket the river
as far as the strength Of my regiment
would permit, and to scout the country
on both sides Of the river, for the pur-
pose Of capturing Jefferson Davis and
party, who were reported to have LEFT
Washington, Ga, on the morning of
the 4th inst, travelling nothward, with
an intention OF crossing the Ocmulgee
River at some point between Howkins-
vile and Jacksonville; or to capture
any other parties who might be fee.
ing from Richmond in that direction.
I marched the command all night
and until s o'clock d. m. Of the 8th
inst, having marched thirty-six miles,
when ! halted five hours, rested and
fed my command. Moving on again
at o'clock p. M, marched fifteen
miles further, and encamped for the
night three miles below Hawkinsville,
having marched distance of fifty-one
VII miles inside Of twenty-four hours,
iaclunding ell halts.
At 5 q. m. Of the 9th inst. moved
my command out in the direction Of
Nbbeville, which place / reached at
5o'tl0ck p. H., and where I discovered
the FIRST traces OF the object Of our
search. Here I learned that train
OF twelve wagons and two ambulances
(as reported) had crossed the Ocmul-
gee River at Browns Ferry, one and
. half miles above Abbeville, about
twelve o'clock on the previous night
and stopped at Abbeville long enough
70 feed their animals, and moved on
again before daylight in the direction
of Irwinsville.
( meet the Lieutenant. Colonel Of
the First Wisconsin Cavalry Hinton, /.
Delievel who informed me that he,
with force Of seventy men, was fol.
lowing on the track Of the train, and
that his men were from one to two
hours In advance.
AS Colonel Hinton had ample force
to cope with that supposed to be with
tho train, 1 dec,ded not to 90 the same
road with him. and continued on my
course three miles further down the