The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-14
CAPTURE OF JEFF DAVIS.
Statement of the Case by Captain John III.
Thompson, of Fourth Indiana Cayalay.

Statement of the Case by Captain John III.
Thompson, of Fourth Indiana Cavalay.
Unavoidable circumstances have prevented me
from contradicting, at an earlier date, the state
ments credited to Lieutenant Harry Isgrigg,
formerly of the Fourth Indiana Cavalry, which
appeared in September last, concerning the cap
ture of Jefferson Davis, and | respectfully re-
quest that you will allow me space to correct
some of those statements, as they should not be
permitted to go uncontradicted.
In the first place, Isgrigg was not provost mar
shall at Macon at the time Davis was captured,
nor at any other time or place during the war.
No superior officer, who knew Isgrigg, would
have placed him in any such position of respon-
slblllty, as he was not only unreliable and I'M
trustworthy, but on one occasion was reduced to
the ranks and disgraced before his regiment for
gross cowardice.
The statement that Davis was brought into
Macon by Isgrigg in a farm wagon is a falsehood
made out of whole cloth. purely and simply. 1
have never seen IL eQualed for unblushing falsity.
AS is well known to the country. Jefferson Davis
was captured by the Fourth Michigan Cavalry
or rather a detachment of that regiment-under
the ommand of Lieutenant Pritchard, and
Isgrlgg had no more to do with his capture than
1.-THE man in the moon," and ISgrigg knows it.
My recollection is that when Davis was brought
into Macon, and was taken to headquarters at
the International Hotel, Isgrigg was not even
present, but was in camp outside the city limits.
The most unblushing falsehood of all is the
bSHhN Via WINCH We OtOpPOU az Nv v
national Hotel, and were about to get out of the
wagon, Captain Thompson (meaning the writer
of this articleh of the Fourth Indiana Cavalry,
drew his revolver to fire at Davis" A more I'M
justifiable falsehood was never uttered in the
same number of words. 1t is true, ] was pres
ent as Nh. Davis assembled the steps, standing
perhaps within five or six feet of him,
bat the idea of trying or attempting
to shoot him. never entered my head, nor do |
believe it was thought of by any soldierpresent.
AS Davis, his wife and private secretary ascend
ed the steps through the open ranks of the sol
diers present, the soldiers faced inward and pre-
sented arms, to which Mr.. Davis lifted his hat in
recognition of the compliment. AS he entered
the hotel, he turned partially around, and again
elevated his hat, and then passed out of sight,
and | saw him no more.
This is quite enough to to refute the willfui
falsehood that Davis, seeing Thompson's pur-
pose, cried out: For Gods sake, Lieutenant,
save my life" Not a word was uttered to, nor
by, Mr.. Davis as he entered the hotel, nor WAS
there any mark of disrespect exhibited by any
one toward him, but the demeanor of the sol
diers present was that of men who felt they
were con luerors and Mr.. Davis a conquered ad-
versary. l repel with indignation the imputa-
ton that any soldier of the Fourth Indiana Cav
airy excepting, possibly, Lieutenant Isgrige)
would have been guilty of such base cowardice
as that sought to be fastened on me by the false
utterances of Harry Isgrieg.
JOHN FL. THOMPSON,
Late Captain Company B, Fourth Indiana Cav
airy.
AURORA, Ind, Oct. IL.