The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-23
Another Lie Nailed, and Mr. Davis
Drives It home.
THE ISLANDERS AS TO HIS CAPTURE RE
FITTED.
BEAUvo1R, Mss, Sept. 9, 1885.


FUTED.
BEAUvoIR, Mss, Sept. 9, 1885.
To the Editor Of the New York Herald:
On my return after protracied absence
from home / received slip from your
journal, which / enclose for greater con-
venience in noticing its contents:
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Aug. 16.-At the
recent reunion OF the veterans of the Fourth
Indiana Cavalry, in this city, 1t. Isgrigg.
of the command, who was proves. mar
shall at Macon, Ga, at time of the capture
of Jefferson Davis, related the circum-
stances OF the capture. He described his
participation in this affair az follows: Il
went out to the line of my jurisdiction to
receive Davis. Two miles and bali
from Macon he became my prisoner, and
brought him 20 the city in an old farm
wagon. 1t was vehicle with great deal
10 condemn ii in the way of unsightliness.
1t had weaknesses all over it, but sufiicient
strength to hold Jefferson Davis, myself
and his secretary. The rebel chief sat be-
tween us, and over his head, from pole
fixed to the seat. hung the hoop skirt, cali
co wrapper and an old straw hood whie h
formed his disguise when captured.
$50 jeff Davis was disguised 2
Eyes. Ii is no use to question the TACT.
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, Capt Thompson of the Fourth In
| llama Cavalry drew his revolver to fire al
| Davis. | saw his movement, struck the
weapon with my arm, and the bullet tore
my coat and shirt. At the moment Davis
seeing Thompson's purpose, cried out
| For Gods sake, Lieutenant, save my
| lifep l got the prisoner out OF the Wagon
and into the hotel with a good deal o
alacrity."
| "After that I met Davis at the Louis
| vile Hotel in 1872, when he recognized
me, and approaching, said 81 must thanl
you again, Lieutenant Isgrigg, for savins
my life" We had quite chat about thu
war then. Before this / had received ;
| letter of thanks from him. He WAS N,
prisoner eight days, together with his wife
daughter and the commlssary OF his guard
| these three we took into Macon in an OLE
family carriage. jeff was not sulky as
prisoner, but we could see that the break
ing of the Confederacy bore previously oil
his thoughts
Though accustomed to see slanderou
publications in regard to myself, L hav
read this with no little surprise, becaus
Of the total absence Of any foundation o
pretext on which to build the fiction.
avail myself of your usual courtesy i
asking you to publish this seriatlm refuts
ton of the several statements OF the story
1t il not true, as stated, that was turne
over to the custody of one Lieut.. lsgrig
TWO and half miles (or any other di;
tance) from Macon. The troops by whor
was captured, remained my guard to Ma
con, and detachment of them accompar
led me to Fortress Monroe in charge {
their own officers.
Equally untrue is it that | rode wit
the said Isgrigg and my secretary Tor wit
any one else) in "an old farm wagon" u
private secretary, Burton y. Harrison
Esq, now a member of the bar of Ne
York, was captured with me, and rode o
horseback to Macon. | had, for sever;
days, occupied an ambulance with N
wife and children, and rode into Macon l
, it,.
|
offer insult to me as would have bee
shown by hanging over my head the art
cles of clothing which Isgrigg falsel
AYERS | had worn at the time OF my cal
ture. Nor did my captors obtain, at Il
lime of my capture, the hoopskirts, etc
which Isgrigg describes, unless they wei
found among the apparel taken when II
trunks of my wife and her female servan
, were pillaged.
On our arrival at the hotel in Macon
small body of troops in front OF the el
a trance was at open ranks, facing inwar
When / got out of the ambulance to emit
the hotel they presented arms while
'assed through, and | received the salu
AZ an expression of the feeling brave me
+ show to fallen foe
r The story of Capt. Thompson of Il
Fourth Indiana Cavalry" attempting
: shoot me as l entered the Macon hotel
{ | wholly fictitious, and / leave it to tn
! regiment itself to repel the imputation tn
one of its officers would have been gull
If so dastardly an assault on prisoner.
Upon that falsehood the narrator han
! | another, that | met him at the Louisvil
i Hotel in 1872, recognized him and renew'
hanks to him ''for saving my life" al
{ Tat | had previously written letter
i thanks to him. 1 have not been in Il
Louisville Hotel since the war. do n
remember ever to have seen or heard
: this Lieut.. Isgrigg at any time or plac
t and it is not true that, as he alleges,
o was eight days in his custody, OF that
have ever written to him letter OF thanh
;. remained at Macon but few hour
d md was sent forward to Fortress Monr
/ he evening of the day of my arriy
there. Yours respectfully,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.