Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-18
CAPTURE OF JEFFERsoN DAVIS
Thsex-Pzsssdent of the Southern Con
federaey Describes 1t.
BEAUvoIR, MISS, Sept. 8, 1885

fsderaey Describes 1t.
BEAUvoIR, MISS, Sept. 8, 1885.
/ EDITOR NeU York Herald.
On my return after proHacted absence
from home 1 received slip from your
journal, which enclose for greater con.
Yenience in noticing its contents:
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., Aug. l6, lss5.-At the
recent reunion OF the veterans OF the Fourth
indiana cavalry In THIS city Lieut.. lsgrigg, OF
the command, who was Provost Marshal at
macon. Ga, at the time Of the capture OF JEFF
ter-on Davis, related the circumstances Of the
capture. lie descr bel his participation in
tins affair AS follows: II went out to the line
oil my jurisdiction 60 receive Davis. Two miles
and half from Macon he became my prisoner
ana brought him t. The city in an old farm
wagon. IL was a vehicle with great deal tn
condemn II in the way OF uusIghtliDess. It
had weaknesses al over it, but sufficient
strength to mold jefferson Davis, myself and
MS secretary. The rebel chief sat between
US, anu over his head, from pole liked to the
seat, hung the hoopssirt, calico wrapper and
an old straw hood, which formed his disguise
when captured
80 JEFF was dsguised?"
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 a
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 no.
tel, and were about to get out OF the wagon,
Capt. Thompson, Of the Fourth Indiana cav
airy drew his revolver to fire at Davis. |
saw his movement. struck the weapon with
my arm, and the bullet tore my coat and
snlrt. AT the moment DAVIS. seeing Thomp-
sons purpose, cried out, For Gods sake,
Lieutenant, save my life" / got the pris
oner out of the wagon and into the hotel with
good deal OF alAcrty.
after that met Davis at the Louisville
hotel IN 1873, when he recognized me, and,
approaching, said: i must thank you
again Lieut.. Isgrsg, for saving my life
We had quite a chat about the war then.
Before this | hai received letter Of
thanks from him. lie was my prisoner eight
days, together with his wife, daughter and
the eommissary Of his guard. These three we
! took into Macon in an old family carriage.
Jen was not sulky az prisoner. but one could
see that the breaking of the Coufederacy bore
grlevonsly on his thoughts"
Though accustomed to see slanderous
publications 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 seriatim refu-
tatiOn of the several statements of the
story.
1t is not true, as stated, that l was
turned over to the custody OF one Lieut..
Isgrigg two and half miles Cor any other
distance) from Macon. The troops by
whom was captured remained my guard
to Macon, and a detachment Of them &C
companied me to Fortress Monroe in
charge of their own officers.
Equally untrue is it that l rode with the
said IsgriUg and my secretary, or anyone
else, in san old farm wagon" NV private
secretary, Burton n. Harrison, Esq, now
a member Of the bar of New York, was
with me, and rode on horseback to
Macon. / had for several days occupied
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 hanging over my head the
articles of clothing which Isgrigg falsely
AYERS | had worn at the time Of my cap
ture. 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 her female servant
were pillaged.
On our arrival at the hotel in Macon a
small body of troops in front of the en-
trance 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
| as an expression of the feeling brave men
show to fallen foe.
The story OF "Capt.sThOmpson, Of the
Fourth Indiana cavalry" attempting to
shoot me as l entered the Macon hotel is
wholly fictitious, and l leave it to that
regiment itself to repel the lmputation
that one of its officers would have been
| guilty OF so dastardly an assault on a
! prisoner.
Upon that falsehoOd the narrator hangs
another, that met him at the Louisville
hotel, in 1872, recognized him and re-
newed thanks to him ''for saving my
lite,' and thar L had previously written
a letter of thanks to him. | have not been
in the Louisville hotel since the war. do
not remember ever to have seen or
heard OF this Lieut.. Isgrigg at any time
or place, and it is not true that, as he al
leges, i was eight days in his custody, or
that have ever written to him a letter OF
thanks. | remained in Macon but a few
| hours, and was sent forward to Fortress
Monroe the evening OF the day OF my ar
rival there. Yours respectfully,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.