Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-10-16
LIE.
How the Story Of Jefferson DAVIES
Disguise orlglnatsd.


Disguise Originated.
Macon GA Telegraph.
The recent revival Of the story that
Jefferson Davis, ex-President of the
ConfedeTacy was disguised in bis wife's
garments at the time Of his capture by
the Federal troops, probably caused
more interest in the matter to be
awakened In Macon than in any other
city in the Union. As Is well known,
Mr.. Davis was brought to this city i'm.
mediately after bis capture and deliv-
cred to Gen. Wilson, the Federal com
mander. The date Of his arrived in
Macon was the 18th of May, 1865.
Yesterday a Telegraph reporter met
a well-known Macon banker, one
whose long and honorable business
career has given him an enYiable posi-
ton among the most highly esteemed
residents Of the city, who was present
in Gen. Wilson's room in the Lanier
House when Mr.. Davis's arrival In the
city was announced.
In the course Of a conversation be-
tween the banker and the reporter the
story Of Mr.. Davis's disguise was men
toned.
II know the origin Of the story"
said the banker, "but l have never
mentioned it, because / did not wish
to have my name connected with a
matter about which so many widely
different statements have been made"
Give the facts to the Telegraph"
the reporter importuned, "and your
name will be suppressed"
Every well, l will do so under that
condition. OF course, if it becomes
necessary, l am perfectly willing to
~substantiate my story W my own
signature"
Together with perhaps twenty
others l was captured by Federal
troops twenty miles below Athens, in
the spring Of 1866. 1 was taken to
that city, where l prevailed upon the
officer in charge of the post to permit
me to return to Macon and report to
Gen. Wilson. / arrived in Macon on
the 18th Of May and went at once, to
Gen. Wilson's room in the Lanier
House to report. 1t was in the after
noon. He was surrounded by a num-
Der of officers, whose names l have
forgotten.
"Just al l entered the room two or
three Of the officers of the party that
had been sent out to capture Mi. Da-
Wis, also went in, and were received
by Gen. Wilson and his officers with
great cordiality. They gave a long
and interesting account of Mr.. Davis's
capture. l, in the mean time, stand
ing by unnoticed.
Zone of the officers who was with
the party that effected the capture had
in his hand a shawl and a hoop-skirt.
They attracted Gen. Wilson's attention,
and he asked the officer what he was
doing with them. "Why," said he,
when Davis wa captured he wore the
shawl, and the hoop-skirt was captured
with his wife's effects. l brought
them along as relics Of the capture"
"'Davis wore the shawl, did hep
Gen. Wilson said, 1t would be a great
joke if he had heen caught wearing the
hoop-skirt.' The officers all laughed
heartily at the imaginary picture of
Mr.. Davis in a hoop-skirt, and one Of
them remarked. why wouldn't it be a
good joke to say that he was wearing
1t when %capturedP' Gen. Wilson
laughed and said that it would be a
good joke, and that he was willing to
perpetrate 1t. 1t was then agreed
between Gen. Wilson and the
officers to say that Mr.. Davis was cap
tared while wearing his wife's gar
ments. Isupposed that the story was
intended purely as a joke, and thought
nothing more of it, until some time
after, when I saw it gravely stated In
the Northern papers that Mr.. Davis
was captured disguised in a females
garments.
"Was it seriously claimed by any of
the officers in Gen. Wilson's room
that Mr.. Davis was disguised when he
was captured ?"
II distinctly remember that it was
not. The officer who had the shawl
and the hoop-skirt told Gen. Wilson
that when Mr.. Davis was surprised, he
came out Of his tent wearing an old
dressing gown and looking like an old
woman. Was he really disguised
asked Gen. Wilson. 'Oh, no. the officer
replied, he was not disguised, but he
wore around his shoulders this shawl
remember, also, that something was
said about giving to the papers the
joke which was concocted about Mr..
Davis wearing his wife's garments.
l suppose that this was done, because,
as l have already said, the story was
soon published, by the Northern pa
pers."
The reporter was told that others
were alive who could substantiate the
story here related.
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