Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-16
CAPTURE or JEFF. DAVIS.
The Ex-Presideni Describes it-tscrIsT a ge-
mnncer anG Faisifier.

mnncer anG Faisifier.
BEAUvoIR, MISS, Sept. Q, 1885.
To the Editor Of the Herald:
On my return after protracted alb
sence from home ] received slip from
your journal, which enclose for greater
convenience IN noticing its contents
lNDIANAPoIIs, ND, August 1G,
lSS5.-At the recent reuniors Of the
veterans OF the Fourth Indiana cavalry
in this city Lieutenant 1sgrigg. Of the
command. who was provost marshal at
Macon, Ga, at the time OF the capture
Of Jefferson Davis, related the circlm-
stances Of the capture. He described
his participation IL this affair a. follows
- ] went out to the line of my jurisdIc-
ton TO receive Davis. Two miles and a
half from Macon he became my prisoner.
and ] brought him to the city in an old
larm-wagon. ii was vehicle with q
great deal 10 condemn il IN the way of
unsightlIness. it had weaknesses all
over It, but sufficient strength to hold
Jefferson Davis. myself, and his secre-
tary. The rebel chief sat between us,
and over his head. from a pole fixed to
the seat hung the hoop-skirt, calico
wrapper. and IN old straw hood which
formed his disguise when captured"
$50 JEFF was disguised ="
Yes. II Is no use to question the
fact. 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 al the lntcrns-
tisnal Hotel. and were about to get out
Of the wagon. Captain Thompson. Of
the Fourth Indiana cavalry, drew MS
revolver TO fire at Davis. ] saw his
movement. struck the weapon with my
arm. and the bullet tore my coat and
shirt. At the moment Davis. seeing
Thompson purpose, cried out. or
0UA = pant AsiihttAAN4Ass " AAAi
] got the prisoner out OF the wagon and
into the hotel with . good deal Of alac-
rity.
After that ] met Davis at the
Louisville Hotel il 1872, when he re-
cognized me. and. approaching. said
g J must thank you again. Lieutenant
lsgrigg. for saving ny life We had
quite chat about the way then. Before
this ! had received letter OF thanks
from him. He was my prisoner eight
DAYS. together with his wife. daughter.
and the commissary Of his guard. These
three we took into Macon n an old
family carriage. JEFF. was not suiky
as o prisoner. hut one could see that
the breaking Of the Coulederacy bore
Oh MS thoughts
Though accustomed 10 see slanderous
IL regard 10 myself. J have
read this with no little surprise. be-
cause OF the total absence OF any FONDA
uon OF pretext on winch 10 build the
fiction. avail myself of your usual
courtesy IL asking you TO publish this
sey1G'tm reiutatlon Of the several state
ments OF Tire story.
i is not true as stated. that / was
turned over TO the custody Of one Lieu
tenant lsgrigg Two and half miles .or
any other distance from Macon. The
troops by whom ] was captured re
NAMED my guard to Macon. and a de-
tachnent OF them accompanied me TO
I ortress Monroe II charge Of their own
officers.
Equally untrue Is it that ! rode with
the said lsgrigr and my secretary ,of
with any one else IN an old farm
wagon" Ny private secretary, Bur
ton \. Harrison. Esq, now member
Of the bar Of New York. was captured
with me. and rode Oh horseback to Ma
con. ] had for several DAYS occupied
al ambulance with ny wife and chill
dren, and rode into Macon IN Il,
There was no such cowardlv attempt
20 offer insult TO me a. would have been
shown BIZ hanging over nv head the
articles OF clothing which lscrigg falsely
AYERS ] had worn at the time Of my
capture Nor did my captors obtain a.
he time Of my capture the hool.-skir,.
&C., which lsgrigg describes, unless
they were found among the apparel
taken when the trunks Of my wife and
her female servant were pillaged.
On our arrival al the hotel III Macon
g small body Of troops IL front OF the
were at open ranks. facing H.
ward. When ] got out Of the ambu-
lance 10 enter the hote. they presented
AIMS while passed through. and ! re-
ceiyed the salute a. an expression OF
the feeling brave men show TO fallen
foe.
The story OF -' Captain Thompson.
Of The our;h Indiana cavalry" a.
tempting 10 shoot me a. J entered the
Macon hotel Is wholly fictitious. and
leave II to that regiment itself to repel
The Imputaton that one OF It's officers
would have been guilty OF so dastardly
an assault on q prisoner.
Upon that falsehood the narrator
hangs another. that ! met him al the
Louisville Hotel in 1872. recognized
him, and renewed thanks 10 hin ior
saving my life, and that ! had Prev
ouslv written a letter Of thanks 70 him.
] have not been IN the Louisviil,
Hotel since the war do no.
remember ever 10 have seen or heard
Of tins Lieutenant lsgrigg at any time
o. place. and II Is not true that, ., hs
alleges. ] was eight days II ms custody
OF that have ever written TO hlm a
letter OF thanks. / remained II Macon
but few hours. and wa sent forwar-
To Fortress Monroe the evening Of the
nay of NY arrival there.
Yours respectfully.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Eeportcr sns. by 4 ~ oman.