Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-10-13
CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The Ex-President Of the late Con-
federaoy Rsfut,s Some False
Statements Made by an
Indiana Soldier.
New York Herald.l

BEAUVoIR, MISS, SEPT. y, 1000
To the Editor ofthe Herald: On my |
return after a protracted absence from
home received slip from your
Journal, which l enclose for greater
convenience in noticing its contents
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Aug. IL, 1883.
At the recent reunion of the vete-
rams of the Fourth Indiana cavalry,
in this city, Lieut. Isgrigg,ofthe COM
mand, who was Provost Marshal at
Macon, Ga, at the time Of the capture
of Jefferson Davis, related the circum-
stances of the capture. lie described
his participation in this affair as fol-
lows: IL went out to the line of my
jurisdiction TO receive Davis. Two
miles and a half from Macon lie be-
came my prisoner, and | brought
him to the city in an old farm wagon.
1t was II vehicle with great deal to
condemn it in its way of msligltli-
ness. 1t had weakness all over il,
but sufficient strength to hold Jetier-
son Davis, myself and his Secretary.
The rebel chief sat between us, and
over his head, from pole fixed TO
the seat, hung the hoop-skirt, calico
wrapper and all old straw hood, which
formed his disguise when captured"
So jeff Davis was disguised p
"Yes it is 10 use TO question tho
fact. The articles of his costume
hung from that pole. Davis bore
himself with the fortitude of a brave
man in trouble. lie 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 lnterna-
tiOnal Hotel, and were about to get
out of the wagon, Capt, Thompson,
of the Fourth Indiana cavalry, drew
his revolver TO fire at Davis. | saw
the movement, struck the weapon
with my arm, and the bullet tore my
coat and skirt. At the moment, Da-
Wis, seeing Thompson's purpose, cried
out, "For Gods sake, Lieutenant,
save my life" got the prisoner
out Of the wagon and into the hotel
with good deal Of alacrity.
"AiIer that | met Davis at the
Louisville Hotel in 1872, " hen lie rec
ogniaed me, and approaching, said :
Il must thank You again. Lieut.. Is
grigg, for saving my life" We bad
quite chat about the war then. Be-
fore this l had received a letter Of
thanks from him. lie was nv pris-
omer eight days, together with wife,
daughter and the commissary of his
guard. These three we took into
Macon in an old family carriage. jeff
was not sulky as prisoner, but Que
could SEQ that the breaking of the
Confederacy bore grievously on his
thoughts"
Though accustomed to see SANDER.
Gus publications in regard TO myself
have read this with no little sur.
prise, because of the total absence OF
any foundation or pretext on which
10 build the fiction. avail myself 81
your usual courtesy in asking you tC
publish this seriatim refutation Of tho
several statements of the story.
1t is not true, as stated, that | was
turned over to the custody of ont
Lient. Isgrigg two and half miles
(or any other distance) from Macon
The troops by whom | was captured
remained my guard to Macon, and !
detaihmcnt Of them accompanied in'
TO Fortress Monroe in charge Of theii
own officers.
Equally untrue is it that I rod
with the said Isgrigg and my secre
tary (or with anyone else) in San ole
farm wagon" My private secretar.
Burton N. Harrison, now membe
of the bar Of New York, was captured
with me, and rode on horseback {,
Macon. had for several days occu
pied an ambulance with my wife ant
children, and rode into Macon in il
There was 10 such cowardly at
tempt 10 offer insult to me as woult
have been shown by hanging overm,
head The articles of clothing whicl
Isgrigg falsely AYERS l had worn a
the time ofmy capture. Nor did N,
/ captors obtain at the time of my cap
, ture the hoop-skirts, etc, which Is
grigg describes, unless they wer
found among the apparel taken whol
the trunks of my wife and her !emal
servants were pillaged.
, On our arrival at the hotel in Ma
con small body oftroops in front o
tile entrance were at open ranks fac
!. ing inward. When | got out of tn
, ambulance 10 enter the hotel they pre-
! sentcd arms while l passed through
/ and lreceiyed the salute as an EXPIRES
sion of the courtesy brave men shoy
, 10 fallen foe.
|. The story of "Capt. Thompson, o
the fourth Indiana cavalry" attempt
ing to shoot me as | entered the Ma
con hotel, is wholly fictitious, and
+ leave it TO the regiment itself to rept
= the imputation that one Of its officer
\ would have been guilty Of so bastard
= ly an assault on prisoner.
, Upon that falsehood the narratc
hangs another, that met him at til
I Louisville Hotel, in 1872, recognize
him and renewed thanks to him "fc
!, saving my life," and that | had pre-
q viously written letter of thanks I
:, him. l have not been in the Loui,
Vile Hotel since the war; | do M
remember ever to have seen or hear
of this Lieut.. Isgrigg at any time {
4