Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-10
From the Macon Telegraph.


The interest aroused in the story of the
capture of Mr.. jefferson Davis, ex-Presi-
dent of the Confederacy, by recent mis-
representations of that event, recalls to
my mind the day upon which he entered
Macon.
May Is, 1865. 1t seems a long time ago,
and although but twenty years have
passed since that day, its events are haZy
even in the brightest of memories. At
that time ! was just ten years old. My
father lived in the house on the Houston
road, now owned by Col. W. A. Lotion.
To the left Of the house large part of
Gen. Wilson's army was encamped, and
a still larger part had pitched its tents to
the right.
Early in the morning Of that historic
daY ] observed an unusual cOmmotiOn
among the officers encamped on the left.
! was in the habit of wandering among
their tents, and with some Of the officers
l boosted q close acquaintance. l re-
member especially a certain tall Captain
Jones, who gave me the first paper collar
/ ever wore. He was a man of great van
fly, and was fond OF burdening mis- ac-
quaintances with photographs OF himself
1 remember that used to nail those that
he gave me TO tree, and fire at them with
an old army pistol which hoy in blue"
had presented TO me.
1t was from Captain Jones that
learned the cause of the commotion
among the officers.
"Bud," be said, as | wandered into his
tent, Twelve caught your greatest man."
had a short time before heard Blind
Tom play the piano and initiate stephen
4. Douglass speeches, and to me he was
the greatest man IN the universe.
"Have you caught Blind TomY' 1
anxious.y inquired. "Will you kill him,
or win you sent him up North to work in
barber shOpW
quzzical expression spreading over his
face. Then ne laughed.
"No, Bud, not Blind Tom," he said;
"we'ye caught greater man than Blind
Tom. Can't you guess his name"
! could not, because knew no man
greater than the blind negro musician.
"Well," said Capt. Jones, we've
caught old Jeff Davis, and We are going
TO hang him on a sour apple tree"
/ was amazed. knew that Mr.. Davis
was the President Of the ConiedeTacy, and
had been taught 20 speak Of him with
the reverence due saint. / WIS made
speechless by Capt. Jones' irreverence,
and, without a word, ] walked oat of the
tent and went home.
NV father was away at the time, he and
Senator 4 fired lyersOn having gone into
the nelghborhood OF Fort Valley with
some horses which they hoped to save
from the clutches Of the Federal soldiers.
l found my mother In the parlor, talking
to Mr.. Samuel Goode, now OF Atlanta.
"Mother," | said, "the Yankees have
caught President Davis"
She said nothing for some minutes, aud
sat silently staring at me, her hands lying
listlessiy in her lap
Mr.. GOode asked II was sure that the
President bad been caught.
eyes" said, Capt. Jones, the man
that gives me paper collars and photo
graphs, told me 80 little while ago"
"'rhe Confederacy mas fallen, tnen,"
said my mother. land the blood OF the
south has been shed for nothing"
Tears began 10 fall from her eyes, and
she sought her room, from which she did
not emerge until late in the day.
Mr.. GoOde went over TO Col. John Ruth
erfords house, just across the road, 70 tell
him the news.
/ went back among the tents and had
another interview with Capt. Jones.
From him learned that Mr.. Davis would
pass our house in the afternoon, on his
way into Macon
Immediateiy after dinner, one OF nv
sisters and went over 10 the "big gate"
and perched ourselves upon the tops OF
the posts. After awhile party OF hand
somely mounted officers dashed from the
encampment on the left and rode rapidly
toward Tobesofkee creek. Within an
hour, perhaps, my sister aud beheld a
glittering cavalcade coming slowly up
the road. In its midst, literally sur
rounded by bayonets, was common ar
my ambulance, In which were seated Mr..
Davis, another gentleman, and a lady,
and. perhaps some one else. ] cannot
now remember Mr.. Davis and The gen.
ueman we're conYersing uncOncernedly,