The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-04
WHERE DAVIS WAS CAPTURED.
A Visit to the Spot on Which He Camped for
the Last Time.

R. D. Lumsden, in Eastman tGal Letter.
Twice in the last two years have 1 visited the
spot where Mr.. Davis surrendered the last title
to the Confederacy, and | wish to correct some
errors and give some correct information in re-
gard to the capture, given me by reliable citizens
of Irwin county, who carried me to the spot and
pointed out the different positions of Mr.. Davis's
camp, and the positions of the two bodies of fed
era cavalry. / took notes at the time of my visit
to the heroic spot, but they are mislaid, and
shall write from memory. Mr.. Davis was cap
tured about two miles from lrwinville mot
Irwinton). the county seat of Irwin county, on
the road leading from Abbevllle, Wilcox county,
to Irwinvile, and about twenty-five miles from
the former place. Mr.. Davis and party crossed
the Ocmulgee near Abbeville, Wilcox county,
about twenty-five miles below Hawkinsville. at
a ferry called ''Poor Rc5ln's" About one
hundred yards above this ferry and in fifty or
seventy-fve yards of the river is a remarkable
spring. called Poor Robins" spring. / visited
1t when ice was on the shrubs between the
spring and Abbeville, yet the water was quite
warm, and the young man with me went in
bathing, and said he often did in winter.
The spring is quite large, twenty-five feet
square. and there flows quite large stream
from it 1t is said to have remarkable curative
qualities in skin diseases on man and beast 1t
is fact known to all old citizens that a horse
with scratches carried into the spring few
times Is soon cured.
From the ferry Mr.. Davis and party came by
Abbeville and took the road to Irwinville The
federal cavalry got track of the party at the
ferry or Abbeville. and there they divided, the
Michigan regiment taking one road and the
Wisconsin another. The party of cavalrymen
that took the river at House Creek
road after going some little distance
found out that Mr.. Davis had not gone that
road, so they left it and came toward Irwin
Vile This village although the county site,
contained only the courthouse, jail, one store
and two dwellings. Finding at the village that
Mr.. Davis had not passed, they then took the
road back to Abbevie.
Mr.. Davis and party were unconscious of being
so closely pursued, and when they came to
where one of those little piney woods branches
crosses the road and makes little pond above
the road, selected that place for a camp and
pitched their tents to the right Of the road on
the side of The road next to Irwinville. There
under the tall, waving pines flor there were no
oaks at that place., upon the green wire-grass,
which at that season covered the whole face Of
the country, tired and worn out, they lay down
to sleep.
There was only one house near Mr.. Daviss
camp between there and Irwinville. 1t was at
this house the party who came around by Irwin
vile learned where he was camped. / do not
| recollect whether it was the Michigan or Wiscon-
sin party. They approached near the camp. and
halted about day break or Just before the party
from the Irwinville side advanced. The party
from the Abbeville side, who were some three or
four hundred yards from the camp and perhaps
waiting for the attack, mistaking their own men
for confederates, commenced firing which was
mistake. Several men were killed, aud one or
two horses
Fright here" said my informant, "a fine mare
was killed." and, strange to state there is
clean place and grass growing there after so
many years There are great many pine trees
with places cut out of Them where relic hunters
have cut out the balls that were lodged in the
trees during the fight 1t is known as the jeff
Davis battle ground 1t is a fact that the two or
three large pines under which Mr.. Davis
camped have been struck by lightning
and are now dead. One was burned
down by one of the fires that periodically take
place in the wire-grass country. The old man
who lives near found. after all had left carbne
or snusket. He kept it hid for awhile, but the
rowing band of Yankee soldiers. who, few days
after, visited the place; took it from him, and if
| mistake not robbed him of all the money he
had-about % cents in silver The old man and
his house have both passed away. A small plot
of ground perhaps half an acre. devoid of wire
grass flor it is fact that wire grass once dug or
plowed up never again grows on the land) shows
where the house stood.