Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-10-29
KASPAR KNOBEL.
Death of the Man Who First Commanded
Jer Davis to Surrender.

Death of the Man who First Commanded
JcT Davis to Surrender.
al see Kaspar Knobel is dead" re-
marked S. X. Sherman, a Philadelphia
travelling man at the Laclede.
"And who is Kasper Knobel," asked
two or three gentlemen in n chorus.
Don't you know himP Did you
never hear of Kasper KnobclP Thought
his fame was worldwide and would live
forever. He is as famons in the annals
of war-days, as Boston Corbett, the man
who shot j. Wilkes Booth. Such is
tame any way"
"Well, stop your moralzing," said a
fellow-tourist, and tell us about your
hero"
"All right. Kasper Knobel was the
first Union man to lay hands on jeff
Davis when he was captured in Georgia,
May 10, 1865. He was one of the party
or company that captured the Confeder-
ate chief.
Caught him in female attire, sup
posePh said n listener.
NO That's all nonsense. knew
Knobel well, and have talked to him n
dozen times, and have heard him tell
the story of the capture fully as many
times. He denies that female toggery
business, and tells plain, straight
story"
Tell his story"
"All right. At the breaking out of
the war, Knobel, young man, was liv-
ing in Detroit, Mich, and he joined the
Fourth Michigan Cavalry, and was soon
in the land of the Johnnies. The
Fourth Michigan, you know, was a
famous regiment, all lively young men,
full oil fire, patriotism, dash and cour-
age, and they We're fighters, too. May
s, 1865, they were about one hundred
miles from Irwinsvlle, Irwin County,
Georgia. They were ordered to go,
where, or which way, they did not know,
nor did they stop to ask, but they fol-
lowed the commander. They started in
the evening and rode the entire night,
pausing only during n heavy thunder
and rain storm, when they sought
the woods for protection. This was
about nine o'clock on the night of May
o. About $3.50 next morning they met
sort of cart or carriage with but three
wheels an old colored man was driving
along Colonel Prichard, the COM
mander, stopped the negro, and he said
he had met n lot OF Yankees and they
had taken the wheel of, Why or for
what purpo e, the darkcy ,idn't know.
He drove on. 1t was evident to them
that the old man didn't know Feds
from Confeds, and they were sure there
We're no Federals anywhere near ex-
cept their own company. So Colonel
Prichard concluded that Confederates
had taken the wheel away so that the
negro's progress would be slow, thus
giving them ample time to get out OF
the way.
"This was the first they had heard OF
Davis. They were told that JEFF Davis
and friends were out in this section flee
ing from justice, and that the Govern
ment had ollered.a big greward for them.
This enthused the toys, and a iollier,
happier set of fellows were never seen.
They were weary with the long ride,
and this news revived them not little.
''They were now forty or fifty miles
from the spot where the wheel had been
removed, and had hard, long ride on
that hot 10th day of May. But the spurs
were applied and they soon covered the
ground There was one hundred and
twenty-five men of the party. allyoung,
hardy and eager for the fun. At mid
night that night they had covered the
fifty miles, and were at lrwinsville.
They discovered the remains of camp
at the spot where the wheel removers,
whom they believed, from the negro s
description and of the men and effects,
to be JEFF Davis and party. Here they
were ordered to divide up into small
foraging parties, or divisions, of thir-
teen men each, and sweep the country
for miles about, endeavoriug to find the
fugitives or get trace of them. ltwas
very dark, and they moved slowly and
cautiously. About mile from the
point of separation the party of which
Knobel was one, discovered a campfire
which was almost extinct The spot
was lonely, isolated retreat, and Just
such place as man would select for
hiding.
"They drew back and watched for the
dawn of day, as they could do nothing
in the dark. At the first streak of day
they were up and moving, and before
they knew it had almost run up against
two tents. Six of the party entered one,
and seven the other, and Knobel was
the head man of the party that invaded
the Davis tent. There the chief lay,
full-length, amid his family, all slum.
bering soundly.
"Dayis had on all his clothing except
boots and hat; his costume was gray,
and he rested on the left side of the tent.
Upon being awakened he made an eff
fort to cover or conceal himself. and in
doing so seized the first thing that he
could lay hands on. and Knobel thinks
i was waterproof cloak of Mrs.
Davis. He made no resistance at all.
Knobel left the Davis tent and went to
the others where the other Confed.
crates were found. All was done
in a moment, and there was nc
sign OF resistance; no pretense of any,
and Knobel thinks they were as
much surprised as the Confederates
we're. They had an idea that the tents
would hold the fugitives. but no definite
knowledge. 1t was only chance game
with them.
"The signal shot agreed on was fired,
and soon Colonel Prichard and all the
other squads came up from every direc-
ion This signal shot was answered