The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1886-04-23
E. S. SEYMOUR, County. Clerk.
The Capture Of Jefr DAVIS.

The Capture Of JeH Davis
The Milwaukee Sunday Telegraph of Last
sunday morning published in full the address
delivered by Gen. Henry Harnden, Of Madison,
at a reunion Of the First Wisconsin cavalry,
held in Milwaukee last week. Gen. Harnden
left Macon, Ga, on the evening Of May 6, 1885,
with 15O men, with orders from Gen. Croxten
to capture Jefferson Davis, who was under
stood to be making his way from South Care
lima into Georgia. Proceeding in southeast
erly direction for four days, they tracked the
Davis party to the Alapha river, some miles
from Abbeyville, where, on the evening Of May
10th, the capture was made by members Of the
Fourth Michigan cavalry, under Lieut.. Col.
Pritchard, who had Unexpectedly appeared on
the scene. Gen. Harnden says:
While Col. Pritchard was away, Mr.. Davis
asked me which of us two was the ranking eff
Ger. Ireplied that did not know. He saw by our
insignia Of rank that we were both lieutenant
colonels. At this he turned to some Of his par
ty, and with great scorn, said, that thiogs had
evidently come to pretty pass in the United
States army, when the troops did not know
who their commanding officers were, and that
no wonder the men were robbing and pluader-
ing" I said to him: "Mr. Davis, came near
to making your acquaintance three days ago at
Dublin" "How was that?" said he. re-
piled that was at Dublin only few hours
after he had left the place, and that If he had
tarried to fulfill his engagement to dine with
Judge Rose, I should probably have como up
with him. Then he appeared to realize the
fact that he had been pursued for several days
through all his windings and turnlngs in tho
pino woods; and he turned to me with great
hauteur, and said: ''Well, sir, can assure
you that had you come up with me at DublIn,
this thing would not have happened as it has, for
l then had those with me who would not have
permitted this indignity to have been put upon
me-" (He evidently alluded TO the escort of
cavalry which continued OH down on the other
side Of the Oconee with Breckenridge and Ben
jamin and others from the rebel cabinet from
Dublin.) very quietly said that 1t would lavo
given me great pleasure to have tested tho
question with his friends. Turning to me with
| increased hauteur, lie demanded to knew if my
government had sont me to harass women and
children through the country after the manner
we were doing. replied, not women and
children, but that was sent to leek for him.
| eyes," he said, 81 very well know that it Is at
my own person all this indignity is hurled;
aud that it is me your government is seeking
to insult and persecute." BY this time his
wrath, which had been for some time rising,
got the better of him, and he turned his back
upon Inc, as the representative OF the govern
| ment he 80 hated, with scorn. Col. Pritchard
now coming up, and hearing part Of my little
| tilt with Mr.. Davis, put in word Of caution,
to-wit: That when men Of our rank were con-
versing with men Of his rank, we should DO
| respectful and very cautious Of what we said,
or it might not be 30 well for us. The colonel
was evidently gifted with second-slght, and
saw things in the dim future that did not see
or even dream Of. just before reaching Macon
we were met by staff officer, who directed
me to report at Gen. Wilson's headquarters.
reported accordingly, and gave the general an
account of my whole trip and the capture Of
Mr.. Davis The general questioned mo as to
what Mr.. Davis did and said and how he ae-
peared, and made mo tell him in detail all
that transpired. When had fiuislled lie still
asked for more particulars, and wien could
think Of nothing else, I told him that heard
a soldier say that Mr.. Davis had on shawl
when they stopped him. This was all tele-
graphed North, aud was no doubt the origin
Of the hoop-skirt story. I do not now and
never did believe that Jefferson Davis was
dressed In female apparel when captured.
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