The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-08-29

y lie asked me IL needed more men, but
declined his offer, as thought my force able to
cope with the enemy, and, both commands
being without rations, it was difficult to find
subsistence for men and horses.
Parting with Col. Pritchard ut about 2
O'clock p. m, / fastened on and soon overlook
my command. When eight or ten miles
from Abbeville. on back road, we came upon
place where the Davis party had stopped to
feed and rest. They had left so recently that
their fires were yet burning. We pressed on
until after dark, when coming to water, we
halted. At this time / knew that the Davis
party was not far away; but supposed that
we were near the Alapaha River, and that they
had probably crossed over / heard that the
ford was bad, and did not want to come down
the river IN the night for fear of alarming
Mr.. Davis, and thus enabling him to escape on
horseback under cover of the darkness.
FIGHT BETWEEN 1sr WIS. AND 4TH MICH.
"on May 10 we saddled up and started before
daylight. We had proceeded but n mile or so
when the advance was suddenly halted and
ordered to dismount. Serg't Hussey, who was
an experienced soldier, thinking of course, he
had come upon the rebel pickets, answered
Friends Mt the same time giving the word
to his six men to retreat when heavy volley
was fired upon him and his party.
This was followed by second volley from
the same source called for 10 men and dashed
forward TO the support of the advance when We
received third from what l judged to be %
or 30 mnskets. 1t was yet SO dark, and being
in the thick pine woods, we could distinguish
no one. and could only see the fire from their
guns, which was almost in our faces The rest
of the command coming up, / quickly formed
a line. dism0nntiDg part of my force, and then
pressed on the enemy. The firing became brisk
on both sides, and the enemy were soon forced
back into the swamp.
AT this juncturc my attention was called to
q large party of mounted men coming down on
our left flank. Ordering Serg't Horr with
few men to pursue the enemy with whom we
had been engaged, and who were fast disap-
pearing in the swamp. turned my remaining
force against the new corners, whose numbers
] could see greatly outnumbered our own.
1.-The fire was now opened again with re-
newed spirit; but, fortunately for us, the fire
of our opponents was rather high. About this
time ordered Lieut. Clinton TO prepare for
saber charge with the mounted men. but just
as was about to give the final order, Sergt
Horr came running up. saying that he had capt
ured prisoner, and that our opponents were
Union men. Upon hearing this, Immediately
rode in ahead of our men and shouted 10 stop
firing, which was soon also stopped by our OPP
ponents.
AsToNisHED AT SEEING COL. PRITCHARD.
Il then rode forward, aud the first man /
met, TO my great astonishment, was Col. Priteh-
ard whom | supposed was guarding the ferry
and patroling the river in the vicinity of ABB
beyille, in accordance with his orders from Gen.
Wilson. To my inquiries rs to how he came to
be there. and to be fighting us, he said that
after parting with me the evening before at
Abbeviile he had selected $50 of his best
mounted men, and taking what was called the
River road, had reach IrwinvilIe In advance of
us; and hearing that some wagons were in
camp about one mile back in the woods, he had
just arrived at the spot as we were coming
up on the other side, and mistaking us for
enemies bad fred upon US, and that while
hostilities were going on some Of his command
had captured the wagon train. inquired IL
JED. Davis was TAKEN but he said he did not
know who was captured.
fCol. Pritchard and / then rode across
little strip OF swamp, some DO or so yards ia
width, and there found tho train. guarded by
some of the Michigan regiment. The first
person 20 whom we spoke said his name was
Reagan. and said he, you have taken the
Jefferson Dayis7' Yes said he. do mean
President Davis. and there he Is" pointing To
tall well dressed. dignihed-iooking man who
was standing by q fire near at baud. Col.
Pritchard aud then dsmonntcd aud went up
TO the gentleman, saluting him, and asked If
he was Mr.. Davis. He said, Yes; / am Presi-
dent DaviA' At this the soldiers standing
n
captured. aud one remarked: What! that man
JEFF Dayis3 Why, he is the old fellow that had
the shawl on.'
"In this party, all told, were some 80 or 40
persons. These were Mr.. and Mrs. Davis, sew
eral women aud children, Private Secretary,
Col. Harrison, Postmaster General Reagan, OF
the so-called Confederacy; also paroled officers,
with their servants, and others.
In the unfortunate collision between our
troops two OF the 4th Mich. were killed aud
several wounded. and Of the LIST Wis. three were
wounded.
"Aiter short rest and providing for the
wounded as best they could, our forces started
for Macon with the prisoners and captured
train. where they arrived on the 18th OF May,
1865"
Just before reaching Macon they were met
by u staff officer, who directed Col. Harnden
10 report TO Gen. Wilson's headquarters. While
making his verbal report the General ques-
toned him very closely as TO Dir. Davis; how
no appeared, and what no had said concerning
himself aud other matters of interest 10 the
Government
DID JEFF WEAR THE HooP-sRIRT2
In regard to tho "hoop-skirt" story, COL
Hsrnden has this 10 say q / told Gen. Wilson
that l heard soldier say that Mr.. Davis had
on shawl when they stopped him. This was
telegraphed North and was no doubt the origin
Of the hoop. story. do not now and
never did believe that Jefferson Davis was
dressed in female apparel when captured"
In the division of the reward for the capture
of jeff Davis the apportonment seems To have
been made to Gen. Wilson and the officers and
men of tho lst Wis. and 4th Mich, rs they
were the troops actually present at the capture
the Iowa aud Ohio detachments having been
sent out OH other roads by Col. Pritchard dur
ing the night before tho capture
have written this account of the capture of
JEFF Davis by the permission OF Col. Harnden,
and confined myself as nearly as possible 10 the
story as often told by him TO the comrades of
his regiment and others who had not the
honor of having been with our brave and gal
liant commander on that short but very sue
eessful search after the chief of the so-caled
Confederacy.
The capture of JEFF Davis may be said to
have been tho end of hostilities east of the Mis-
sssppi River, and very successful termina-
ton of cavalry raid which had penetrated
in ono grand effort the very center of two
strong rebel States, where Union troops had
never before entered; and though JEFF Davis
has not yet been hung to the ''sour-apple tree"
which every Union soldier hoped to see done,
that grand march OF Wilson and his men has
gone down in history as the successful Wilson
Raid" or tho Last Raid of the war.
Read Better than Pension " on page g.
New Jersey Ex-prIsOners OF War.
The Society of New Jersey Ex- Prisoners of
War held Its annual meeting August 81