The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-17
MIR. DAVIS CAPTURE.
The Historical Event az Narrated
by His COIOred Servant.
Richmond Dispatch.


Richmond Dispatch.
RALEIGH, N. c., December II, 1885,
Your correspondent to-day interviewed
James H. Jones, a well-known colored
man, who was during the war the body
servant of Jefferson Davis, and was with
him at his capture. Jones has just re-
turned here from Fort Payne, Ala. He
is very intelligent, has for eighteen
years been an alderman of Raleigh, and
no mar is more devoted to Mr.. Davis,
living or dead. Jones was asked to
narrate the incidents at the capture OF
Mr.. Davis, and did so as follows:
became Mr.. Davis servant in 1862,
and when his family came to Raleigh the
next year accompanied them here. |
aided in packing the property when the
family left Richmond in 1865, and ac-
companied Mrs. Davis and the children
southwark.
We got wagon and an ambulance at
Newberry, S. c. Mr.. Davis joined us
down in Georgia one Sunday morning.
We camped when we stopped at night.
Mr.. Davis rode his favorite saddle-horse
splendid bay named Kentucky.
always looked after the comfort of the
party. In one tent were Mr.. and Mrs.
Davis and in another their four children
Maggie, Jeff, Willie, and Varina-and
Miss Maggie Howell, Mrs. Davis sister;
also, two maidstone white and one
colorcd.
A FOGGY NIGHT.
The night of the capture was foggy. |
was up all night, washing and drying
clothes at fire which burned near the
tents. creek ran close by, in a sort of
ravine, and there was road passing by
the camp | heard noises about mid
night, but they were not alarming, and
saw CLEANS which now know were the
glitter of sabres. About 4 O'Clock in the
morning, and before daylight. | heard
the sound of horses hoots on the soft
pine straw which covered the ground.
The tents were closed. All the people
were asleep. was the only one awake.
There was a very heavy dew.
AROUSED HIM.
AS soon as heard the noise went to
Mr.. Davis tent and aroused him. also
remember that | walked Mr.. Reagan,
Col Joseph Johnston, Col. Wood, Col.
Burton Harrison, Col. Lovett, of Texas,
and Mr.. William Howell, Mrs. Davis
brother; also some other gentlemen who
were asleep here and there, some under
tent flies. Col. Harrison was nearest
the creek and directly he was awake, he
halted Federal soldier who was the
first to cross the creek. told Col Har-
rison it must be the enemy had seen
moving about in the pines all night. BY
the time Mr. Davis had dressed himself
the enemy were in the camp. ! had
meanwhile saddled Mr.. Davis horse,
which was tied between the camp and
the creek 1t was Mr.. Davis purpose to
get on his horse, make a dash into the
ravine, and SO escape. AS Mr.. Davis
stepped from his tent he saw before him
a man mounted on horseback, armed
with a carbne, which was pointed at
him. Mr.. Davis had on Mrs. Davis wa
terproof raglan, which by mistake he
mad taken for his own, and as he was a
great sufferer from neuralgia he had put
a light hood over his head and shoulders
which he frequently wore. Mrs. Davis,
solicitous of his health as she always
was as re stepped out of the tent threw
her shawl upon him. Mr.. Davis seeing
the cavalryman at once advanced fear
lessly towards him and called upon him
to fire. The cavalryman did not fire,
and Mr.. Davis again called to him to do
so. At this moment Mrs. Davis. in her
night dress, sprang from the tent, threw
her arms around her husbands neck and
addressing the cavalryman, said For
Gods sake don't shoot"
MR.. DAVIS PLAN.
Mr.. Davis plan had been to let the cav
alryman fire at him and taking the
chances of a miss, rush upon him, unseat
him, and mount his horse and escape.
But at Mrs. Davis words he went back
to the tent with her. There he was given
a bucket, think, by her and started to-
wards the creek as il for water, intending
to get into the ravine and escape on his
horse, but he was again halted by the
same trooper He then returned to the
fire. Just about this time lively firing
was heard fifty yards off and across the
appearance, and walking up to the fire
looked at Mr.. Davis and said to me: as
that Jefferson Davis?" | said YES"
and Colonel Pritthard then said to Mr..
Davis: You are my prisoner" Colonel
Pritchard was very courteous and gen
tlemanly. He permitted no insult to be
given then or AT any time while he was
i'll command, and gave particular instruc-
tions to that effect.
Mr.. Davis had very little to say at the
time OF his capture and exhibited no fear
whatever. He and his party had break
fast before they left and then the camp
was struck and the wagon loaded. The
party started off under cavalry guard,
the maids and children in the wagon III
charge of myself and Robert Brown,
(colored), who had been Mr.. Davis but
Ter, Mr.. and Mrs. Davis and others trav-
cling in the ambulance. pitched camp
for them at night. was kept under ar
rest all the while and was not permitted
even to go after milk for the children I'M
less a guard accompanied me. was
taken to Fortress Monroe with Mr..
Davis There was released and came
to Raleigh.
Mr.. Davis was always greatly attached
to Jones, as was also his family, and
wrote to him. He always appreciated
Jones devotion. Jones attended the me-
mortal exercises to-day and was greatly
affected.
Killed by a Train.
WLKEsBARRE, Pa, December To-
This evening on the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western railroad at Durea, a
few miles from here, party OF laborers
were walking home from work on the
railroad, when a passenger train ran
directly into them from around a curve.
One of the party was thrown aside and