Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-12-12

we neared Macon. There we were met by
the brigade band, which played Hang JEFF
Davis on the Sour Apple Tree Col. Prltch-
ard Immediately ordered the band to cease
playing the tune, az it deeply affected Mrs.
Davis and her family.
1--WE proceeded on into Macon, Col. Pritch-
ard reporting to r. H. G. Minty, Colonel
commanding Second Division of the First
Cavalry Corps, the entire command being
under Ma. Gen. Wilson. There was a detail
which consisted of Col. Pritchard, Captain
Hudson, Lieut.. Purinton, Lieut.. Staube and
twenty-iv enlisted men as special guards to
convey JEFF Davis and party to Fortress Mon
roe. G. @. Clay and wife afterwards surren-
dered to the Government, and they made two
of the party taken to Fortress Monroe. We
proceeded from Macon to Atlanta, as the road
to Augusta had been torn up by Gen. Sher-
mans march to the sea. There We received
an addition to our party of Vlce-President
Stevens, Gen. Wheeler and two or three of
his staff who had not surrende ed to Sher-
man when Johnston was captured, and were
captured, if my recollection does not fail me
by some of Gen. Upton's force. We went on
to Augusta where we marched through a
double line of our forces with the prisoner
and the special guard and boarded a small
boat in which we proceeded on to Savannah,
there taking larger and more convenient
boat. l do not recollect the names of those
boats. We went to Hilton Head and there
transferred to the William Clyde, a govern
ment transport, owned by some New York
merchants before the war. At Hilion Head
we drew rations and clothes, which we need
ed badly, as we had had no communication
with our forces for over two and half
months.
I'VE then proceeded around Cape Hat
teras to Fortress Monroe with our consort,
the Tuscarora, lying at anchor in Fortress
Monroe, about two days, if | recollect. Gen
Miles in the meantime coming on board and
receiving the report of Col Pritchard. Next
day Gen. Halleck arrived and superintended
in person the transfer of the prisoners from
the vessel to the different forts, Fort McAllis-
ter, Fort Boston and Fortress Monroe. All
excepting Davis and @. G. Clay were impris-
oned in Forts McAlllster and Boston. Davis
and Clay were placed in two of the easements
| of Monroe and we we're relieved from duty
Then the 18th Pennsylvania heavy artillery
took charge of the prisoners, as that regiment
then garrisoned the fort to the best of my
| recollection. A short time after we left the
boat Mrs. Davis and family and sister with
servants left for the south, as understood il
then, for Augusta where she had friends. Dc
not know it to be so though.
| Il served with the regiment during its ser.
vice being absent only from one engagement
which occurred at Snow Hill, Tennessee, and
was absent only SIX weeks during the whole
three years, when was lying sick at Muir
freesboro, Tenn, in the field hospitaI in the
Spring of the year.
Il never thought that l would give this his
tory to any newspaper, for Ihave been inter
viewed by twenty of them and always re
fused. But have seen SO many incorrec
reports concerning hoop skirts, ETC., which
were not true, that thought would give N!
version as near as L can recolleCt it at thi
late day."
"Ihave been asked" added Mr.. Cavanagt
later, why we did not shoot at Davis. will
say that we never shot at defenseless prison
ers, after they had surrendered. How coult
we shoot at JEFF Davis, after he had surren
dered, and his wife with her arms around hi
neck and his children weeping at his side
He was prisoner of war and none but COW
ards would have shot him. If all civilians ar
as forgiving as were the soldiers of the nort
and south, we would soon be united people
| think it would have been better had JET
Davis made his escape, for it would hav
saved the loss of two lives and several pain
full wounds, and would have exiled him, a
Breckenridge and some others.
AS to the reward, the soldiers knew nothin
of it, and only performed their duties TO
country. My share. was $36G20, which
never expected to get and cared nothing for
However, got 1t. The reward WAS collecte
by Lawyer Talmage of Columbus and Law
yer Kelly of Wauseon. Kelly is now dead.