St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-12-14
NOT IN FEMALE DISGUISE,
Jefferson DAVIS Tells the Story Of His
Capture.

Jefferson DAVIS Tells the Story Of Hi
Capture.
A special dispatch to the BOstOr
Herald from Cincinnati, Dec. 6
says: a.
The only authentic report Of the
capture of jeff. Davis was made
public to-day by DIR. Arthur Lebou'
tillier, of this city. 1t was written
by Mr.. Davis himself, and wa
withheld until after his death at his
own request. 1t is of universal in.
terest, as he denies the charge that
he was in female disguise when cap
tured. The letter which, follows
was written to Col. Crafts Wright,
deceased, who was q roommate OF
Davis ut West Point and q lifelong
friend. He died in 1876, and the
letter, together with other remi-
niscences Of the war, was presented
to DIR. lie BOutillier by the widOw
of the deceased. Five years age
DIR. lie Boutillier accidentally me,
Mr.. Davis at Columbus, Ga. He
mentioned the fact that he had the
letter in his possession, and asked
whether there would be any Objec-
ton to its publication. "None, il
withheld until
AFTER NY DEATH"
he replied. Gen. Wilson, in his
report to Stanton of Davis capture,
said the latter was, when arrested,
dressed in wOman's clothes. Mr..
Davis account Of the capture is as
follows:
MISSISSIPPI CIrY, Oct. Is, 1867.
My Dear Grafts-I have learned
that +. +. Drayton is at Charlotte,
n. c., and have written him men,
tioning your affectiOnate inquiries
and your purpose to have a reunion
of our class, as many as may then
be living, at West Point in June
next. The meeting will certainly
be attractive to him, and hope
there will be no other than myself
who will fail to answer his name at
that roll call. Accept my thanks
for the report of the proceedings at
the last annual meeting Of the West
Point graduates also for q paper
containing a statement in regard to
my capture.
The lieutenant, in his zeal to sus-
tain the slanderOns article of his
general, makes assertions which he
could not have believed to be true.
For instance, the one who ordered
me to halt bore q carbine, not a
''revOlver." The only person with
me was cOlOred servant. Instantly
l dropped the waterproof cloak and
shawl and advanced toward the
soldier extensively, declaring l
would not surrender in answer to
his demand. Then Mrs. Davis ran
up to me and threw her
ARMS AROUND MI NECK.
That. Of course, ended any POSSIBLE
ity for my escape, and said to her,
Goods will be DONE" and turned
back with her to the tent, and pass
ed on Immediately to . fire, a short
distance of.
The only firing or show of armed
resistance was beyond q creek we
had crossed before encamping, and
that fire was between the Michigan
and Wisconsin men. 1t was con-
siderable time before saw Col.
Pritchard. He alterward told me
that several hours had gone before he
knew ofmy presence, and he claim
ed credit fox the forbearance of his
men in not shooting me when l re-
fused to surrender. AS you say,
there was no improperly in assum-
ing disguise to escape capture, but
there was no time to have assumed
one except by waiting for the de-
ployed cavalry, seen approaching,
to close upon the roads still open
TO the creek. The falsehood was
in the desire to humilitate
me, and it was ut first asserted that
| had on bonnet and a women's
1ress, with hoop skirt. Woodcuts
If that kind were said to have been
made in New York.
1t may here be mentioned that |
he staff officers sent ON the ship
when my wife and children were de-
aimed after l was incarcerated ut |
Fort Monroe, did |
PLUMBER HER TRUNKS,
carrying off many articles Of value,
md, among other things hoopskirt,
which the knaves were said subse-
luently to have sold as the one worn |
~ me. DO not, my-frieUd. won
Ter at my conviction that in my
.ase and our time, truth is crushed
malice and falsehoOd, so
leep below the light Of reason in
he northern mind, that justice to
ne. from them, is hopeless. That
.allant soldier, Adjt. Gen. Town.
end, whose feat has been to keep
vatch and ward over a trunk belong
ng to me, found in Florida, } and