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

I. T! !. !: !.
Z7HG-L[ W Division OF the mlsSlS-
ts3HAAisA " sippi. led by that dash
Es5.hlHHi1 M Il ing rider, the Murat of
TFEAfA I ASA " American cavalry, Gen.
4JlE%EM Al IN VI J. III. Wilson, went into
&s@SA IA W. camp around Macon,
SEHsnA Ga, la the latter part
vzsssgsNlG I'm Of April, after one of
zssyELS-------ASSNA-the longest and most
successful raids Of the
s---,- war.
@&, While thus encamped
on the 9th of May, 1866,
Lieut.-Col. Harnden, Of the 1st Wis. Cav,
was ordered TO report to Gen. Croxton, in COM
mand of the First Division. who gave Col. Harm
den verbal orders to take 150 men well mounted
and fully armed, with so rounds of ammuni-
tion each, and go at once in search Of Jefferson
Davis, and capture him If possible. He also
informed Col Harnden that the exPresideut
of the Confederacy was understood to be max
ing his way south into Georgia; that when
last heard from he was at small place in
South Carolina, near the Georgia line. and that
he had with him about 700 men, but that they
were becoming demOralized and were DESERT
ing in great numbers. The General advised
Col Haruden that by going towards Savannah
he woHd stand good chance of meeting Mr..
Davis somewhere in the vicinity Of Dublin, on
the Oeonee River. "And,D added the General
with n smile, :" IL you do meet him, and they
Gen. Wilson will not feel very bad about It,"
Col Harnden detailed for this duty the LIST
battalion OF his regiment, aud by o'clock
p. m. was on his way aeross the Ocmulgee
River in n souiheasteriy direction toward the
Oconee River. After q forced march of %
hours Col. Harnden went into camp Mt Dublin,
between the town aud the river. During the
day his command had met many scattering
men from the rebel Gen. Jobnston's army, but
Ill
whereabouts of Mr.. Davis; but Mt place called
Thomas Crossroads they heard Of quite largo
party who were all mounted They had passed
about an hour before our forces reached there.
THE cHIvALRY WERE HErrcEsT.
At Dublin Col. Harnden could get no infor-
nation whatever from the whites, but several
gentlemen were very profuse in their offers Of
hospitality to the Colonel, which he declined,
choosing rather to bivouac with his command.
He soon got an inkliug that a large party had
passed through the town during the day, and
that some kind of mystery attended them. As
soon as IL was dark Col Harnden went down TO
the river and questioned the fcrryman, but
could get nothing from him except that party
had crossed at his ferry.
About midnight, while lying on his blanket
trying TO plan for the morrow. the Colonel's
eolored servant brought him another colored
man. who lived In the town. This man told
Col. Harnden that JEFF. Davis with his wife
and family, had passed through the town that
day, going south on the River road. The negro
said that they had eight wagons with them I;
also largo number Of fine saddIe-horses, being
led that another large party had gone down
on the other side. Of the river; that he had
heard the lady addressed rs Mrs Davis and ono
Of the gentlemen M President Davis that Mr.
Davis had accepted an invitation 10 dine with
Judge Rose. but while preparations were be-
ing made he had suddenly left and gone on
with the rest of the party. He said further
that Mr. Davis did not como over nc the regular
ferry. but on n small fatboat lower down, aud
that be was riding a lns bay horse
The Colonel felt that there was q great deal
OF truth in the negroes story, and therefore de-
tailed Lieut.. Lane. with IS men. to watch the
ferry and scont MI the crossroads, while he,
with the rest Of the command, Mt an early hour
on the morning OF tho sth Of May, took the
road down tho river aud pressed on at q rapid
rate.
About five miles ont they camo TO Turkey
Greek, and found the bridge partially torn up.
While tho bridge was being repaired the Colonel
went TO u cottage near by and interviewed the
inmates as TO the party which had passed the
previous evening Tho women said that two
gentlemen Of tho party had called, and drank
some milk, but she did not know who they
were. But her little girl had observed tho
callers more closely. She showed the Colonel
a scrap Of paper that they had Ielt. and he saw
IL was part OF Richmond paper Of recent date
The little girl said she heard one call tho other
Col. Harrison, aud both were handsomely
dressed. One had on a coat with gold trim
minRs. while the other ones coat was plain.
Col. Harnden asked II the coat was like his
pointing 20 his HhouldeF-straps. She said !:
No. not like yours; tho color was not the
same. and the gold was on his collar and sleeves
and not on his shouldera."
STRIKING the RIGHT TRAIL.
Col Tfarnden now concluded that he had
struck the right trail, and immediately started
q colder with dispatch 10 Gen. Wilson at
Macon 10 that effect, and that Mr. Davis had
Como south, and evidently was making for the
Gulf
This courier was captured on his way by
some Confederates. taken into the woods, his
dispatch taken from him, robbed of his horse
aud arms. aud was then left 10 find his way TO
Macon on foot.
From Turkey Creek on the country was
pine forest, poor, sandy and uninhabitad Rain
began TO fall In torrents, which soon washed
out all tracks of the wagon wheels. While
searching for the trail n citizen on horseback
carae In sight. At first he denied all knowl-
edge Of any party. but upon being threatened
10 be relieved OF his horse, he said that no had
heard of a party with wagons camping over
night about IL miles away. He then by bar
gain acted as guide TO the place whore the
wagons were camped, but they were gone.
DiScharging tho guide, according to promise
tho trail was followed for few miles, but again
lost. A new guide was found, who took the
command safely through tho swamps Of the
forks of Alligator Creek. Atlength they came
TO dry ground aud found the tracks of the
wagons again, which were followed to the
crossing of Gum Swamp, and 1t then being af-
ter dark the command halted for the night.
On the 9th OF May Col. Harndcn marched
with his battalion through the wilderness to
the Oemnlgee River; thence down the stream
u few miles TO ferry, which was crossed with
considerable difficulty. Here he learned that
party with wagons had left at o'clock a.
m, and had gone on TO the little town of Abbe.
vile. At Abbeville he learned that the wag-
ons had gone TO Irwinyille. small place some
20 miles distant. doi
MEETING THE 4TH MICH. CAV.
Just rs Col. HaTnden was leaving Abbeville
with his command four Union soldiers apnear.