Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-13
MR.. DAvIs's CAPTURE.
The story as Told by Ills Body servant.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatchl


RALEIGH. y. G., December II, 1880.
Your correspondent to-day Interviewed James
II. Jones, sell-known coored man, who was
during :he war the body-scryaDt OF Je1erson
Davis, snd who was with him at his capture.
Jones has just returned here from Fort Payne
Ala lie "a very Intelligent has Tor eighteen
years been an alderman Of R0lcigh, aud no man
Is more devoted 70 Mr.. Davis. living or deAh.
Jones Was asked to uarrate no Incidents ~ the
capture Of Mr. Davis. and did 20 a. follows:
I became Mr.. nayis's servant In 1872, hhc "neh
hia family ca mo TO Hnleigh the next year ec-
companied thofn here. sidsd IN packing t1o
property when tho family left kichfnond 10 i'p1'
aud accompanied Mrs. DaYis and tho cnildteh
southUard.
We got a wagon and an ambulance a. Newoer-
IS. :. &. Nc. Davis ininci ~ down no ueofRlh
ono sunday morning. We c1mpct "nch W.
stopped ~ nlgh1. Mr. Davis RODE his favoTiio
saddlc-forse, a splendid bay named hcntacHy'
always looked after tho comfort of no pnrty.
IN ono tent were Mr.. and Mrs. Davis hnd IN
nnOthor thoir four chilticn-Nagfie' Jeu' v H.
ne. and FArina-and fliss Maggie h1Weii' hfS
Dayiss sister; also. twO mad'-one white ana
oEe coiofed.
AToGCY NIGHT.
The nigh. Of She capture was foggy. vas up
Nh night washing nni drying CLONES 81 a.o
wLl,h burned near lhe tenta. a creek ran ciDse
ly. IN a sort 81 rsyine aud there WaS rosl
passing By The camp. lheari noises about inii-
uignf, bat they were not alarming, and saw
rieams which I now know were the glitter ~
salrcs. About O'clocs In tho morning. ana D.
fore daylight heart rie sound Of horses hoois
on the 4oft pino straw which covered inc groun1.
The tons we're closed. Al t1o people we're
asleep. / wes lie only ono awake There Wase
very heavy dew.
AROUSED HIN.
- soon NJ heard the noises went 20 Nr Da-
siss ient aud aroused him. l al5g remember
fhat waved Nr. Heacan. colonel Joseph jonA-
eion. Colonel Wood. colonel hurlon harrison,
Colonel f0Ycf,. Of foEas. aui drN uiian Howell
Mr.. DaVis's br0thor. also iymt oihef Nehs.r'l'u
who were asleep hero and ti'r", some under
fant-aies. Colonel Hnrri on was nearest ne
creek and directly be- was aErS9 no ha.ieu u
Federal soldier VINO was tno usst 10 cross W.
creek told Colonel Harrison DO uu'f % Nio
enemy ral seen moving about .n he pines III
night. By tho tlmo Mr Davis bad df.-'ri hiHl-
self the enemy were IN tf" camp. n-i uis'I
while saddlod IT, DHyis's h0fse' Fhi'h was "
between TIE camp and the creek. X was ~.
Dayifs puru9-. ~ get on bis horse, make da-h
into The ravile. and 90 e='hNe. As 't'
Davis Stopped from his tent ne saw De-
fore him man mounted on uv, - A.
armed With carbine. which wae uoiniea ~ Nun
Mr Dayisnad on Mr-. DGFl-a vc'erprcol raglan.
witch rs mistake Dec hal iascn i'r ris o"n' hi9
a. ne was great sufferer irum n'urtl ne mao
prta light hood over ni4 heal ana Fhoul.'r''
which he freq emily worn. Ais. JAWS 5o.i'iteis
of ms health A. she ways vas. - Dec stepped
ont OF the tent threw her shawl upon hiIo. w;
Jaris sceilg the cayairvnan ~ cucs advanced
fearle-. g towards him aun ca.led uion MN .'
nrc. The cavairyman li1 NOT IRE. ana Nf. DAVIS
again called 20 him 90 10 -o. SO ifi' moneul
Nrs. Davis, 90 l'r uigri-'re--, hhE roNl .p'
'cui. threw her arms around her husband NECK
and addressing the caya'imtu' h4iA t''
Gods sake DON snoo.'
su. DAIs's PAS.
Mr. Davlss plan nci le'n 20 iot ihe cavalry
man nre ~ him and taxing mo chances OF .
miss rush uron him, ui ,rAt hihl. AMI mount
nis horse and escap.. Ru. 40 Nr-. DaYi-s "o'us
I B ONT l.r.s Gan g. " 7 q