Omaha daily bee., 1891-05-31
CAPTURE OF JEFF DAVIS.
One OF the Principal Actors Tells
Something About 1t.

Captain Ycoman, who delivered tho ora
tioc at Hanscom park yesterday afternoon,
bears the honorable distinction of having
| been one OF the chief actors IN the capture of
| the late Jefferson Davis, the president of the
! southern confederacy. Captain Geoman was
| found at his hotel last night, and upon being
! pressed for the story, yielded and talked upon
| the, at that time, important event.
| Early in May, 1865, it was reported at army
headquarters that Davis had deserted his
stronghold. taken all of the specie that he
could gather and with guard of his most
trusty men was rapidly moving toward the
! gulf. 1t was at once determined to intercep pit
| him, and for this purpose Captain Yeoman,
! then twenty 1.-TWO years of age, and inspector
| general of AleXandcr's brigade, volunteered
! his services They were accepted, and pick
| ing thirty-three men, on May 3 he left camp
| ana rode into the enemy's country. He aud
! his men were all dressed IN rebel uniforms
and riding horses branded "U. 81
The next morning they reached point
twenty miles from Washington, Ga, where
Davis and his cabinet had rested. This fact
was ascertained and dispatches were sent
back to Colonel Hardin of the First WiSCOn-
siu and Colonel PritChard of the Fourth
Michigan cavalry, who at once started ont
and later captured Davis, bag and baggage.
At nsborough, Ga, Captain Gconan
had narrow escape. Most of his mon had
been left in the woods and as the little party
of five or six were riding up the principal
street of the town n rebel officer cried out,
"l'll bet $1,000 those fellows are ID Yam
lSeeSn For an instant Captain YeOman and
his men thought they were in for it, but
young fellow from the Seventh Ohio leaned
over in his saddle and yelled in response,
"l'll bet $1,000 you are id liar" This
raised laugh and the men were allowed TO
pass on undisturbed.
A few hours later after the command had
got together it came in contact with n large
command of the enemy. Geoman was halted
and questioned. He Informed the officer OF
the rebel command that he was lieutenant
in the Eighth Kentucky regiment AS il
happened, the officer had brother IN that
regiment and insisted upon Yeoman giving
the name of the man. Ho could not do that,
but explained tho reason by stating that for a
month or more he, Yeoman, had been guard
ing deserters and negroes. The rebels till in
sisted on knowing something about tho
brother and Heoman seeing that the game
was about up, resorted to bold bluff
and, becoming angry, replied: II an
to learn the names OF all the men in the
lines The rebel o&cer was crostfallen and
allowed his man TO ride away.
At another time while the little squad was
riding through rebel camp a soldier IN
gray noticing the horses were all branded
"U. So cried out to comradc, Whose
fellows from Kentucky are dandies. See,
they have captured u whole company of
Lincoln's cavalry horses" Any number of
similar exploits and adventures were re-
counted.
On May 10, Captain Yeoman began TO re-
trace his steps, knowing that he had per
formed the work ne had undertaken, He
had located tho whereabouts of Davis and
had furnished the information 10 Hardin
and Prtchard, who had surprised and cap
tured him. For doing this work congress
voted him $1,000, and by mauy he was re-
garded the chief actor in the capture.