Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-08-22
Mrs. Davis's Account ofthe Capture of
Iiar Husband.

Mrs. DaviS's Account ofthe Capture OF
jier Husband.
"Many falsehoods have been uttered
in regard to the capture Of Mr.. Davis,
which have been exposed in publica-
lions by persons there presently Sec
rotary Reagan, by the members of his
personal staff, and by the colored
coachman, Jim Jones, which must have
been convincing to all who desired to
know the truth. We were, when pris-
oners, subjected to petty pillage and to
annoyances such as military gentle
men never commit or permit.
"While the camp was being plum
dered, which was done with great &C.
lerity, there was Shrek dreadful to
hear, and our servants told us it came
from poor creature who, in prying up
the lid of a trunk with loaded mus
ket, shot off his own hand Out of this
trunk the hoped skirt was procured,
which had never been Worn, but which
they purporled to have removed from
Mr. Davis's person. No hoped skirt
could have been worn on our journey,
even by me, without great inconveni-
ence, and | had none with me except
the one in the trunk. have long since
ceased to combat falsehood when it has
been uttered and scattered broadcast a
much less distance than this one has
been borne on the wings of hate and
utilization, and / now rest the case,
though could the torture wantonly in
flicted when he was IL helpless prisoner
have been .avcrtcd from my husband
by any disguise 1 should have gladly
have tried to persuade him to assume it;
and who shall say the stratagem would
not have been legitimate? | would
have availed myselfofa Scotch cap and
cloak or any other expedient to avert
from the awful consequences of his cap
ture.
''When we had travelled back days.
drive, as we were about to get into the
wagon man galloped into camp way
ing over his head printed slip of
paper. One Of our servants told US
that it was Mr.. Johnson proclamation
of a reward for Mr.. Davis's capture rs
the accessory TO Mr. Lincoln's assassi-
nation. l was much shocked, but Mr..
Davis was quite unconcerned, and said:
The miserable scoundel that issued
that proclamation knew better than
these men that it was false. OF course
such an accusation must fail at once.
1t may, however, render these people
willing to assassinate me here
There was perccptibe change in the
manner of the soldiers from this time, and the
ihcs and insults hcaped upon lis rs they pass
cd by. Notwithstanding Colonel Pritchard's
efforts to suppress the expression of their de-
testation, were hard to bear. Bittercst among
these was an officer named Hudson. He in
formed me that he intended to take our poor
little D;0,.ge rs his Own, and solicitude for
the child troubled Us more than Hudson
insults.
"Within short distance of Macon we We're
halted and the soldiers drawn up in line on
either side Of the road. Our children crept
close to their father. especially little Maggie,
who put her arms about him and held him
tightly. while from time to time he comfOrted
her with tender words from the Psalms
OF David, which he repeated Us chscriiuily rs
il he were surrounded hy friends. i, "a need
less to -sy that rs the men stood at their case
they expressed i'll words unfit for woman'
cars all that malice could suggest. in about
an hour Colonel Pritrhard returned, and
with him came n b.;a.dc who testified their
belief i'll Mr.. Dav;s., guilt in the same mar
ner
Men may he forgiven who actuated by
prejudice. exhibit bitterness in the first hours
of their triumph, but what excuse can lie of
fcrcd for one WIN, in cold blood, deliberately
organizes tortures to be inflicted and superin-
tends for over year their application to the
quivcring form OF an emaciated. exhausted,
helpless prisoner whom, the whole South proud
II remembers though reduced to deaths
door. unto tie end neither recanted his faith,
fawned upon his prosecutor, nor pleaded for
mcrcy?"