The Portland daily press., 1894-02-08
CAPTURE OF JEEF DAVIS.
Interesting Story Of Maine Mans
Part In 1t.
Davis Was Not atsall Tractab1e and Had To
Be Used Firmly-Joseph w. Grants

Davis Was Not at.an Tractable and Had To
Be Used Firmly-Joseph w. Grants
Experience.
[Joseph w. Grant in Bangor Whig.l
In the spring of 1865, was Sd Lieu
tenant of, and in command of Co. A, of
the 14th Maine Regiment, which was
among the forces sent to Savannah to
reinforce Sherman, when he had forced
his way from Atlanta to the Sea, and
the surrender of General Lee found us
there among the garrison OF the city.
We came to Savannah with but four
companies, the rest of the command
having been mustered out of service on
account of expiration of time. ana tne
rest of the regiment were consoiloated
into four companies; but Whlie aC
Savannah Colonel Bolan arrived with
six new companies, making full regl-
ment. Shortly after, the regiment was
ordered to Augusta to garrison that
city. The regiment marched on foot
for about twenty miles the first day,
but was SO hampered with the baggage,
that my company was ordered to
remain in charge of the baggage
and stores on the bank of
the river and hail the first steamer that
came along to take them and their
charge up the river as soon as posi- BILE
to their destination at Augusta. The
setamer Clyde came along the next
morning and took us and stores on
hoard, and we reached the city next
dav while the rest of the regiment pro-
ceeding on foot, did not arrive there
until some days after Shortly after
my arrival at the landing an Orderly
came with an order to report with all OF
nv command, to the officer command
ING at Augusta, but feeling unwell
sent word that would send the men
IN charge of the 1st Sergeant, and stated
the reason why, but the Orderly soon
returned. and stated that the officer
desired me to come in charge, as the
matter was of great Importance.
With the prospect OF some dlmculGy,
nv health seemed to return suddenly,
officer at the depot. The officer took me
on one side, and told me he had very
important duty for them to perform, and
asked me if I could rely upon my men
in very dangerous undertaking. l re-
| plied that my men were all veterans, and
could be depended upon to stand to
| their posts to the last extremity. How
many men have you?" he asked, and
when / replied that 1 had only forty
| FIVE. but they were all brave and deter
mined fellows, he replied that however
brave they might be, they could stand
but little chance in the conflict that
| threatened.
He then told me that jeff DAVIS haa
heep captured and would soon arrive IN
the city, and he had but little or no
force in the city to prevent rescue by
| the citizens and returned soldiers OF the
island Confederate Army, then throng-
ing the city, and he asked me If l had
| any suggestions to make. l ventured
to advise that the train be held PACK
from entering the city until aIter oark,
and that the steamer Clyde be sent down
| the river a couple of miles, and the order
| Given out tnat she had returned to Sa-
yannah. | promised to keep the people
| from entering the depot at All hazards,
! while the prisoners were being taken
| from the cars in the rear OF the depot,
and placed in ambulances to be conveyed
ranidIy to the steamer down the river,
| and after that was accomplished would
try TO ioin them with what was left OF
| NV little company. He plainly stated
to me that my chance of surviving the
| mob, which would undoubtedly appear,
was very small, but that there was nc
other way out of .the. difficulty, and nc n
would rely upon me ana my men TO &c
the best we could.
Before dark formed my men around
the front of the depot, and Informed
them all of the duties and the dangers;
and | also instructed them to breaR
away, after had given them signal,
and try to reach the steamboat at best
they could.
At dark my command was formed
around the depot and the people In
formed that Mr.. Davis and other prison
ers would soon arrive, and would proceed
no farther by rail that night large
marty of spectators assembled aroundsand
in front of the depot; they were quiet,
hut the silence was monotonous. and the
determined look expressed upon their
faces. foreboded no good intention, but
nv men were determined to prevent any
| attempt at rescue, if all were sacrificed
in discharge of their duty. All my men
recognized the danger they were in, but
they also fully comprehended the great
responsibility OF their task. and were
ready to die then and there in prevent
ing Jeff Davis and his party from escap-
When the train arrived, I passed along
the line, ordering the people to keeI
back, and engaged their attention by
RAPIDLY moving from one point to anoth
er, until the signal was given me thai
1 lJdVlS udu DCCIii pldCCo Ill OuO
and was moving off. My men then gave
way, and as the mob rushed past into
the depot they mingled with the crowe
and worked their way out into the opeI
streets, and then mad with all thel
speed for the steamboat, as best the.
could, every man for himself. Coco
luck attended all our movements and W.
found the steam boat about two miles be
low tile town, moored to tree with prls
; oners safe on board. All of my men es
capped and not one got hurt. The com
manding officer desired me to escort tn
prisoners to Savannah, but I told hln
that was ordered to remain at August
to await the arrival of the rest OF Tn
regiment. He stated to me that he ma
no other troops available for the purpos
and that must go with my men, an
he would relieve me of all responsl blllt
in the matter. When we arrived at %
vannah / went on shore and reporte
to General Grover that 1 had DAVIS an
other prisoners under my chargee, o
board'the steamer Clyde and awaltin
his orders. General Grover directed M
to keep the prisoners on the steamer an an
not to allow any intercourse with tn
shore. Furthermore he approved OF m m
= action and assigned the custody OF Cd
| N ,,ov command He the