The National tribune., 1894-02-08
DAVIS IN CUSTODY.
New Light on the Incidents Immediately
Following His Capture.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In tht
Spring of 1865 l Was Second Lieutenant %
and in command OF CO. A If The Ia Me.
VIII oh was amrng the forces sent To SaVan
nah to reinforce Sherman when he had
forced his way from Atlanta to tie Sea, and
the SURF, nder of Gen. Lee found us there
among the garrison of the CT Y.
We came to Savannah wI:h but four COM
panies the rest of the regiment having been
mustered cut of service on account OI ex-
piIatiOu of time, and the regiment was then
consolidated into four companies. But
while al Savannah, Col. Bolan arrived Win
SIX new companies, making lull regiment.
Shortly after this arrival The regiment
was ordered to Augusta 10 garrison that
city. The regiment marched on foot Tor
about 90 miles on the first day. but was so
hampered with the baggage that my COM
many was ordered To- remain in charge of II,
and hail the ir,t rteamer that came along
10 take them up the river as soon az possible
TO their destination at Augusta. The steamer
CLYDE came the next morning, took us and
stores ON board, and We reached the city the
next day; the rest of tile regiment, proceed
ing on foOt, did not arrive there until some
days after.
an Orderly came with an order TO report
with all of nv command to The officer COM
mandIng at Augusta; but, feeling unweil,
/ sent word that / won d send the men In
charge OF the First Sergeant, and sra ed tile
reason; buf the Orderly soon returned, and
said that the officer desired me to cume in
person, as the matter was of great impor-
lance.
With the prospect Of some difficulty and
danger my health improved rapidly, and
marched my men TO the officer at The rail-
road depot. The officer took me aside and
told me that he had a verv important duty
for me to perform, aud a, ked me il L cou d
rely upon my men in very dangerous
undertaking. / replied that my uen were
all veterans and cou d be de, ended upon to
stand at their posts 10 the last extremity.
How many men have yOu?" he asked /;
aud when | told him that l had only 40,
but they were all brave ard determined
fellows, ne replied that however brave they
might BE-, they would stand but little chance
ia the cunfi CT that threatened.
He then told me that jeff Davis had been
captured, aud would sot n arrive in the city,
and that he had but little force, If any, in
the city to prevent a rescue by the cIiiZens
and returned soldiers of the dIsbanded Con-
federaie army then throngIBg the place, and
he also asked me ii had any suggesii ions 10
make.
| yentured to advise that the train be
held back from entering the city until after
dark, and that The steamer CIyd- be sent
down the river a cOuple of miles, word to be
given cut that she had returned tn Savan-
nah. promised 10 keep the people from
entering the depot at all hazards while the
prisoners were being taken from the ears in
the rear of the depot ami pl ced IN ambu-
laDces to lie conveyed rapidly To the steamer
down the river, and after that was accom-
plished ] would Try 30 join them with what
was left of niy little company.
He plainly stated to me that my chances
of surviving the mob, which would IN
doubIedly appear, was very small but there
was no other way out of the difficulty, and
he would rely upon me and my men 10 do
the best We could. Before dark / formed
my men at the depot and informed them OF
ali of the duties and the dangers, aud also
Instructed them to break away, alter had
gwen them signal, and try to reach the
steamer as best they could, every man for
himself.
Al dark the comma d was well placed
around the depot, and tine people informed
that Mr.. Davis and other prisoners would
soon arrive, and would prOceed no farther by
rail that night. A large party Of spectators
soon assembled around and in front Of the
depot; they were quiet, but the silence was
Omi Gus, and he determined look expressed
upon their faces BODIED no good. But my
men were determined to prevent any at
tempt at rescue if all were sacrificed in dis
charge OF their duty. All of my men rec
ognIzed the danger they were IN, but they
also fully comprehended the great RESPONSE
bility of their task, and were ready 20 die
linen aud there in preventing JEFF Davis and
his party from escaping.
When the tram arrived / passed along
the line, ordering the people 10 keep back,
and engaged their attention by rapidly
moving from one point to another, until the
signal was gwen me that Davis had been
placed IN the ambulance and was moving
of. My men then gave way, and as the
mob rushed past them into the deptt they
mingled with the crowd and worked their
way out into The open streets, and then
made with all their speed for the steamboat
a. bet they could, every man for himself
Good luck attended all of our m yemeats,
and We found the steamb Oat about two M les
below the town, mOOred TO a tree with all of
escaped, and not one was injured. The COM
handing officer desired me to escort the
prisoners 10 Savannah, but told him that
! was ordered TO remain at Augusta to await
the arrival of the rest Of the regiment. He
stated TO me that he had no othe troops
available for the purpose, and that must
60 with my men, and he woL d relieve me
OF al responsibility in the matter.
When we arrived at Savannah / went
ashore aid reported to Gen. Grover that
had Davis and other prisoners under my
charge on board of the steamer CLYDE, and
awaited his orders. Gen. Grover directed
me TO keep the prison, rs on The steamer
and not to allow any intercourse with the
shore. He approved of my action, and as
signed the custody of the prisoners To my
Command. He came on board and made an
inspection of the property captured, and
which WAS then with the prisoners. He
ordered me 10 proceed 10 Hilton Head, and
report TO Gen. Gilmore.
/ reported TO Gilmore, and waited about
week for a naval convoy. At The end o.
this time two men-of-war appeared and tool
us IN charge, and we all started for Wash
ington under orders for that port. Beior,
leaving, al of my party and prisoners wer,
transferred from the Clyde to a small ocear
transport
There were at this time under my charg,
JEFF Davis and wife and three little children
Mrs. Davis's sister, Vice-President Alex
ander Stephens, Gen. Wheeler, the SOutherl
cavalry leader; c. c. Clay, Mr.. Reagan, auC
Coli. Lubbock, Johnston and Harrison.