The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-27
DAVIS NOT IN WoMANS DRESS.
THE STORY or HIS CAPTURE TOLD
BY ONE OF HIS CAPTORs.

The Presidency OF the COnfederacy
Merely Had shawl Thrown
Around His ShOuIders-He Was Ir-
ritated by His Capture and Blamed
His Wife for Delaying Him-The
Prisoner Thin Featured and Ner-
vous, But Very DieniRed.
Chattanooga, Tenn. March 26.-The
visit of the Wisconsin state commission to
this city to finally fix the position Of their
troops at the battles of Chickamauga in
preparation for the location of monuments
has brought TO light the real facts as
10 the capture of Jefferson Davis. The
head of the confederacy has always been
misrepresented as dressed when taken
prisoner in women's clothes, and the
enormous hoopskirts then worn by the
gentle sex. Brig. Gen. Henry Harnden.
then lieutenant colonel of the First Wis
consin cavalry, is present as a member of
the commission, and denies the current
stories as false in this particular Gen.
Harnden, though now a white-haired vet
eraD of 7S, grows indignant whenever he
talks of what he terms the gross exag-
gerations of very natural action by Mr..
Davis.
In relating the story, he said: MAY 6.
1855. was specially detailed from Macon
with $50 picked men of the First Wis
consin cavalry. the only command then
armed with Spencer repeating carbines,
by Gen. James H. Wilson to overtake
and capture Jefferson Davis, who
was then making his way in the
path of Breckinridge and Benjamin, south,
via Florida to Cuba. Our course described
a circle so that we were overtaken by
Col. Pritchard. who was sent out two
days later with the First Michigan cav
airy. The latter pushed ahead during the
night as news of the 100000 reward Of
Tered May had reached camp before his
troops left. but we came upon them be-
fore day of May TO- They fired upon US
in the dark, we replied and drove them
back and capturing a Michigan cavalry
man first discovered we were fighting our
own soldiers. Two of Col. Pritchard' s
men were killed and a number wounded.
Mr.. Davis was encamped with party
of forty or fifty about six rods away
from the skirmishing lines, just over a
little swamp and asleep at the time, but
was awakened by the first firing, and
dressing quickly, stepped out into the
door Of his tent. AS he did so a private
of the First Michigan cried halt, but
did not know who he had captured until
/ approached. The first man 1 addressed
was the confererate postmaster general,
Mr.. Reagan of Texas, since senator, who
very eourteously said, Gentlemen, you
have taken the old gentleman himself
The soldier who arrested Mr.. Davis said
he had a shawl thrown over his should
reported this circumstance
TO Gen. Wilson when I return to Macon
with the distinguished prisoner. The story
was telegraphed out from there and in the |
confusion by misunderstanding, the sim
pie fact of wearing his wife's shawl, was
magnified into Tidulous story that the
president of the southern confederacy
was disguised in women's clothes. 1 have
always branded it as utterly false and
frequently at post reunions have made
myself exceedingly unpopular by denying
this yarn, for untruths like those are
sometimes pleasant to believe. 1 would
not injure Mr.. Davis If 1 could by allow
ing a false impression which 1 was un-
willingly instrumental in creating to pre-
vail
THE capture took place in a forest of
pine trees near Irwinville, Irwin county,
Georgia, where Mr.. Davis with his small
party had pitched two tents. The party
consisted of Mr.. Davis and Mr. Reagan,
Col Harris, his private secretary, Mrs.
Davis and her sister, teamsters and a few
unarmed soldiers. The larger fighting es-
cort had left him the day before, and Mr..
Davis appeared very pettish and blamed
his wife in my presence for delaying them.
She was on the way to her home in Mis-
sissippi, and Mr.. Davis separation from
Gen. Basil Dukes cavalry escort and the |
delay cost him his liberty. All the other
prisoners, except the chief, were parolled. |
The fallen chieftain sas he then appeared |
was tallish. but thin featured and nervous,
but very dignified and stately and would |
pass for hig'h-toned gentleman in any |
crowd, while he was dressed modestly, |
but unusually well for the time"