The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-04-03
How Davis Was Captured.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, March 26-
The visit of the Wisconsin State Com
mission to this city to finally fix the
positions Of their troops at the battle
of Chicamauga in preparation for the
location of monuments has brought to
light the real facts as to the capture
of Jefferson Davis. Tho head of the
Confederacy has always been misrep-
resented as dressed when taken pris-
oner in woman's clothes and the enor-
nous hoop skirts then worn by the
gentle sex.
Brigadier General Henry Harnden,
then Lieutenant Colonel of the First
Wisconsin Cavalry, is present as a
member of the Commission and denies
the current stories as false in this
particular. General Harnden, though
now white-haired veteran Of 70 years,
grows indignant whenever he talks Of
what he terms the gross exaggeration
of a very natural action Mr.. Davis.
In relating the story he said:
''May 6, 1865, I was specially de.
tailed from Macon, with $50 picked
men of the First Wisconsin Cavalry,
the only command then with Spencer
repeating carbines, by General James
H. Wilson to overtake and capture
Jefferson Davis, who was making his
way in the path Of Breckenridge and
Benjamin south via Florida to Cuba.
Our course described a circle so that
we were overtaken by Colonel Pritch-
ard, who was sent out two days later
with the First Michigan Cavalry
The latter pushed ahead during the
night, as news of $780, 600 reward Of
fered May 9Th had reached camp be-
fore his troops left, but we came upon
them before day Of May 10th. They
fred upon. us in the dark. We replied
and drove them back, and capturing
Michigan cavalryman first discovered
we were fighting our own soldiers.
Two of Colonel Pritchard 8 men were
killed and number wounded.
'sDavis was encamped with party
of 40 or so andsi rods away from the
skirmishing lines, just over little
swamp and asleep at the time but was
wakened by the first firing, and, dress
ing quickly, stepped out into the door
of the tent. AS he did 80 private
of the First Michigan cried, halt,
but did not know who he had captured
till I approached. The first man I ad-
dressed was the Confederate Post
master General, Mr.. Reagan, of Texas,
since Senator, who very courteously
said, Gentlemen, you have taken the
old gentleman himself The soldier
who arrested Mr.. Davis said he had a
shawl thrown over his shoulders when
he first saw him.
IT reported this circumstance to
General Wilson, when I returned to
Macon with the distinguished pris
oner. The story was telegraphed out
from there and in the confusion, by
misunderstanding, the simple fact of
wearing his wife's shawl was magni-
fed into ridiculous story that the
President of the Southern Confeder-
acy was disguised in woman's clothes.
I have always branded it as utterly
false and frequently at post reunions
have made myself exceedingly unpop-
ular by denying this yarn, for un-
truths like that ere sometimes pleas
ant to believe.
IT would not injure Mr.. Davis, if /
could, by allowing false impression,
which was unwittingly instrumental
in creating, to prevail. The capture
took place in a. forest of pine trees
near Irwinville, Irwin County, Ca,
where Mr.. Davis, with his small party,
had pitched two tents. The party
consisted of Mr.. Davis and Reagan,
Colonel Harris, his private secretary;
Mrs. Davis and her sister, teamsters
and a few unarmed soldiers. The lar
ger fighting escort 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 General Basil Dukes Cavalry
escort and the delay cost him his
liberty. All other prisoners except
the chief we're paroled. The fallen
chieftain, as he then appeared, was
tallish, but thin-featured and nervous,
but very dignifed and stately, and
would pass as a high-toned gentleman
in any crowd, while he was dressed
modestly, but unusually well for the
time"