Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-27
BRANDS IT AS FALSE.
General Harnden, Who Arrested Jeff ferson Davis, Makes State-
 ment About the Capture.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, March 26.-The visit of the Wisconsin state commission to this city to finally fix the positions of their troops at the battle of Chickamauga in preparation for the location of the monu- ments has brought to light the real facts as to the capture of Jefferson Davis. The head of the. Con federacy has always been misrepresented as dressed when taken pris- oner insweman's 8 clothes and the enormous hoopskirts then worn by the gentle sex. Brig Gen. Henry Harnden, then lieuten- ant-colunel of the First Wisconsin cav airy, is present as member of the commission, and denies the current stories as false in this particular. General Harnden, though now a white airedfvete,an of 73 years, grows ,indig- nant whenever he talks of what he terms the gross exaggeratiun of a very natural action bY MT, Davis. In relating the story
 May 6, 1865, l was specially detailed from Macon with 150 picked men of the First Wisconsin cavalry, the only com-S mand then with Spencer repeating car pines, by Ger. James H. Wilson 10 over take and capture Jefferson Davis, who was making his way in the path of Breckin- ridge and Benjamin south via Florida
 "Our course described circle, so that we were oeertaken by Colonel Pritchard, who was sent out two days later with the First Michigan cavalry. The latter pushed ahead duringkt the night as news of Sl0O s900 re- ward, offered May $, had reached camp, and the troops left, but we came upon them before sthe 10th day of May. They fired upon us'in fhe dark, we replied and drove them back, and capturing Michigan cav airy nan first discovered we were lighting our own soldiers. Two of Prtchard's men were killed and a number wounded. Davis was encaplped with party of forty or fifty about six rods away from the sEirm ishing lines just over a little swamp, and was asleep at the time, but Was awakened by tue first firing, and, dressing quickly, stepped out into the door of his tent. As he did so private of the First Michigan cried sHal!' but did not know who he bad~ captured till l approached. The first man l addressed was the Confed- crate postmaster general, Mir. Reagan of courteously said: 'GentlemeD, you have taken the old gentleman himself. The soldier who arrested MT. Davis said he had shawl thrown over his shoulder WI hen he first saw him. 1 reported this circum- stance to General Wilson when returned to Macon with the distins uished prisoner. The story was telegraphed out from there and in tue confusion, by misunderstand- ing, the simple fact Of wearing his wife's shawl was magni6ed into ridiculous story that the president of the Southern Con fed eracy was disguised in woman's clothes. l have always branded it as utterly 1alse, ana IrtQuently, aL post reunlonSs have made myself exceedingly unpopular by denying this yarn, for untrnths like that are sometimes pleasant to believe. I would notiDjure MT. Davis if could by allowing false impression, which was unwillingiy instrumental In creating, to prevail. The capture took place in forest of pine trees near Irwinville, Irwin county, Georgiay where MT. Davis, with his small party, shad pitched two tents. The party consisted of MT. Davis and Mir. Reagan, Colonel Harris, his private }secre- tary, Mrs. Davis and her sister, teamsters and few unarmed soldiers. The larger fighting escort had left him the day before, and Mir. Davis appeared very pettish and blamed his wife in my presence for delay ing them. She was on the way to her home in Mississippi, and Mir. Davis separation from Gen. Basil Duke's cavalry escort and the delay cost l ni his liberty. <All other prisoners except the chief were paroled. The fallen chieItaIn, as he then. Appeared, was tallish, but thin featured and nervous, but very dignIfied and stately, and would pass as u high toned gentleman in any crowd, while be was dressed modestly, but uD
 psuallv.NelI iur the time. '' 54s