The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-27
JEFF. DAVIS CAPTURE.
TIE OLD STORY or THE W0MANS
GARB AGAIN EXPLODED.
Gen. Hernden, Of Wisconsin,. Who Was IN
Charge of tho Party Who Captured the
President, Rstslls tho story.

CHATTANOOGA, TENN, March 49,
The visit OF the Wisconsin State Com
mittee to this city to finally fix the po-
sitions OF their troops at the battle Of
Chicamaugua. in preparation for the To-
cation OF monuments, 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 prisoner In wo-
mans clothes, and the enormous hoop
skirts then worn by the gentle sex. Brig
adier-General Henry He.nden. then lieu
tenant-colonei of the First Wisconsin
Cavalry, is present as a member OF the
committee, and denies the current stories
as false in this particular. General Hern-
den, though now white-haired veteran
OF seventy-three. grows indignant when
ever he talk of what he knows to be
the grossest exaggerations of very
natural action by Mr.. Davis.
In relating the story he said ,
May g. 1869. | was specially detailed
from Macon with 100 picked men OF the
First Wisconsin cavalry. the command
then armed with Spencer repeating car
bines, by General James IA. Wilson. to
overtake and capture Jefferson Davis.
who was making his way In the path
of Breckenridge and Banjamin, south via
Florida TO Cuba. Our course described
a circle, so that we were overtaken by
Colonel Pritchard. who was sent out TIVE
days later with the First Michigan caval.
ry. The latter pushed ahead during the
night, as news OF 100000 reward offered
on May 9Th had reached camp before
day break OF May 10TH They fred upon
tba .la ri nj
them back and. capturing Michigan
cavalryman first, discovered we were
fighting our own soldiers Two OF Colonel
Pritchard's men were killed and "A num-
ber wounded. Davis was encamped with
a party of forty or fifty about six rods
away from the sklrmishing 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 30
a private OF the First Michigan cried.
"Halt " but did not know who he had
captured until | approached.
SENATOR REAGAN's REPLY.
The first man 1 addressed was the Con-
federate ostmaster-General. MIR. Rea-
gan, of Texas. since Senator. who very
courteousy said:
"Gentlemen, you have taken the old
gentleman himself" The soldier who ar
rested Mr. Davis said he had a shawl
thrown over his shoulder when he first
saw him. I reported this circumstances
to General Wilson.
now THE STORY GOT OUT.
When / returned TO Macon with the dis
tinguished prisoner, the story was tele-
graphed out from there, and IN the con-
fusion by msui ierstanding the simple
@E n - eIs.x
magnified into the ridiculous story that
the President OF the southern confsdeEz-
acy was disguised -Spsy~ '"asf f5SKes,
1 have always brandedI1 as utterly false
and frequently at POST reunions have
made myself exceedingly unpopular by
denying this yarn. for untruths like that
are sometimes pleasant To believe.
would not injure MIR. Davis IL / could
by allowing n false impression which I
was unwilllngly instrumental In creating.
to prevail.
The capture took place I'm a forest OF
pine trees, near Irwinville, Irwin coun-
ty, Ga. where Mr.. Davis. with his small
party, had pitched two tents. The party
consisted OF Mr.. Davis and Reagan,
Colonel Harrison, his private secretary.
Mrs. Davis and her sister, teamsters and
a few unarmed soldiers. The larger
fighting escort had left him the day be-
fore, and Mr.. Davis appeared very pet
tlsh. and blamed his wife In my presence
for delaying them. She was on the way
to her home in Mississippi. and Mr.. Davis
separation from General Basil Dukes
cavalry escort, cost him his liberty.
All other prisoners except the chief were
paroled
HOW NE. DAVIS APPEARED.
The fallen cbieftan az then appeared,
was tallish, bdt thin featured and ner-
vous but very dignihed and stately. and
would pass as a high-toned gentleman
in any crowd. while he was dressed
modestly but unusually we'll for the time.