The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-04-03
Last Of a Lie.
Chased to its Lair and Killed
After Many Years.

OHAIIANUOuA, ACuu', Hi0iSu ~.
The visit Of the Wisconsin State COM
mission to this city to fually fix the
positions of their troops at the Battles
of Chickamauga 10 preparation for the
location Of monuments, has brought to
light the real facts as to the capture of
Jefferson Davis. The head of the Goa
federacy has always been misrepresent-
ed as dressed, when taken prisoner, in
woman's clothes and the enormous
hoop skirts then worn by the gentle
sex Brigadier General Henry Harm
den, then lieutenant colonel Of the First
Wisconsin cavalry, is present as a mem
Der of the commissio-, and denies the
current stories as false in this particu-
lar. Gen. Harnden, though now a
white haired veteran Of 10, grows
indignant whenever he talks of what he
terms the gross exaggerations Of a very
natural action by Mr.. Davis. In re-
lating the story. he said
May 9Th, 1865, l was specially
detailed from Macon With $50 picked
men Of the First Wisconsin cavalry, the
only command then armed with Spencer
repeating carbines, by Cen. james H.
Wilson to overtake and capture Jefer-
son Davis, Who was making his way
in the path of Breckenridge and Benja-
min, South, via Florida, to Cuba. Our
course described a circle SO that We
we're overtaken by Col. Pritchard, who
was SEM out two days later with the
First Michigan cavalry.
"The latter pushed ahead during the
night as news of 500, 900 reward, Of
fered May 9th, had reached camp be-
fore his troops left but We came upon
them before day of May 10th. They
fired upon US in the dark, we replied
and drove them back, and capturing a
Michigan cavalryman. first discovered
we were fighting our own soldiers.
Two of Col. Pritchard's men we're kill
ed and a number wounded.
Davis was encamped with a party
of forty or fifty about six rods away
from the skirmishiug lines, just o7er 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 be did SO, a pri-
vate of the First Michigan cried ''halt, .
but did not know who he bad captured
till l approached. The first mau | ad.
dressed was the Confederate Postmas-
ter 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 be had a
shawl ehrcwn over his shoulder when he
first saw bim. I reported this circum-
stance to General Wilson When !
returned to Macon with the distinguish
ed prisoner. The story was telegraphed
out from there. at n the confusion BY
misunderstanding the simple fact Of
wearing his wife's shawl, was magoi'
fed into a ridiculous story that the
President of the Southern Confederacy
was disguised 10 womau's clothes.
81 have always branded it as utterly
false, aud frequently at post reunions
have made myself exceedingly unpopu'
lar by denying this yarn, for untruth,
like that are sometimes pleasant to be.
lieve. would not iojure Mr.. Davis il
l could by allowing a false impression
which I was unwilliogly instrumental
in creating, to prevail
The capture took place in a fores'
of pine trees near ~Irwinville, Irwin
county, Ga where Mr. Davis with bi:
small party had pitched two tents
The party consisted Of Mr.. Davis and
Reagan, Col Harris. his private secre.
tary Mrs. Davis aud her sister, team.
sters aud a few unarmed soldiers. The
larger fighting escort had left him the
day before. and Mr.. Davis appeared
very pettish, aud blamed his wife 10 my
presence for delay them. She was OF
the way to her home in Mississippi, and
Mr.. Davis's separation from General
Basil Dukes cavalry, and the delay.
cost him his liberty. The fallen chief
tain, as be then appeared. vas tallish,
but thin featured and nervous. but very
digui6ed and stately, and would pass as
a bigh.toned gentleman 10 any crowd.
He vas dressed modestly, but unusual
ly we'll for the time.