Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-03-22
He IS A MESSENGER
The Man Who Actually Captured
Jefferson DniNs-He Tells the
Story OF the Arrest.

Washington. March 21.-wnllam p.
stedmnn, the man who actually can
tured Jefferson Davis when the prcsi-
dent OF the late Confoderacy was trying
TO escape, Is now messenger In the
agricultural department. where he was
appointed by Secretary Morton two or
three years ago. Mr.. Stcdman Is a
resident of Owosso, Mich, and has
been engaged in farming since the war
lie is an unpretentious man, but talks
and writes well, and his recollection of
the historical events In which he was
the second actor OF Importance Is very
clear.
The story he tells Is. that while
AT Ahbeville, Ga, ON May ., 1865, Col
| onel Pritch0rd Of the Fourth Michigan
| cavalry met Colonel HarndCn OF the
| First Wisconsin, who informed him
that jefferson Davis and some other
refugees from Richmond had crossed
the river the night before; that he had
been following them for two days and
claimed the right Of way. Colonel
! Pritchard nccedcd and offered to lend
part OF his regiment, which Colonel
! Harndcn declined, and proceeded south
! on the trail OF MIR. Davis. Prltchard
afterwards learned that there was an
| other road In the same direction and,
| taking 800 of his best mounted men.
| started to follow 1t. That night they
d
| Davis party. which they surrounded
| and waited for daylight
AS | sa. by In the morning" said
! Mr. Stedman. some Of our men went
] to the tent door. but We're met by a
| woman, who asked them TO keep out.
| NJ there were undressed Indies within.
! Soon after she Inquired II we would
let her servants 20 after some water.
| Consent was given, when out came u
| tall person, with q lady's waterproof
! oVcrdress ON and a small brown shawl
| on her head. tin pail on the right
| arm and a coored woman leaning on
! the left arm. The tall person was
STOPPING over, as II to appear shorter,
concluded Il must be Davis In dis
gulse. and as the guards did not halt
them | rode around, recognized Davis
and told him his disguise would NOT
succeed. man by the name of An
drew Rec, n Swede, who was cook for
Colonel Prltchard, came up ON the run,
grabbed both hands into the front OF
and said to him. Come out OF this,
you old devil"
Davis, Mt this attack, straightened
up and showed anger. At the same
time he put his hand to his back under
his drcss. | thought he was after a
cnrblne. But Mrs. Davis threw herself
in front OF the gun and cried out that
her husband was not armed. Davis
then took Off his dress and shawl
throw them on the ground and started
back 10 his tent, Tho clothing IS now
In the war department
when Colonel Ptitchard came up
shortly after Davis was sitting on a
log across tho road from his toni, calm
and cool. Colonel Pritchard asked him
what his name was. He answered;
"You may call me what you please.
Colonel Pritohard placed the prison
| or in my charge. and as we sat by the
fire n soldier by the name OF Lynch
came up leading q fine bay horse and
saidi
Jcfllc, here Is your horse; you won't
need him any more; won't you give him
10 meg
Davis did not answer, but Colonel
| Lubbock. one OF HIS attendants, became
very angry and declared that he would
not see his president insulted.' Lynch
responded with an oath;
"'What IL he president Off
/ Lynch and one OF the officers after
wards quarreled about this horse and
on Saturday morning shot him. Lynch
Is the same man who got Mrs. Davis
vallse containing her valuahes said
to amount 20 several thousand dollars.
He hid it'near Macon and went there
TO get It after he was discharged from
the army.
There was no violent language used
| In my hearing except by Andrew Bee,
whom he tore open the waterproof on
Mr.. Davis"