The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-12-15
CAPTURE OF DAVIS.
TRUE STORY OF THE TAKING OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE coNFEoERAcY.

TRUE STORY OF THE TAKING OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEOERACY.
tors-Those with the EX-President at
the Time Exaggerated stories OF His
Disguise.
Our cavalry corps went into camp In
and around Macon, and in the early
part of May it was learned that Jeffer-
son Davis, president Of the Confederate
states. was fleeing for Texas to join
General Kirby Smith. there to try and
re-establish the Gonfederacy Orders
were at once issued by General Wilson
for his capture. The First Wisconsin
cavalry was ordered out on the north
or east bank of the Oomulgoe river, and
Colonel Minty ordered out his old regi-
ment, the Fourth Michigan cavalry
down the south or west side of the same
river. with instructions to intercept and
capture Mr.. Davis and the party with
him. Colonel tsince General) Minty,
we'll known In this city, now q railroad
official III the west was one of the finest
and most efficient officers In the late
war. His command, with Wilder =, In
the foremost front, opened the battle on
the noted and bloody field of Chiclta
manga.
At Abbeyville, 20 miles south of Ma
Lao, ttak Ne t.t
party had here crossed the ferry over
the Ocmulgee and were moving south
ward toward 1rwinsville, Ga, 80 mile,
below and 100 miles south of Macon
Lieutenant Colonel b. ID. Pritchard, IN
command Of the Fourth Michigan cav
airy. marched the regiment rapidly
down tho river road, and after 80 mile
ride reached Irwinsville late In the
night and learned that he had got in
advance of the Davis party. EARLY on
the morning Of tho 10th of May he
charged into the camp of the Fleeing
Confederacy, and Mr.. Davis never
Joined Kirby Smith In Texas. Many
false and nonsensical stories have been
related about this capture and different
regiments given its credit Now these
are tho facts:
Jefferson Davis was captured by the
Fourth Michigan cavalry in the carly
morning of May 10, 1868, Mt Twins
willie In southern Georgia. With him
were Mr.. John II. Reagan of Texas, his
postmaster general; Captain Moody OF
Mississippi, an old neighbor of tho Da
Wis family; Governor Lubbock of Tcxat
and Colonels Harrison and johnson OF
his staff; Mrs. Davis and her four chill
dren-Maggie, some 10 years old; jeff,
about &; Willie, B, and Il girl baby
brother and sister of Mrs Davis, q
white and ono eolored servant woman
small force of cavalry, few Others
and small train of horses, mules. wag
ons and ambulanoes. Among the horses
were span Of carriage horses present
ed to Mrs. Davis by the citizens OF
Richmond during the heyday Of the
Confederacy; also IL splendid saddle
horse, tho pride 81 tho OK president him
self
On the 18th Of May the next day
after tho capture, aud while ON our wa,
back to Macon, M officer of tho guar,
over the distinguished prisoners, | rod,
by the side of Mr.. Reagan. later sena
tor from Texas, | found him II very fin,
gentleman. During that days march I
courier from Macon notified us in print
ed slips of the 800 600 reward Offered
for Mr.. Davis capture, and which no
tioe connected Davis with tho assassina
ton Of President Lincoln. Whom Mr.
Reagan read the notice, he earnestly
protested that Mr.. Davis had no con
nection whatever with TINT sorrowful
affair. History has shown that he had
none.
Besides tho suit of men = clothing
worn by Mr.. Davis no had ON when cap
tured Mrs. Davis large waterproof
dress or robe, thrown over his own fine
gray suit, and n blanket shawl thrown
over his head and shoulders. This shaw
and robe were finally deposited in tn,
archives Of tho war department at Wash
ington by order OF Secretary Stanton.
The story OF the "hoopskirt, sunbon
net and calico wrapper" had no real OK
istence and was started in the fertil,
brains OF the reporters and in tho illus
trated papers Of that day. That was
perilous moment for Mr.. Davis. He hat
the right to try to escape in any dis
guise he could use
There were many interesting incidents
connected with this capture, but | have
not tho time now to relate them. o.
the children of this noted couple Maggi,
grew up, married and il now living II
Colorado. One OF the boys died early
Ono grew to manhood, married and diet
with yellow fever near Memphis since
tho war, and that girl baby grew NJ
to womanhood and il now IA talented
and beautiful young lady and known az
Winnie, tho daughter Of the Confeder
acy. -
My mind reverts to those days Of thu
war, and often think of that scene ant
the march back from Irwinsville
through the somber pine woods, swampI
and plantations Of southern Georgia
There In tho ambulance with his wifi,
and baby was jefferson Davis, prisoner
Of war How weak and small had be
come tho head and front Of that powe
against which the men in blue had beef
10 long battlinR How had the might,
allenl-Paper by Judge Peabody Of st
Louis.
Better Protected.
He was crying, but he finally man