The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-05
CAPTURE OF DAVIS.
TRUE STORY OF THE TAKING OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE cONFEDERACY.
The Fourth Michigan Cavalry His Cap
tors-Those With the Ex-President at
the Tfme-Exaggerated Stories of His
Disguise.

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 Confederacy 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 Ocmulgee 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 (since General) Minty,
well known in this city, now railroad
| official in the west, was one of the finest
and most efficient officers in the late
war. His command with Wilder's, in
the foremost front, opened the battle on
the noted and bloody field of Chicka-
manga.
At Abbeyville, 20 miles south of Ma
con, it was learned that Davis fleeing
party had here crossed the ferry over
the Ocmulgee and were moving south
ward toward Irwinsville, Ga, 30 miles
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 the river road, and after 30 mile
ride reached Huntsville late in the
night and learned that he had got in
advance of the Davis party. Early OH
the morning of the 10th of May he
charged into the camp of the "fieeing
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 the facts:
jefferson Davis was captured by the
Fourth Michigan cavalry in the early
morning of May 10, 1865, at Twins
vile in southern Georgia With him
were Mr.. John III. Reagan of Texas. his
postmaster general; Captain Moody Of
Mississippi, an old neighbor of the Da-
Wis family; Governor Lubbock of Texas
and Colonels Harrison and johnson of
his staff; Mrs. Davis and her four chill
dren-Maggie, some 10 years old; jeff,
about 8; Willie, 8, and girl baby-a
brother and sister of Mrs. Davis, a
white and one colored servant woman,
a small force Of cavalry, few others
and a small train of horses, mules, wag-
ons and ambulances. Among the horses
were a span of carriage horses present
ed to Mrs Davis by the citizens of
Richmond during the heyday of the
Confederacy also splendid saddle
horse, the pride of the ex-president HIM
self.
On the nth of May, the next day
after the capture, and while on our way
I back to Macon, as officer of the guard
: over the distinguished prisoners, l rode
0 by the side of Mr.. Reagan, later sena-
tor from Texas. found him q very fine
3 gentleman During that days march a
courier from Macon notified us in print
ed slips of the 500, 600 reward offered
for Mr.. Davis capture, and which no.
S ticc connected Davis with the assassina-
T ton Of President Lincoln. When Mr..
: Reagan read the notice, he earnestly
, protested that Mr.. Davis had no con-
i aectioii whatever with thai sorrowful
i affair. History has shown that he had
} none.
Besides the suit of men s clothing
worn by Mr.. Davis he had on when cap
tured Mrs Davis large waterproof
l. dress or robe, thrown over his own fine
e gray suit, and blanket shawl thrown
/ over his head and shoulders. This shaw
o and robe were finally deposited III the
It archives of the war department at Wash
l. ington by order of Secretary Stanton.
The story of the "hoopskirt, sunbon
n net and calico wrapper" had no real ex
j istence and was started in the fertile
brains of the reporters and in the illus
II trated papers of that day. That was {
II perilous moment for Mr.. Davis. He hat
the right to try to escape in any dis
o guise he could use
" There were many interesting incident
connected with this capture, but hav'
II not the time now to relate them. o
10 the children of this noted couple Maggie
grew up, married and is now living II
d Colorado. One of the boys died early
10 One grew to manhood, married and diet
1t with yellow fever near Memphis sine
% the war, and that "girl baby" grew nj
h to womanhood and is now talente'
and beautiful young lady and known a
winnie, the daughter of the Confeder
acy."
q My mind reverts to those days OF tn
& war, and often think of that scene am
l. the march back from Irwinsville
re through the somber pine woods, swamp
and plantations of southern Georgia
d There in the ambulance with his wifi
oi and baby was jefferson Davis, prisone
y of war. How weak and small had be
P. come the head and front of that powe
d against which the men in blue had bee
"a SO long battlingi How had the might
J. fallenl-Paper by Judge Peabody OF 81
\ Louis