The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-01-04
CAPTURE OF DAVIS.
TRUE STORY OF THE TAKING OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE coNFEDERACY.

PRESIDENT OF THE CoNFEDERACY.
The Fourth Michigan Cavalry His Cap
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, 70 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, 80 miles
below and 100 miles south of Macon.
Lieutenant Colonel B. D. Pritchard, In
command Of the Fourth Michigan cav
airy, marched the regiment rapidly
down the river road, and after a 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 the 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 the facts:
Jefferson Davis was captured by the
Fourth Michigan cavalry in the early
morning of May 10, 1855, at Twins
vile in southern Georgia. With him
were Mr.. John H. Reagan of Texas, his
postmaster general; Captain Moody Of
Mississippi, an old neighbor of the Da-
Wis family; Governor Lubbock Of Texas
and Colonies Harrison and johnson Of
his staff; Mrs. Davis and her four chill
dren-Maggie, some 10 years old; JEFF,
about g.; Willie, 5, and a girl baby-a
brother and sister of Mrs Davis, a
white and one colored servant woman,
small force of cavalry, few others
and small train Of horses, mules, wag
ons and ambulances. 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 splendid saddle
horse, the pride of the ex- president him
self
On the 18th Of May, the next day
after the capture, and while on our way
back to Macon, as officer of the guard
over the distinguished prisoners, rode
by the side of Mr.. Reagan, later sena-
tor from Texas. found him very fine
gentleman. During that days march a
courier from Macon notified us in print
ed slips of the 500, 900 reward offered
for Mr. Davis capture, and which no.
tice connected Davis with the assassina-
ton Of President Lincoln. When Mr..
Reagan read the notice, he earnestly
protested that Mr. Davis had no con-
nection whatever with that sorrowful
affair. History has shown that he had
none.
Besides the suit of mems clothing
worn by Mr.. Davis he had on when cap
tured Mrs. Davis large waterproof
dress or robe, thrown over his own fine
gray suit, and blanket shawl thrown
over his head and shoulders. This shawl
and robe were finally deposited in the
archives of the war department at Wash
ington by order of Secretary Stanton.
The story Of the 'hoopskirt, sunbon-
net and calico wrapper" had no real ex-
istence and was started in the fertile
brains of the reporters and in the illus
trated papers Of that day. That was a
perilous moment for Mr.. Davis. He had
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 the time now to relate them. OF
the children of this noted couple Maggie
grew up, married and is now living In
Colorado. One of the boys died early.
1 One grew to manhood, married and died
with yellow fever near Memphis since
the war, and that girl baby grew up
to womanhood and is now talented
and beautiful young lady and known as
Winnie, the daughter of the Confeder-
acy"
My mind reverts to those days of the
war, and l often think of that scene and
the march back from Irwinsville,
through the somber pine woods, swamps
and plantations of southern Georgia.
There in the ambulance with his wife
and baby was Jefferson Davis, a prisoner
/ of war. How weak and small had be-
come the head and front of that power
against which the men in blue had been
SO long battling How had the mighty
fsllenl-Paper by Judge Peabody of st.
That Was why.
Thav xuara ont for a stroll She no.