Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-06-23

ately recognized as cavalry, deploying
around the encampment. turned back
and told my wife that these were not
the expected marauders, but regular
troopers She implored me to leave her
at once. 1 hesitated from unwilling
ness to do SO. and lost fey precious
moments before yielding to her impor-
tunity My horse and arms were near
the road on which 1 expected 10 leave.
and down which the cavalry aP-
preached. 1t was, therefore, imprac-
ticable to reach them. / was compelled
to start in the opposite direction. Asi
was quite dark in the tent, picked up
what was supposed to be my raglan.
a waterproof light overcoat, without
sleeves. 1t was subsequently found tn
be my wife's, so very like my own as to
be mistaken for it. AS 1 started my wife
thoughtfully threw over my head and
shoulders shawl. L had gone perhaps
IS or 20 yards when trooper galloped
up and ordered me TO halt and surren-
der, to which i gave a defiant answer.
and dropping the shawl and regian
from my shoulders advanced towards
him. He leveled his carbine a me; but
1 expected if he fired he would miss me,
and my intention was in that event TO
put my hand under mis- foot, tumble him
off on the ether side, spring into his
saddle and attempt to escape Myowife,
who had been watching. when she saw
the soldier aim the carbine at me ran
forward and threw her arms around me.
Success depended upon instantaneous
action, and recognizing that the oppor-
tunity had been lost turned back. and.
the morning being damp and chilly,
| passed on to a fire beyond the tent"
That is the story of the capture, plain
| " stated, and with the candor of per
| feet truthfuIness. The official account
| forwarded TO Gen. Wilson by Col.
Pritchard substantiates the narration
| published by Mr. Davis, although /.
gives many details not found in the
story written by the eX-president of the
| lost cause.
Hon. John II. Rea gan. for many years
a member of the national house of rep
resentatives, and also of the senate. was
acknowledgements of the confederaey,
| and he was with the Davis party on that
occasion. and was also taken prisoner
He also has published account of the
event, and says that Col. Pritchard did
not come up for some time after Mr..
Davis was made a prisoner. He says:
suit he habitually wore He asked Col.
/ Pritchard who commanded the troops,
| and when Pritchard announced himself
] as their commander, Mr.. Davis said:
You command a set of thieves and rob
| Ders. They rob women and children
Col. Pritchard reminded Mr.. Davis that
he was a prisoner, and Mr.. Davis re-
piled: 1t would be bad enough to be
| the prisoner of soldiers and gentlemen.
1 am still lawful game, apd would rather
| be dead than be your prisoner
The prisoners were taken 90 Macon,
| Ga, where they arrived May Is, 1865.
Mr.. Davis was sent by command OF Gen.
| Wilson to Fortress Monroe, Va, and
there imprisoned for nearly two years
He was finally arraigned for treason be-
fore the United States circuit court, at
Richmond, Va, where he had been for
four years the head of strong confed-
Grafton OF states. He was liberated on
bail furnished by Horace Greeley, Cor
nelius Vanderbilt and Gerrit Smith, and
that ended the case; for Mir. Bavis was
never brought to trial
SMITH D. FRY.