Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-03-22

ton; seeing that t he enemy were in disorder.
Ordered Clinton To prepare for sabre charge
1 We OF the men hearing me, and understandings
had ordered the charge, drew their Sa hres maj
spurs tn their horses, and dashed at the sun
posed enemy | called them back being moi
quite ready, n wanted 10 give our footmen
time 70 repeniSh their magazines. just as
was about to give the final order to charge, Ser
seant Hoor came running up and said We were
uehhe union men that lac had captured one of
them, and thus ascertained the fact Al hear
ing TINS, rode in front of our line and shouted
stop firing
which soon ceased on both sides Then going
Forward, the first man met~as Col. pritchard.
SO surprised was |, that for some time could
not realize that II was he but as soon as recoc.
niAed him, asked him how ii was that he was
there hshtinr usg He explained that after
parting with me the day before at Ahheville
twenty-five miles distant. and ascertaning from
me that Davis had already got across the river
and hndlng that there was another road to lr-
winsNille, he had selected $50 OF his hest mon
well mounted, and by marching all night had
arrived at lrwiusNile before daylight.
hearing that party with wagons was canned
short defiance from the town, he had marched
out toward It, guided by negro He had sent
twenty-five mon around to the back of the camp
and II was these men who. installing us for
enemies. had fired upon as SO recklessly, with
such unfortunate results, He said some of his
men had Just taken possession of the camp
which was only about 80 yards away in.
qulred II Davis had been captured he answered
that ne qua not know who had been captured, as
unfortunate affair two OF the Michigan mon
were killed. land one officer and several men
wounded OF the Wisconsin men, three we're
wounded but none killed, We lost a numher
OF horses, attribute our slight loss to the
darkness and TO the fact that rs W. were ON
lower ground than our opponents, they over
shot us.
Col Pritchard and rode together into tn,
Davis camp which was Just across a little
swale, only few rods from whore our skirmish
took place. The first person we saw there was
cronfederacy lately United Stntes senator from
Texas. who said Ia me, We'll. You have taken
the old gentleman at last
" Who do YOU mean
" | mean President Davis"
Please point him out"
There he stands" said Reagan, pointing to
a tall elderly, and rather dgniAed. blocking gen
tleman, standing a short distance away
We rode up, dismounted salnted, and asked
II this was Mr.. Davis9 "Ycsn he replied !"
am President Davis At this the soldiers set
up shout that " JEFF Davis was captured
Up to this time none of the men who actually
arrested HIM, Nnew that he was Davis. One
soldier said, WHAT, that man jeff navis7 That's
tho old fellow who when stopped mm, had
his wites shawl on "
We that is. Mr.. Davis and | we're the cen
ter of a circle compo' cd of union soldiers and
members OF the Davis party. In the back
grouna' some OF our men set up the familiar
army song, Wen hang jeff Davis on a sour
apple tree to the tune Of John Browns Body
which did not add in the least to Davis's com.
fort
Ma .As canlu uar. two tents and eight aub,,.
Iances, each of the latter drawn by four mules
here were also several fine saddle horses
Besides Dayis, there were Reagan. Col Harri-
son, Mrs. Davis, her sister Miss HowelD, and
number of confederate officers from ,Johnstou's
army and lot of teamsters. servants and 9th.
ers, but no fighting men, II appears that when
the lighting began, Davis was sleeping in his
tent. Alarmed at the noise, he hastily arose
and threw shawl around him, started out hut
meeting q soldier was stopped and ordered back
into his tent, He heard the noise of the sharp
skirmisu, saw the dead and wounded brought
IN but knowing that he had no fighting men
with him, could not at the time understand
what IT meant, | entered into conversation
with him, but with little satisfaction to him or
m me, 1--we, would not ot cal him MIR President
which seemed t" greatly annoy him, and he
retaliated by speaking with the greatest con.
tempt Of our government
] said TO hhu that | cam" very near making
his acquaintance back at Dublin three DAYS
before; and II he had fulfilled his engagement
20 due with Judge Rose, that | should have
great hauteur, and said " Well, sir can assure
you that II YOU had made my acquaintance
then, this thing would not have happened ms 1T
has had those with me then, who would not
haNo permitted tins indigntty to have been nut
upon me II was we'll for YOU, sir that Won
were not in time to see me then" repled
that it would have afforded me pleasure 10 have
met his friends and tried the question with
them, Every few moments he would turn away
from me, but ho would soon come back To tho
tilt again He wanted to know il my govern
ment authorized me 10 harass women aud child
rem through the country, in the manner was
doing. | replied no. not women and children,
but | was sent after him, Then his wrath arose
again, and he poured out torrent of abuse
against my government, which was treating
him with such indignty,
While conyersiug with him, saw a cask of
brandy pitched ont of an ambulance; the head
was soon knocked IN, and the soldiers were run
nlng thttber from all parts, with cups and can
teens. called Col pritchard's attention TO IT,
and said II ouent 10 be stopped as there might
soon be trouble over a. The colonel went over
and tried to stop it, but with poor success.
suspect, as the condition Of the soldiers soon
,hoved
Mr.. Davis, seeing the way things were being
thrown out OF the wagons, turned 10 me and IN.
luircd which of rs was tho ranking officer As
We were both lientonant-colonels, aud rank de-
pended upon the dates of our respective com.
missions | replied that did not know He
meant 10 inquire which of us was IN command,
out as II had been tnsolent, ! did not propose
20 explain to him that We were two separate
Just come together. He then turned
o some confederate officers, and said that
hinge had come 10 a pretty state of affairs
when United States soldiers did not know who
heir commanding officer was, .aud that IL was
40 wonder that the priyates were pluuderers
md robbers. After q little more talk, his wrath,
which had for some time been rising got com.
olctely the better OF him then he turned HE
back upon me, for the last time
In speaking to his wife he blamed her for the
'apture, for hc said that If no had acted on his
,wn judgment he would nave been with the
Ithers of his party. and this thing would moi
ave happened rs it had II appeared that
die lad persuaded him 30 accompany her "A lit
lie further than be had al first intended. Mrs
Davis took hun by the arm aud tried To pacih
lim She told us 10 never mind him. that he
sas not worth mndiug. She also SAID rs she
vas leading him away. 'het she hoped we
soud not irritate tl!c president, for some one
night ud hurt
After making all allowances for tho htmli. !
atins position in which Davis found hfmself at |
hat time, | came ~ the conclusion that he |
vas a greatly osorrated man. His manner and |
III that be said. his blaming his wife aud |
,ther circumstances, an went 10 show that he /
md no real nobility about him As to the story \
which becune widely prevalent at the time |
hat Davis had On hoop-Eklrt, and was dis |
.uiscd ~ 2 woman. know bat very littlc ~ II |
M think u grew ont ~ The remark ~ the aol. /
Her that when he stopped him, be had his I
glfe's shawl on. When | saw him, he wore a I
oininun slouchcd hat. fine boots no spurs. coat I
nd tire u>ers ~ liRht-hluc English brpadrloth I
akiug ali circumstances into confederation hr /
vas neatly dressed, When We got back 10 Ma !
on. General Wilson sent FOR mo and made mr 4
cll him Hll about ms pursuit, and Tho incidents 1
i the capture % Davis The general Insisted /
pou every particular al 10 hoN he appeared /
,hai he said how he was dressed etc. After
arrHtinH al / told him ! heard the soldier \
Who hailed him gay that when Davis came out I
4 his tent. be had his Bife's shaRl pu. This
auafls n mine was telegraphed north and 4
hen IL c8mo back il had bi0asomed ouf into
oop-kirt7, petticoatet hoods and other arti