The National tribune., 1900-05-24

for us, and probably the last big one of the
war Lee surrendered April 8; Mobile was
captured the 18th, and Columbus and West
Point the 10th.
May 6.-Lieut.- Col. Harnden, with 80
picked men of the 1st Wis, by order of Gen.
McCook, was detailed for special service
and left Macon tonight
May 9.-Have been alling for several
days and asked for and received excuse
from duty for few days to recuperate
Am now staying on the plantation of Henry
Cason. a few miles from the city, on the
Forsyth road. Have my horse with me-
and ride in to Headquarters every morning
to attend to what business | have to. Am
having good time and feeling better.
AFTER j EFF DAVIS.
May 13.-Col. Harnden and his detach-
ment returned to-day. His duty was a
secret one, and here is the gist of it, taken
from his report, which l copied. 1t was
known that jeff Davis had fled and would
likely pass through the country somewhere
in this vicinity, and Col. Harnden was sent
to find him.
They went to Jeffersonville, where Lieut.
Hewitt and 80 men were detached to guard
and patrol the crossroads. They reached
Dublin, 80 miles from Macon, the next day,
and camped near the ferry, across the
Oconee River. Here the Colonel learned
that a train Of light wagons and ambu-
-,
during the day.
Leaving Lieut.. Lane and As men to guard
the ferry and patrol the roads, he left at
daybreak in pursuit, having learned that
Davis and wife were with the train. Find
ing out the road they took, he pushed his
command and found where they had camped
the night before, between the forks of
Alligator Creek.
He was now only about four hours be-
hind the party he was seeking, and after
feeding the horses. pushed on across the
main Alligator Creek, then through a
swamp TO Gum Swamp Creek, where the
| trail was lost in the darkness and the com
mand bivouacked till morning.
At the next morning the pursuit was
| continued across Sugar and Cypress
Creeks to Ocmulgee River, which they
| followed through swamp to Browns
Ferry. They were delayed here two hours
by an accident to the boat AS soon as they
got across they rode on to Abbeville and
| learned the train had left there at 10 that
morning.
Sending his men on the road to Irwinville,
the one the train had taken, Col. Harnden
went TO meet Col. Pritchard, of the 4th
Mich. Cav, whom he knew was in that
| vicinity. and told him where he expected
to find and capture the train he had so
long been pursuing. These officers were
alone, not even an Orderly with either.
In his honest frankness Col. Harnden told
| Col. Pritchard where he expected TO over
haul the train and much of his plans On
| account of lack of forage he declined prof
fered aid from Pritchard. who told him he
was ordered to stay at Abbeville, and rode
away to catch his command.
| de found them about 10 miles away,
where they had discovered camping
place Of the train, the fires not yet entirely
burned out. They pushed on through the
| pine woods till at night. Knowing now
| the train could not be far away, and think
ing that if he should attack it in the night
some OF the party might get away, the com-
mand halted until daylight.
| AT in the morning OF May 10 they We're
on the move and had not gone more than a
| mile when the advance guard, under Serg' I
George Hussey. was fired upon and the
Sergeant and two of his men wounded.
Col. Harnden then sent forward a squad of
| 10 men, and they were also fired upon by
men partly concealed behind trees. Think
ing of course they had struck Davis's body
guard, the whole force was then sent against
and drove them from their position, cap
turing one Of the opposing force. The
prisoner proved to be one of the 4th Mich.
Cav, and Cease fring!" was Immediately
ordered.
| AN UNFORTUNATE COLLISION.
4 An explanation then followed which
showed that Immediately after his inter-
view with Harnden, Pritchard had selected
force of his best mounted men, left Able
vile, and under full galiop pushed out to
Horse Creek. then back to lrwinville, get
ting there before the train did. Dsmount-
ing portion of his men he sent them around
in rear of the train and then moved on it
from the Irwinville side.
, Inc men sent to the rear of the train were
, the ones who fired upon our bows, and
While this unfortunate collision was occur