Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-22

to remain at Dublin and scout from there up
and down the river, l, with the rest seventy
Davis party was reported to have taken
1t was very dark, and the roads in the pine
woods were only trails. We soon became con-
fused and after wandering around Cor some
time. found ourselves coming into Dublin again
Picking our road once more, and daylight com
ing May y We struck out on the river road at
a rapid gait. five miles out we came 10 Turkey
creek, where We found the bridge torn up.
" nile TINS was being repaired, | Strolled up to
a log house near by, and questioned the woman
whom found there, in regard to the party who
had crossed the evening before. She said
large party had passed, but she did not know
who they were. Two of the gentlemen had been
IN her house and drunk some milk and she
showed me little scrap of pa per which she
said they had dropped. saw it was a piece of
Richmond newspaper, of recent date.
A bright little girl standing BY said she had
heard one gentleman call the other Colonel
Harrison, and the other was addressed as Mr.
President Upon my inquiling as TO how they
handsomely dressed as | was, but their coats
we're not alike. Pointing to my shoulder
straps, l enQuired if they had such things on
their coats; she replied no. but one of them had
stars on his collar and gold on his sleeves while
the other had PLAIN clothes. The childs de-
scription convinced me that was an officer
of high rank, and the other jefferson Davis.
So convinced ives that we We're at last really
on the track of Davis, that wrote dispatch
and started courier with it to Gen. Wilson
but the man was captured by some confederates.
taken into the woods, robbed of his horse and
equipments. and left TO make his way TO Macon
on foot : which he did, but not until after my
return there.
The bridge being repaired, we again pushed
on through the pine woods. The wagon tracks
could now be plainly seen, but it soon COM
menced to rain very hard, and the tracks we
--ad followed We're now obliterated We were
in the great pine woods of the south, the soil
nothing but white sand scarcely an inhabitant
to be found and soon lost all track of the par
ty ahead but still we pushed blindly on. | sent
parties clrcllng around to find theFroad, but
! they were unsuccessful. However, they found
a hOrSeman, and brought him 70 me In reply
to my,,questions, he said he knew nothing of any
party, that he was only poor citizen hunting
some lost sheep noticed that he was riding a
fine horse. told him that | would take his
| horse, and he could hunt his sheep on foot At
this he began to plead earnestly. I told him TO
quit lying, to tell me where the wagons we've
that had been somewhere near there the even.
ing before, and l would let him go with his
horse. He then confessed he did know where
the party had camped over night, but it was
tirely from that in which we were headed
Guide us there | said, and you shall have
your horse; otherwise you go home on foot"
He took us in a westerly direction, to where
the Davis party had been In camp, but they
were gone. Accordance to promise, | dismissed
the guide and he left in hurry, We found
here poor plantation and little forage, which
we appropriated from the owner | inquired
where the wagon party had gone; he did not
know, though he thought they had crossed Gum
swamp, but the rains had so raised the water
that it would be difficult for US TO get through
''Get your horse" | said and guide us
through to the, other side and we will go
otherwise we shall stay and eat you out of
house and home"
He then quickly mounted, and led the way
through the swamp, where the water for miles
pushed on through the dense woods over a
fairly plain track, until darkness compelled us
to halt for the night, during which there came
up terrible storm of wind, rain, thunder, and
lightning. As if to add to our discomfort sew
eral great trees came down with a crash in our
vicinity, but our WEAKNESS was such that we
were disturbed but for moment.
May 9, as soon as 1t was light enough to see
we pushed on in a southeast direction, until we
struck the Och mulgee, the same river we had
before crossed at Macon. Continuing down
this stream some distance, We came to ferry.
In our haste to get over, the boat was damaged
so that only half load of horses could be taken
at time. This delayed US a couple of
hours, when pushed on few miles to a lit
, tie town called Abbeville.
By inquiring learned that party with
wagons had passed through the town during
the night, and that they had gone towards Ir
winsville. Hating to feed our horses we
started on the road thither, but Just as we were
moving out we four soldiers in United
States uniform, coming down the road from the
north. They informed me that they belonged
to the fourth Michigan cavalry, Lieut.. Col
Benjamin D. Pritchard commanding, and that
the regiment was near at hand
Sending on our detachment under Lieutenant
George .. Clinton, | rode, accompanied by my
order y,- James Aplin,-to meet Colonel Prit-
he had any news of Davis. He said he had not,
but that he had been ordered with his regiment
to Abbeville to patrol the river and prevent
Davis from crossing. He had left Macon since
had, but up to that time had heard nothing of
the fugitive. As his errand was the same as
mine, thought it my duty to give him all the
information IN my possession, III regard to the
movements of the latter. He inquired if
needed any more men; | said / did not but
asked if he could spare some rations, as our
party had next to nothing to eat He said they
had marched suddenly, and had nothing. Bid
ding him goodbye. my orderly and l left, and
pushing on overlook our party We shortly
came to the place where the Davis party had
lunched. They had left so recently, that their
fires were still burning
We continued to march OIL until dark when,
coming to swaIe where there was water and
little grass, we halted to rest and Craze our
horses. All we had for rations was tlifle of
damaged corn meal. We lay down to rest for
again in the saddle. At this time felt conf
dent that we We're in close proximity to the
Davis party, and had only halted so as not to
come upon them in the night l expected that
the fugItives would camp on the other side of
the river, ahead of us, and | reasoned that if
attempted to cross the ford in the dark
Davis would take the alarm and escape.
Putting forward advance guard of a ser
geant George Hussey) and six men, with in
structlOns to keep little ahead, and maintain
a sharp lookout, we moved on We had made
but q mile or so, when our advance guard were
suddenly fired upon, by what / judged to be
twenty or thirty muskets. Galloping forward
at the head of ten men, met the sergeant and
his party retreatlng, with several of his men
wounded. He said they had run into the
enemys pickets and had been fired upon. |
directed the sergeant to follow. and then
dashed on, when were met with another
vOlIey, close that the fire came right in our
faces and the bullets ratified like hail on the
trees. L could just see the forms of our as
Sailants, on account of the darkness Seeing
that they in cOnsidera bic force and de-
termined to stand their ground, | got my men
into line, and dismounting part, we advanced,
on the enemy. They gave a third voley.
when we opened fire on them, and they retreated
into swamp.
1t was now getting light. At this time one of
our party called my attention to about a hun
dred mounted men who We're coming down on
our flank. | cried,
Never mind boys, III whip them yet, "
Directing Sergeant Hoor, with ten men of
company A, to pursue the party who had fired on
US nrst and retreated, ana not to let them rally,
l next turned my attention TO the new corners,
who were between and the light. Forming
line facing them, we opened upon our assaIlants
with our repeating rifles Spencer carbineSD.
They were soon thrown into confusion. | had
left part of my mounted under Lieut.. Gin
ton seeing that he enemy were in disorder, |
ordered Clinton to prepare for sabre charge
Two OF the men hearing me, and understanding
had ordered the charge. drew their sa bres, put
spurs to their horses, and dashed at the sup
posed enemy. / called them back, being not
quite ready. as | wanted to give our footmen
time to replenish their magazines Just as
was about to give the final order to charge, Ser
Seant Hoor came running up and said we were
hghinR union men that he had captured one of
them, and thus aScertained the fact At hear
inc this, rode in front of our line and shouted
Stop firinE!"
which soon ceased on both sides. Then going
forward, the first man | met vas Col. Prltchard.
So surprised was |, that for some time could
not realize that IL was he but as soon as recog-
niEed him. | asked him how it was that he was
there fighting us2 He explained that after
parting with me the day before, at Abbeville, |
y fly mi les from