The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-28
His Old Servant Tells How and
Where Il Occurred.
WAS SURPRISED AT NIGHT.
JIm Jones, Nov Employed In Washington,
Denies The Story Of Disguise Ia
Wuman's Clothing.

pcrsoi4ally associated with the conspicu-
GUS leaders and actors on either side of
the direful drama OF the civil war one
OF these IL 4 highly respectable, and in
telllgent colored man, James III. Jones,
now employed at tie national capitol as
messenger in the stationery department
OF the senate, says l.. s. Marye in the
Washington Post.
lie was in the service of Jefferson Da-
Wis during the eyentful period OF the war.
He was the family coachman. ana also
the trusted body servant OF the Confcd-
crate president.
After the fall of Richmond and the
surrender of Lee he was intrusted IN
part with the task Of conducting Mrs.
Davis and family on their journey South
IN the difficult, and at times dangerous
endeHvor to escape beyond the lines OF
the victorious army that was now over
powering the country
lie was present at the capture OF Mr..
Davis and was pslbably i'm a better sit
uation than any other 10 give verita-
BILE narrative OF that dramatic event. lie
was not slave, having been born free.
but was hired servant
In reply 10 my inquiry as TO his first
connection with the Davis family, Jim
said that he happened 10 be I'm Raleigh.
n. c., his native place. I'm the early part
OF the summer of 1861, the first year OF
the war when Mrs. Davis and family ar
rived TO spend the heated season. They
occupied the Rock house, il was call
cd In the ST. Mary's school grounds.
HIRED BY MRS. DAVIS.
'.Mrs. Davis wished to hire a reliable
servant as coachman." said Jim. she
engaged me upon my being recommended
10 her, and, as j may say. adopted me In
TO the family, for no actual member OF
the family could have been treated with
more kindness than / was.
II remained with them In Raleigh until
the early fall, when / accompanied them
hack 10 Richmond. aud Was with them
from that time until the hour OF Mr..
Davis capture, and. indeed for many
days after. for L was taken along with
him and Mrs. Davis in the vessel which
carried them TO Hampton roads.
when we reached Richmond we found
that Mr.. Davis had moved from the
Spottswood hotel and taken up his resi-
dence in the large Henry Grant house,
which became the so-called White
House or the Confederacy (for IL was. in
fact, white In color.
II was what you might call an all
around man. / was the coachman and
drove Mrs. Davis and the ladies OF the
family whenever they went out But this
by no means was my only business.
"rhe regular butler was Robert Brown.
q colored man Mr.. Davis bought soon af-
ter he became president from Colonel
Martins estate. I'm Tennessee; but on the
occasions OF dinner parties or entertain
ments assisted in waiting on the guests.
And saw great deal of the confidential
intercourse between Mr.. Davis and the
members OF his cabinet and other promi-
nent men. o.
II was made 10 feel by Mr.. Davis that
he placed entire confidence in me. When
he had letters or papers of a particular
nature to send TO members of the cabinet.
or to the war office, he very frequently
sent them by me.
CAPTURE OF MIR. DAVIS
when news OF Gen. Lees surrender
reached u.s. we started down through
Georgia, and We were i'm camp. Late on
the night OF May IL, when all I'm camp
were asleep. except myself, heard what
J tneught was the sound of horses feet.
J was up washing some clothes for myself
and some for Miss Winnie. who was then
an infant less than year old.
Presently the noise OF the horses feet
was more distinct, and. knowing that
there was no Confederate troopers in our
rear, walked Mr.. Harrison Who was MIR
v
j was satisfied the enemy was approach
ing, and that I thought we had better
rouse Mr.. Davis.
MIR. Davis at once rose up and started
for the door of the ient-lIe was suffer-
ing greatly from his old enemy neuralgia
and i threw over him, as l thought his
waterproof overcoat. or raglan, as IL was
called, and also gathered up hastily a
showi and threw II over his head and
shoulders.
~As he stepped out of the tent Inount-
ed soldier halted him, but Mr. Davis did
not halt, but advanced on the mounted
man.
''By this time Mrs. Davis had reached
the tent door. and hearing the cavalry
man halt Mr.. Davis. she ran out In her
night clothes and threw her arms around
him To protect him. Mr. Davis halted
and I ran and got Mrs. Davis raglan, as
] supposed. TO throw around her
.'On bringing II out ] saw that I had
by mistake put Mrs. Davis raglan on MIR
Davis. and I took IL on OF MIR. Davis and
placed VI around Airs Davis. AZ the same
time putting around MIR Davis his own
raglan.
They were just alike. except that one
was longer than the other; aud the tent
was 40 dark that you could hardly dlstln-
guish objects Of this character"
SENT TO HAMPTON ROADS.
'Lleutenant Colonel Pritchsrd soon
came up. and asked mo n that was MIR
Davis camp. and / told him that e was
Mr. Davis drank = cup of coffee. and ,se
were all. except Colonel " bod and Lieu
tenant Barnwell.wh escaped IN the dark.
nsss. carried first 10 Macon and fiom
there 10 Augusta.
General Wilson had his headquarters
at Macon Al Augusta the whole parry
Was nlt or a steamboat and taken down
the Savannah river 20 Port ROYAL, where
W wefe Transferred 81 an ocean vessel
ard taken 20 Hampton Roads.
forget io mcniien ibat before We
reached Macon W saw = copy 81 presl-
dent JO1nson's proclamation offering
reward FOR the carturc uf Mr. Davis - a
party to the scheme 90 assasslnate AIR
LINCOLN.
But this accusation evidently did not
receive the slightest cr-dii from Lleuien-
ant Colonel pritchard or General wilson
Tor they treated AR Davis win the
Gfcatesf courtesy ana respect
While we were MasOn ihe, assigned
q large ana comfortable room ~ Mr pa
VIE end his family.
we were transferred o. a large shin.