The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-22
HISTORICAL.
Sept. Il, 1901.
An Incident of War Times

l Tn lS6o after the exploitation af Apo
 our great chieftain. Robert F. Lee. tt | Genefa al U. S. Grant, a detachment of
 cavalry under command of Colonel
 ereS of af @ m nctsd nd prO | ed and arrested Hon. Jefferson Davis,- -ex. | President of the Southern ConfedeTacy
 A wild rumor spread abroad to the effect l that MT. Davis attempted to escape In
 the dress or disguise of a woman. The l truth of the story was that Mrs. Davis | in the natural terror of the surprised sit | uation. and urging her husband to seek
 his horse and escape, hastily threw her I waterproof cloak over his shoulders but too late for him to effect the designed re- | suit.
 l It is not now necessary to recount the details of that tragic incident of the Civil War. but only to note the fact that the gallant Yankee Colonel took possession story of the disguise, though a goodly portion of Mir. Davis's neither limbs and his cavalry boots were clearly revealed fo s Ssqs bs in 0st Snwomany cloak and the full revelation of the man.
 In May following, on the arrival of the Clyde" in Hampton Roads. the vessel on which MT Davis and party had been placed in Savannah for transportation (my husband and myself being of the number) was anchored in the Roads for the the rd final aasssignment Of the prsoers on determined upon for their incarceration by the Federal authorities
 My state room, so-called. filthy lit- tie soldier stained hole, already thickiy populated by a colony of nocturnal dep redators. was between those of Mrs Da. wis and her sister, Miss Howell EfnerR- ing from this den the morning after our husbands had been taken inside the grim walls of the fort (all others having been removed previously), I was surprised at hearing Mrs. Davis bitterly weebinF, and on glancing around l saw an officer and memory m rf fOh soldiers standing on the guards near her state room door, while she stood within 1t sobbing
 Anxiously inquiring the cause of her trouble, she replied Why. here Is this man demanding my shawl of my f shoulders, 1t being. as he asserts, part ot the womanS apparel worn by my husband at the time of his arrest. .''' You are not going to give it to him., said, 1t being your only wrap, and You nursing mothef.''
 When she responded, What can do?" Tear It into shreds as fine as vermicel- Il. said l, indignantly, and throw it into Hampton Roads.
 Boots, the irate little S neutenant @ Sdn Hudson and pointing his finger almost In my face. exclaimed: You dare counsel re- answered. now thoroughly aroused, and returning the compliment of the finger- | shaking in his face, "Ies, to the she'd ding or; Yankee blood, and would be-
 
 with blood before l would give up my shawl to be exhibited at the Smlthsori- ian, as is the cloak, both lying witnesses or the disguise story
 Whether my words or my looks fntim- tdated the man, or d sense of shame swept over him at thought of Insulting and lighting helpless women, 1 Know not; hut without word more he turned and left strutting down the gualo, shaking his head trailing his sword and Jngling his spurs as if in retreat from
 Though fearfully excited as were Mrs. Davis and myself, there was something so ludtcrous about the battle that we beth laughed through our tears. still standing bewildered, not knowing but fearing the result of the encounter The shawl in question was black cashmere with Persian border of mosaic colors l possessed the duplicate, only the bor- der or one was slightly broader than the other: He will return and demand the shaw and take it. said Mrs Davis. I both. and he may possibly take mine, not yours. the coveted one, of which we can tell afterward. So both were fold. ed ready for presentation, when he re- tossing into Mrs. Davis's stateroOm A e mmon. coarse blanket shawl demand ed hers and on our refusal to desig- nate it, he coolly. to our dismay, picked up both. and deliberately marched ott the ship.
 We both laughed again. but this time as the cHlloren say, IL was on the wrong side of our mouths; We realized that we had been Outwitted, and regretted thai We had not sunk them in the ocean for the mermaids to wear. On shore, we sought the nurse who had deserted Mrs DAVIS and dear little baby Winnie. and she designating the desIred shawl it Was retained, and mine returned 10 me Whether 1t is in Washington with the cloak. l do not know.
 some years since. read in North ern paper an account of this plcusinR episode, purporting to come from Tie,ie tenant Hudson himself in which he said: Upon the request, Mrs Clay few lht4 violent passion. lost her temner ana Tn a. lowering rage counseled resis tance. etc. l take this Opportunity. should this paper meet his eye to jn form The gentleman that quickly found my Iost temper am in full possession of 1t: and would be glad to cross blades with him again
 Virginia Clay CIopton.
 Huntsville. Ala, Nov. F. 1900.
 From the Monument Edition of The Huntsville Tribune.
 ,o Snow Hill, Ala. Aug '. 1901. Miss Sallie Jones.
 Dear Miss Sallie:--While fin Wfncbeste, Va, last month. Miss Lucy Russell. Sec. fetary Of the Stonewsll Memorial Asso claton, called my attention to the Ala oama iot in the Stonewall Cemetery Ia | atsd there. and gave me 1fst of all the sSAlaoamlass entered in the Alabama lot Names. regiment, company. etc I sefri SIn SheIn to you to have published, that theiI These graves have only wood head I boards. and are decaying very fast Mise Russell tells me she can for Sa vnSsS contract with a stone dealer get A nice