The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-09-26


best clerks in the bureau by the recent /
resignation Of Mr.. Horace L. B. Akin /
son. Mr. Atkinson has had q very in
teresting career as a Government en-
ploye since his entrance into the ser
vice some twelve years ago. during
which time he has made a host OF
friends among his associates
Mr. Atkinson is a graduate of the Uni
veTs'ty OF Georgia, and the Georgetown
University Law School, the latter course
having been taken since becoming q /
resident Of Washington Unlike 50 many
young men, who hold Government posi-
tons. and as side issue take course in |
medicine or law only to neglect oppor- /
tunities after graduation. Mr. Atkinson
has remained a deep student since re
ceiving his diploma and has kept HIM
self in close touch with his chosen pro
fession.
Realizing that favorable opportunity /
had arrived to embark in the practice OF
Law he recently rendered his resignation
and opened offices in this city
Besides having an experience Of sever
al years as a legal reviewer in the Pen
SIGN Office, Mr.. Atkinson, during the lat
ter part OF CIevelaud's second term held
the responsible position OF inspector of
surveys for the States OF Washington
Oregon, and idaho.
Few men are better equipped by rea-
son Of wide experience and perfect train /
ing, and the many friends Of Mr.. Atkin-
son predict Tor him an unqualified sue
cess in his new venture
There Is man IN the Department Of
Agriculture who has the honor of hay
ing aided in a large way in putting an
end TO the war OF the rebellion He
personally captured jefferson Dav' 5. His
name is Mr. William P. stedman, mes
seRgeT to the chief Of the Bureau OF An
inal Industry. Mr. Stedmau says he
wishes il TO be understood that ne is
not trying TO usuTp anyone eIse's title.
He asserts that he can prove all Of his
statements.
Mr.. stedman served IN the Fourth
Michigan Calvary, having enlisted on
August Z. 1862 He was discharged
July 1, 1865.
Our regiment" said Nj. Stedman-
left Macon, Ca, on the afternoon Of the /
7th OF May by orders Of General VII
son. commander of the cavalry corps. I
OR orders were 10 follow down the Oca-
mulga River for the distance Of about
fifty miles and to cover such crossings
as Davis and his party. who were com
ing that way from Richmond. would -
likely 10 use When the regiment got as I
far as Abbevilie we met 3 detachment /
OF the First Wisconsin Cavalry. under 4
the command of Colonel Harnden, who /
said that Davis had crossed the river at
that place the night before and that the 1
First Wisconsin had been following his +
trail for the past Two days. Colonel 1
PTitchard. OF the Fourth Michigan. Of
tered Colonel Harnden some OF his men. I
but the offer was refused. and Harnden (
crossed the river by means of q rope {
ferry and went On in his pursuit OF Da- /
Wis
Colonel Pritchard found that there
vas another road leading south which /
wouTu- Sennect with the one that Colonel /
Haruden had taken about thirty miles
south at Irwinville. He determined 10 /
take this road and see II by hard push /
ing he could get ahead Of the other 4
command We took the river road as /
FAR as Wilcox. distance OF about twelve /
miles and then took the old Govern /
ment trail to IrwInvilIe This trail had /
been made in the Florida war. We ar
rived at ITWinville at about 2 o'clock IN /.
the morning. II being very sandy there. !
We halted our regiment before We
crossed the other road, and examined /
the roadway 70 see II there were any
traces Of the Davis party. Finding DO /
such signs, We stopped in the street for I
q while The men were ordered to keep /
By their horses
we were there but a short time when |
We found 2 coIored man who knew OF a /
party who were in camp about a mile /
and a half from town, and from the de- /
scription Of the party we inferred that |
il was the one We we're after. Then /
Colonel Pritchard ordered all the com |
mand 10 dismount except the advance /
guard under Captain Hudson. This |
guard. 10 which I belonged, consisted OF /
fourteen neIs besides the captain The /
dfsrnounted men. having the coIored man /
for s guide. we're placed around as pick /
cts far enough away from the carp /
not 70 disturb IT,. The advance gua I'd /
under Hudson was 10 move uD within a /
short distance Of the camp and wait for /
daylight, when they were 70 rush into /
the camp and capture it.
THE Davis party, twenty-thISe in |
number as ! remember it. were still /
sleeping when al grat dawn We sur
pTIsed them They were scattered and /
disarmed without a gun being fred. /
While the men were being disaTmed I !
noticed an old lady, apparently ser
want 90 out Of q tent on the arm OF
coIored woman Both he'd tin pals on
their free arms. The old lady, who was
somewhat stopped, wore what was then
called in the South a storm dress, and
had brown shawl drawn over her head.
The pair we're making for q run which
extended in a semi-circle about twenty
rods from the camp ! rode up and halt
cd. The old lady glanced back and re-
vealed a very HIxuTiant gray mousj ache
We'll, - I remarked. you certainly have
q beautiful moustache for an old lady /
Davis. for he had assumed this disguise, /
said nothing. but seeing that I had cor
nered him, marched back 10 camp as my
captive
Colonel PTitchard came riding Up at /
this 1uncture, and. seeing DAVIS. asked
ne who that was, Davis, I replied. Are
you suTe2' queried the colonel He
locks vastly like the pictures have seen
of Davis I answered
about this time firing at a short dis
lance from the camp was heard. This
proved TO be the coming together Of
Colonel Harned's regiment, and the men
we had left on picket duty II was not
sufficiently light as yet IN the woods
there for one regiment TO recognize the
other The firing lasted for twenty min
Utes In this skirmish two men were
killed. and ten wounded
Two men besides myself we're detail