The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-03-06
FULTON COUN- Y NEWS.
Capture Of Jeff Davis,


Davis, the whilom President of
the Confederate States of Ameri-
ca
The band of men who carried
the plan of this capture tosuccess-
full termination were few in num-
Der, aud ia the years since the
war their ranks have been thin
ned SO there are probably now no
more thap a dozen at most, of the
men who forced the surrender of
the rebel leader, and these are
scattered in all parts Of the land.
One of them, Marshall Hepner,
a member of Company d, First
Wisconsin Cavalry lives in Chill
ton, Wisconsin, and to the Senti.
nal correspondent he gave the
following account of the pursuit
through the pine forests Of Geor-
gia and the final capture of Gun
Gle JEFF, as he was known to the
soldiers of both the northern and
southern armies. Mr. Hepner's
account differs in some points
from the popular stol les regard
ing his capture, but being an eye
witness an actual participant,
he is qualified to narrate the ex-
act circu instances. The Fourth
Michigan Cavalry, under Colonel
Pritchard, was the first to arrive
at Jetf's camp and seize him,
but the means employed by Prit-
chard were not, according to Mr..
Hepner, betitting a soldier, and
his assertions are corroborated by
his comrade of the First Wiscon-
sin. Mr.. Hepner's account is as
follow4:- =
GAS nearly as l can remember
now, we were on a running fight
with the rebels when we reached
Mason, Georgia. There we learn
ed that hostilities had been sus-
pended for sixty days. We re-
NAMED in camp near the city for
some time, and after word came
Of the surrender of Lee we sup
posed that we would be sent home
as the war was over as far as any
was concerned. How
ever, siXty-two of us were detach-
ed from the regiment, and under
the command Of Lieutenant
Colonel Henry Harnden set off up
on an expedition the purpose of
which, until later, we were not
acquainted with.
"In the first days march we en-.
tered a dense forest of pine, and
about II o'clock went into camp.
AT 3 o'clock in the afternoon the
command moved forward, and
Colonel Harnden told us we had
been detailed to pursue Jefferson
Davis, the fugitive President OF
the Confederacy. We had not
proceeded far when we came up
on the track of number of wag-
ons. That was what we were
looking for. The trail was plain
in the lose, sandy soil, and for
two days we followed it, leaving
men along our line of march.
From many inquiries we learned
we were on the right track. Soon
after crossing the Ockmulgee riv-
er we came upon the Fourth Mich
igan Cavalry under Colonel Prit-
chard. We halted, and in the con
versation between the two colnels
that we were following Davis
trail, Pritchard offered to let
part of his men accompany us
but we had thirty-two men left,
which our colonel thought was
sufficient to effect capture.
"Pritchard knew our course,
and after rejoining his command
he selected twelve men from each
of his twelve companies and hur-
ried through the woods to point
where he was sure Davis would
pass through.
I'VE soon saw that we were
gaining rapidly on the object of
our search, and the advance was
continued with the utmost eau.
ton. At noon we halted for lunch
near lrwinsville, but did not dare
kindle fire. At in the afternoon
the order TO mount was given and
SIX men were sent ahead to re-
connoiter. We had gone perhaps