The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-07-15
IN rhree chapters-cnapler III.


About the first of April started for
Richmond, and upon arriving in the
city called a carriage and drove to
No. 2316 East Broad street. In answer
10 the ring a young lady came to the
door. asked II Mrs. Margaret Gar.
Gin lived there, She said she did, and
asked me to step in and take a seat
in the parlor, and excuslng herself
for a moment, said she would call her
mother. She soon returned and said
her mother would be in in a few mo-
ments. asked her II she was
daughter OF Mrs. Garcln. she said
she was a Ssughter-in-law, the wife Of
Dr. Garcin, a son Of Mrs, Garcin. I
then gave my name as Lieut.. Harris,
Of Chicago, At this moment Mrs.
Garcin came in. ! arose to greet her,
and without any hesitation said: "You
are the young lady that waved her
handkerchief to me while / lay in the
wagon. You have the same form.
face, black eyes and black hair
know you are the one" We sat down
and ! talked about that day a little
over thirty-one years ago. had car
ried her likeness in my minds eye all
these years, and Mrs. Garcin was the
perfect duplicate in every respect. ]
felt sure she was the young lady l
was looking for. Then during our
conversation she related several in
cidents that no other person would
have known anything about, which re
moved any doubt as to her identity.
After visiting the oirice Of the Rich
mond Dispatch and the state Capital
in search of some trace of the events
in which ! was so much interested,
drove to Mtrphy's hotel for dinner.
] soon found that the proprietor had
been an officer in the army | told
him would like a few moments talk
In private with him. We sat down III
one corner of the room, and I told
him my name and that l was the
officer who led the charge at Green's
farm on the Dahlgren raid. and that
/ was the man they were going to
hang on the 4th Of March, 1864. Col
Murphy said he was in Richmond that
day and remembered the circum-
stances well. Bet" he said, Il never
knew why you were not hung | said
TO him, that was one of the things
that brought me to Richmond. | then
tcid him about the young captains
visit to me as lay in the wagon, and
described him the best / could. ask
ed him II he could tell me who he
was. The colonel unhesitatingly said.
THAT was Capt Waller" and in proof
said; Capt, Waller was the only Of
fcer In the Confederacy that could
dress like that" I asked Col. Murphy
where | could find Capt. Waller. lie
answered that he had died two years
before. Capt Waller was the only
man ] know Of who could unravel the
mystery. and to find he was not living
was bic blow to my hopes.
AS a last hope l determined to in
teryiew Mrs. Jefferson Davis, but
found she was living in New York
city. went to New York 10 see her,
but was quite doubtful whether she
would receive me. being an entire
stranger to her. unless accompanied
by some personal friend Of hers. |
went to Col. Fred Grant and laid my
case before him as briefly as possible.
and asked him to go with me, as
knew the Grants and Mrs. Davis were
warm personal friends. He said he
would go in a moment II Mrs. Davis
was In New York. hut that she was at
NaTagansett Pier, and that he could
not spare the time TO go there with
me. but he gave me a letter to Mrs.
Davis which he thought would give
me a favorable reception by her
The following is a copy Of his letter:
New York, Sept. 3, 1895.
My Dear Mrs Davis:
The bearer, Lieut., Sam1 Harris, is
very anxious 20 learn something upon
a matter which in my opinion. is so
creditable to your kindness of heart,
that have advised him 20 call upon
you in person.
! trust, my dear madam, that you
viii receive him.
am my dear Mrs. Davis,
Respectfully your friend.
Frederick D. Grant.
Armed with this. left the next
morning for the pier, where ] arrived
about four o'clock in the evening. l
sent my card to Mrs. Davis.
Ar~o no,yic caraa douyn fo fha qau.