Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-23
NO SKIRTS ON JEFF DAVIS
lewiston. Me-, Letter 10 BOSTON Herald.

lewiston, Nc, Lctte
"The true story Of the capture of JEFF
ferson Davis, the leader of the South
ern Confederacy, has never been told"
declared L. c. Bateman of Auburn. the
well-known lecturer, politician and spe-
cIal writer, to the Herald correspondent.
Mr.. Bateman, in the official records of
the war department, bears the distino-
tIon of being the youngest man enlisted
from Maine as soldier in the Civil
war. He was barely is years of age
when news reached the little town Of
Jefferson, where MIR. Bateman resided.
that the Lewiston infantry was to be
ordered for coast duty. MIR. Bateu1an
hurried to Lewiston to try to Join the
company. At that time men were Of
ferng large sums for substitutes. Mr..
Bateman was not looking for reward
his only purpose being to Join the army.
He, however, met a man who offered
him 500 to so as his substitute which
he at once accepted. though he could
easily have received $500 If he had been
hunting for Il.
lie served with the Lewiston company
In coast duty for six months, and then
Joined the fourteenth Maine and was
sent to the front, taking part in Sher-
mans famous march to the sea and
other stirring scenes near the close of
the rebellion.
In speaking Of some Of his war ex-
periences Mr.. Bateman said.
The Truth as to Davis
THE story of the capture of jefferson
Davis has never been correctly told
Malice, prejudice and mistaken notion
that misrepresentation added to the
glory of the northern cause while serv-
ing to belittle and make ridiculous the
southern cause, made up a curious carl
cature called history.
THE general belief in the north. even
today, is that jefferson Davis when
captured wore the clothes of a woman.
Just who started this story 1t is diff
cult to say, but in the inflamcd condi-
tion of the public mind at that time II
proved a report which found ready cre-
dence. The northern press took the
matter up and the story was sent
broadcast.
Now. let me tell you the facts. can
tell you the facts, because II was nv
fortune to be in the city of Augusta
ia, when Mr.. Davis and Alexander
stevens were brought into that CITY
within few hours after their CAPTURE.
l was member of the Fourteenth
Maine regiment: my brigade had left
savannah the last of MAY. '65. and
marched 175 miles to reach Augusta,
we reached Augusta about the 1st of
June, at dusk and Immediately went
INTO camp in an old tobacco warehouse
IN SAND Hill. The next morning Mr..
Davis was brought into the CITY. can
tive. He had been captured the nre-
Vious evening by small cavalry de-
tachment some thirty miles from the
city and was taken by mule team to
Augusta. The party travelled all night
and reached Augusta about 6 in the
morning. Mr.. Davis was confined in
the baptist church. and my regiment
was detailed to guard him.
Long overcoat and High Boots
within a few minutes after Mr.. Da-
Wis arrival l saw him and can distinct
ly remember his appearance. From the
time of his capture the previous even
ing until l saw him at O'Clock the next |
morning Mr.. Davis had had no oppor- |
tunity to change his clothing or make |
his toilet. He wore what our grand |
fathers called a surtout-a long over
coat which came down to his feet and
was closely buttoned He also had on
cavalry boots, and when his overcoat
was unbuttoned it could be seen that
these came to his knees. 1t was un-
doubtedly an afterthought and jest to
call the long overcoat a woman's dress.
At the time no one thought of doing
this. I talked with his captors about
the capture of Mr.. Davis and not one
of them mentioned such a thing as
disguise or a woman's dress. Would |
this have been the case if he had been !
disguised when captured? On the con-
trary, it would have been the principal |
theme of conversation. Those who were |
there at the time did not hear any men, |
ton of disguise until weeks afterward |
when the news came through the north
ern papers.
Mr.. Davis was kept in Augusta till |
the next day, and then taken to the |
steamer Planter, mile away. He was !
guarded by my regiment through a long
line of scowling faces and at one time it |
looked as though there might be a repe- !
tition of what occurred when the !
Sixth Massachusetts regiment marched |
through Baltimore. However, we were |