The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-05-10
HELPED TAKE DAVIS
KnObel Found President of
the COnfederacy.
ONLY ONE OF THE IA LIVING
Philadelphia Man Was I'm Party of
Fourth Michigan Cavalry that Ran
Down Fleeing Head of COnfederacy.
says story of Attempted Escape in
WOman's Garb Is Untrue.

II surprising now many veterans OF
great wars you can find in Kensington
and Frankford; how much unwritten his
tory is lost forever among the looms and
the foundries in the great manufacturing
districts.
Old Pat Monahan saw the wounded
drown at Gettysburg because the others
were too busy lighting 70 save them from
the rising waters; George Williams hung
TO the business end of pump gun at Spion
Kop until Boer sharpshooter saved his
life by shooting him through the chest
before the advancing farmers got him,
says the Philadelphia Bulletin Adam
Metzgar likes TO tell Of Sedan and of
some Frenchmen who fought there until
the enemy was so close that they hadn't
time to load their muskets and could only
hurl them into the victors' faces and dirt
after them before they were killed.
The most important OF them all Is Cas-
par Knobel, who lives at 1858 Amber
street. and who figured largely in one Of
the most important and dramatic incl
dents that marked the close Of the civil
war
On the night of May 10. 1860. Mr. Knobel.
then eighteen years OF age, and member
OF the Fourth Michigan Cavalry. headed
q detachment Of fourteen which arrested
Jefferson Davis. the fleeing Confederate
President, rear Abbeville, Ca, where he
had gone with an escort following Lees
surrender and the news Of Lincoln's as
sassinatiOn. II was KnObel who. after a
two days march without food, discovered
the camp Of the Confederate leader, and.
throwing back the tent flap, placed him
under arrest, at the same time firing three
shots into the afr as a signal to the other
scouting parties.
Gets Prize of 100000.
For his services Mr. Knobel received a
part OF the reward OF 100000 which was
offered for Davis capture. and was given
a gold medal. which he prizes to-day
above all his possessions. Each year on
May 10 he celebrates the anniversary of
the capture by dressing up in his blue
uniform, pinning on the medal, and max
ing a round Of calls. Last year the
frankfort Band surprised him by parad-
ing up to his house and playing a SER
enade Of wartime airs.
AT sixty-taree. Mr.. Knobel is rudy and
sound and is to-day the only survivor Of
the famous expedition. George Rinke.
who aided Knobel in the capture, died
last year at his home in Detroit.
Mr.. Knobefs tale Of the incident Is
graphic and alive with the color Of the
closing days Of the great struggle. It's
most important point is in proving the
absolute untruth Of the generally accepted
story that the Confederate leader tried 10
escape from his pursuers dressed in wom-
ans clothes.
on May Z. 1863. a detachment OF the
| Fourth Michigan left Macon. Ga. with
/ Instructions to hunt for the fleeing Presi-
| dent, who was believed 20 be hurrying
! IN that direction with his family and a
small escort. knObels story Of the march
| pictures wildly the conditions in the field
when the curtain was about to descend
on the great tragedy. Fragments Of the
/ shattered army of the South might have
/ been encountered anywhere, finally and
completely demoralized by the rumor OF
/ Lees surrender. The country roundabout
was pathetically barren and ravaged, pro-
/ visions we're nowhere 10 be had. and of
/ through this ruin went the Fourth Mchi-
gan. in a final effort 10 capture the head
of the beaten army.