Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-02
GUARDS JEFF DAVIS
ON WAY TO PRISON
Derstine Of Stella Tells Story of
Taking President Of Southern
ConfedeTaoy to Fort Monroe.
PoMPoUs AND NOT TALKAT1vE

a man living IN Nebraska today was
one Of the officers In command Of the
ruard which conducted jefferson Davis.
the confederate president, from Atlanta
70 Augusta. Ca. enroute to his prison
at Fortress Monroe following his capture
a, Irwinviile. Ca. on May 10 1855
This man Is r. n. Derstine Of Stella.
Neb
The story as he tells IL has the absorb
ink interest 81 the nrst-hand narrativeN
jefferson Davis following the sur
render " Lee and OF Johnston. started
with a few friends for Washington Ga,
for the purpose Of making their way TO
tho transmississippl country. report
that his wife was in danger led him TO
change his course and he was captured.
After tho armistice between sherman
ana Johnston" said Mr. Derstine Cen
ersi James n. Wilson in command Of the
calvary corps OF the west. assembled his
forces at Macon. Ga. About the first of
May. General Alexander. in command
Of the Second brigade. Fourth division.
composed OF Tho Firth Iowa, First Ohio
and Seventh Ohio regiments. all cavalry.
was ordered TO proceed to Atlanta 20 pro-
tect the city.
u was then a lieutenant IN the Seventh
Ohio
order n secret Mission.
ABOUT noon on May "A an order was
received from headquarters to take from
each regiment a detail OF 100 enlisted men,
tho captain ard first and second lieu
tenants. The order was marked hazard
Gus. Each mar was 10 take his blanket.
- a
rations No one knew what the service
was on which we were to be sent.
"A detail Of 100 men and officers
marched 20 the station. which was only
a platform, the building having been
burned down.
"It waited until a heavily guarded
train arrived from Macon The guard
detraIned and tho new detail took their
places
About o'clock in the morning Of
May Is another heavily guarded train
pulled IN. Again was the guard detrained
and the fresh details took their places.
Il was ordered by the captain 10 place
thirty-two men 20 n car. sixteen ON
each side, eight men 20 be on duty on
each side all the time and 70 be relieved
every two hours
The train was composed OF box cara
with a caboosc az the rear ana a pas
senger car and baggage car In front.
Tho box cars had a strip Of board torn
Off At tho height OF a mans shoulder
20 that lockout could be kept
Track I'm HAD Condition.
This second train. on which 1 was.
moved eastward Following the first.
slowly on account OF the had condition
Of the track. until we reached Union
Point. where was the home Of Alexander
II. stephens confederate vico president.
Il was IN the csbo6ae when we reached
there and an orderly came from the front
Of the train with the command that the
general wanted ue to come forward.
obeying. We found Generai Upton. III
vision commander. who after an ax-
change Of greetings. remarked:
7 have some pets here that want
20 show YOU
HE opened car door and ushered
ia inside. An elderly man was sitting
on The left hand side OF the car. near
the center General Upton tapped him
on the shoulder ana he rose 60 his feet.
Mr.. Jefferson Davis said General
Upton, introducing him.
We were then introduced also 10 Mrs
Davis. 20 her mother. Mrs. Clay. ana 10
her brother. who had been the fallen
presidents private secretary. Next came
introduclions 70 Major Pritchafd OF the
Fourth Michlgan cavalry the sergeant
and eight men who were In direct charge
o. the noted prisoner
Davis fa Diagulsr.