Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 144, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1912 — STORIES of CAMP AND WAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STORIES of CAMP AND WAR

JEFF DAVIS MADE A CAPTIVE --v A' Interesting Tale of Capture of Co»federate President Told by Member of Michigan Regiment. For forty-six years a controversy has been carried on concerning capture of Jefferson Davis. The prize money offered by the United States government was divided among 'members of the 4th Michigan, the Ist Wisconsin and the Ist Ohio regiments. The story of the capture is presented here as told-by George M. Munger, who was a corporal of the 4th Michigan at the time of the search tor Davis. His narrative corresponds to that sworn to before the secretary of war by his colonel, B. D. Pritchard. "Several searching parties were looking for Jeff Davis when we started out early in May, 1865,” said Mr. Munger. "We were passing ourselves off as a detachment of confederate soldiers, trying to catch up with the ; fleeing president The night of llay--9 we found what we were after. We reached IrwinvlUe, inquiring there, as at other places, for news pf the fugitives. We got no Information

except from an old colored man, who told us that there was a traveling party encamped about two miles from town. I was in the advance guard, who got this information, and we reported It to the colonel. "We made an advance-to a point from wMch we could see the camp fire, and there we lay. Lieut Purington and twenty-five men were sent All was quietuhthtbemorning began to come. Then we made a sudden charge into the camp and took them by surprise. “My position in the line brought roe into the camp at the rear of Davis’ tent With me was Private James Bullard. Some horses were tethered there, and we took two of them to place of our own, changing the saddles to the fresh horses. Mrs. Davis, I heard afterward, had come to the door of the tent and asked the right of privacy for the women that she said were the only occupants. Seen she came to the door again and passed out with her 'old mother,’ who was dressed in a waterproof coat and a shawl, and carried a tin pall. Mrs. Davis said that the ywanted to go to the brook for water, and tfe guard let them pass. "They were not many rods from the tent when I saw them. I said to Bullard, 'Those women ought not to be leaving the camp,' and he, still busied with his saddle, told me to go on and not wait for him. I mounted and rode up to the couple. I asked where they were going and Mrs. Davis said that she was going to the brook with her old mother to get some water. The 'old mother* tad the shawl pinned around her face so that not much was visible, and the waterproof coat was long. But the dead grass was long, too, and as the old mother* held up the coat I saw high top boots beneath-it “'What’s your old mother doing with those boots <mF I asked, and hronght my gun from half to full cock as it lay across the pommel pointing at the two. f / “Mrs. Davis beard the click of the hammer. Don’t shoot!’ »he said, and then Bullard came up and helped me ghow them the way tack. Davto wanted to take off the shawl, but wa did not give him time. I found the colonel and told Mm that I believed »«!■«< »»*«° P***- ?»» and asked *What shun if call iwJ* ‘Afivthine’ von nleasa-’ aald4th Michigan nM

The Mother Had a Shawl Pinned Around Her Face.