SORRY UNDER CONSTRTION
come back later
"I SAID IT WAS MY MOTHER?"
" I SAID IT WAS MY MOTHER "
EIGHT PAGES REMAIN OF VARINA'S LETTER
Supposedly the idea that Jeff Davis ran like a coward, as he wore his wife's dress --- was absurd. Davis being smeared by "Northern newspapers".
The problem of that is- - first, the story of Davis running away in a dress, came from SOUTH reporters, learning about it at the time
Varina - according to her letters AND Union reports -- showed she told the troops to shoot her (Varina) -- but leave my mother alone.
THE OTHER PROBLEMS
The other problem is that Jeff Davis's own nephew apologized for helping Davis put on the dress. He was ashamed he did so.
But the big problem is - Jeff Davis's own wife, her own letter, her own book,
These show Davis as a cowardly man. In her book, for example, anywhere in it, she could have written five words at any time to claim Davis wore his own clothes and protect her and the children
But she never did. Her book went into exceeding detail about the two days in Richmond as they gathered supplies to flee.
She wrote in exceeding detail almost day by day, if not hour by hour, about Jeff Davis and her activity during that time.
She even writes about the day and hours BEFORE the capture--- then suddenly - inexplicitly -- Varina ends that chapter. It's as if Varina wrote about the the night before, and about the Union troops surprising them, as Davis fled, and she went to his aid.
But she jumped over that. Entirely. As if she wrote about it repeatedly, as best she could, but at the last moment could not outright lie to the public about this, by claiming Davis protected his children and her. Yet she would not destroy Davis legacy by showing the candid truth -- Davis did not protect anyone. He ran away --- in her dress no less - as bullets flew.
BUSY WRITER
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Varina wrote much more -- not just this letter to Blairs, but to dozens of others, when she was in Macon and then Savana Georgia., but dozens more, and of course her famous biography about Jefferson Davis.
Over 1200 pages, by my count. From the moment of her capture, to just after Jeff Davis died, the theme of her life was to protect Davis- - but she would not outright lie for him, as you will see.
WITH MY PERSON
She protected him in person, as you will see-- jumping to Davis' physical safety-- at the very moment Union troops promised to shoot him if he did not reveal his identity. Varina's words -- That is the moment, as you will see, that Varina told the Union troops to leaver her alone -- THAT IS MY MOTHER.
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Amazing things in her letter-- and her book.
IF NOT FOR VARINA'S LETTER
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SMART
Davis wearing his wife's dress (which he did) was not cowardly -- it was smart.
Davis was a coward because running for his own safety while his wife and children were in danger as bullets flew moments before,
That was cowardice.
TWO MILLION DOLLARS
Secretary of War Stanton offered $100,000 ( over 2 million dollars today) to anyone who captured Davis.
That award was for US troops too -- if their company captured Davis, they got it!
And that is exactly what happened on May 10,1865. That day, Col Benjamin Pritchard and his
Varina Davis, after her capture, admired the Union officer in charge, and reached out to him. She spoke well of him for the rest of her life. His name was
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The Blair children, in 1910, donated Varina's letter (the remaining eight pages) to the Library of Congress, where it remains to this day.
You can visit the library, or see it from your cell phone or computer at your convenience.
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BLAIR CHILDRED DONATE LETTER
In the dinner given to formally donate the letter Blair children -- now in their 60's- made it clear that Varina stayed with them for two years-- that Jeff Davis wore a dress as he fled from the Union troops.
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CLEVER ANSWER
Varina -- when asked in public later (she moved to New York City) -- if Davis wore a dress when captured, she had a stock answer to diffuse the issue
She said "Mr. Davis did not wear a hoop skirt."
Of course no one ever claimed Davis wore a formal dress, a hoop skirt, it was absurd to wear anything like that while travelling.
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Why should Blairs destroy her letter?
Varina told them why -- in the letter itself -- that such information would "embarrass" Davis.
The Blairs did not destroy the 20 page letter--for whatever reason, eight pages still remain.
And they say plenty.
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If not for Varina's letter -- and her book -- reasonable men could disagree if Davis was a coward.
Pulitzer Prize winning historians claim Davis was an an commonly brave man, and any notion that he ran like a coward while his children were in danger -- was a lie.
A lie, they claimed, generated by Yankee papers.
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Not really.
For one thing, the first newspapers to report his capture in a dress was from the SOUTH!
For another, Richmond editor Edward Pollard-- at the time -- claimed Lee and Davis ran like cowards when they fled Richmond.
PRO TIP 1 Edward Pollard was afraid the South would forever be shamed by Lee and Davis both fleeing from Richmond on the false rumor of a breech
There was no breech. It was a false rumor
Those Lee and Davis both had promised never to abandon Richmond -- not only did they abandon the capital -- they did nothing to protect the citizens they left behind.
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LEE LEFT FIRST
DAVIS COLLECTED - LEFT THE NEXT DAY
Lee left first. He took 95% of the rebel army with him, leaving the people of Richmond defenseless.
Even more covered up in our history books, is that the first time Lee came close to being in personal danger, he not only surrendered, he surrendered his entire Army.
That was directly against Davis's orders.
PRO TIP 2Lee ordered the warehouses burned as he left. The fire and exploding military supplies soon engulfed many building, making Richmond looked the they most bombed city on earth -- but Union Army did not bomb Richmond!!
Davis remained long enough to gather gold -- the gold collected to buy much needed supplies for the wounded and for food. Davis took that gold with him, and it played an important role later.
He stayed an extra day to collect as much as he could.
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"ALL CRUEL MEN ARE COWARDS" :Jeff Davis.
Davis should know, he was arguably the biggest coward in US history. But he often bragged - like Trump-- that he was brilliant or brave.
After the war, Davis would idiotically give a speech saying he - Davis "Sacrificed more than anyone" for the cause. Never mind that Davis sent thousands of men to fight and die in his war to spread slavery. Davis suffered more than they.
Even more creepy, fools who to this day idioliz Davis, re-act that speech, like cult members.
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It was not the dress that was cowardly --
that was smart. Davis was a smart man, and not a fool.
The cowardly part t was Davis running away as bullets flew -- already dressed in his wife's clothes. His children were in danger.
He wife was in danger. He ran
His children were in danger. He ran.
That is what was cowardice, and Jeff Davis knew it, so did everyone there at the time.
Davis's biographer of course never revealed his cowardice..... but the biographer correctly explained that Davis, for the rest of his life, was obsessed to "prove" he was not cowardly that day.
Yet cowardly is the correct word. Davis did nothing -- did not lift a finger to save anyone but himself-- as bullets flew
In fact, it was clear that Davis had dressed as a woman starting the night before, in case the Union troops discovered them.
Davis was not connected to his wife's "entourage" until days before.
The likely (but not proven) reason Davis joined Varina's entourage, was Davis could not possibly escape the net that Union troops laid for any way Davis could go-- unless he could dress as a woman, and pass road blocks on the way.
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The Blairs did not destroy her letter.
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| VARINA DAVIS BOOK ABOUT JEFF DAVIS Unique in all Civil War related books, because while Varina would of course protect Davis -(she saved his life-- arguably -- when he was captured) but Varina would never outright lie. She and she alone exposed Davis for running away just after shots were fired, shee and she alone made clear she tried to pass Davis off as her mother. She and she alone made clear Davis was dressed enough like a woman that she told Union troops Davis was her mother, when the soldiers were close enough they could just pull back Davis head covering --to reveal the scraggly beard of Jeff Davis. ______________________________________________ MAKE THEM KILL YOU Or as Varina and others reported "Force your assailants to kill you. Varina wrote that in her book about Davis In her book about Davis, Varina reveals many things. Importantly, about the capture - Varina went into exceeding detail, probably because the capture happened recently, and was fresh in her mind. One of those being Davis speaking to her in front of a group in Richmond, as Davis was getting ready to flee from Richmond. Davis, who loved to act macho -- told her to force assailants "to kill you." FOR A DAVIS TO BE TAKEN ALIVE Davis had sent to many -- thousands -- to their death, urging endlessly that his general attack. Davis fired and mocked those generals who did not attack idiotically when Davis ordered them too attack. Davis was no where near battle. Davis actually lost the war by repeatedly ordering attacks, regardless if Union troops were dug in and well armed. Lee's stupid frontal attack at Gettysburg, in fact the invitation itself, was an order from Davis. Davis knew that -- so he said to Varina --"for a Davis to be taken alive would bring shame to the South. It was really Davis boasting to the crowd about his bravery. He was like Trump that way -always lying. SPEAKING TO THE CROWD Davis was really speaking to the the crowd -- the inference was -- he would of course not surrender either. He would force the enemy to kill him. Macho man Davis. Varina does NOT mention this part in her book, but others did at the time, others in the audience. Davis according to them, also said "FOR A DAVIS TO BE TAKEN ALIVE Varina -- according to Union soldiers -- all of whom greatly admired her the rest of her life! - was the brave one. Varina jumped in front of Davis as Davis (dressed as a woman) stood motionless, face down. The soldiers were wearing at him, telling him to identify his/her self or they would blow his +++ head off. (Varina was offended by the cursing, and said so) It was at that moment -- read her letter!-- that Varina said to shoot her -- meaning Varina!-- shoot her, but leave her "mother alone!" Davis would soon berate Varina - according to a witness - blame her for them being captured. Never mind she just saved his life. ______________________________________________ Why should Varina kill herself rather than surrender? Davis explained why. Jeff Davis said "For a Davis to surrender would bring shame upon the South." |
Varina -- in a letter to the Blaire Family, told them Davis ran away when the Union troops came near, and when bullets' flew.
It's important to know -- Varina, though she writes to spare Davis embarrassment - was truthful to her friends, the Blairs.
It's also important to know -- that Varina's version of Davis actions are the same as Union reports.
Union officers all wrote reports, (see below) and Varina unknowingly confirmed almost every detail of those reports.
So, that those who claim the Union officer's lied about Davis cowardice and wearing her dress -- have never dared mention Varina's account is in sync with the officers.
Those who claim Northern papers made up lies about a brave man - that is not accurate either.
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That was not some "Yankee newspaper."
It was Southern newspapers who first broke the story of Davis running away in a dress --not "Yankee" papers.
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WHEN DID HE PUT THE DRESS ON?
Apparently Davis was already wearing her dress -- as noted by Jeff Davis's own nephew, who apologized for helping Davis put on her dress.
You do not instantly put on a woman's dress the moment you hear gun fire.
Davis was in an entirely different group the day before -- Davis met up with Varina's group for some reason.
Some have wondered if he connected with her - because he had a better chance of passing the many road blocks set up by Union Army.
It was a smart move - really, to be with Varina -- maybe he could maybe fit in, by disguise-- and maybe get through road blocks.
THE DRESS WAS NOT COWARDLY
Davis wearing a dress was not cowardly - in fact it was smart.
There were only a few suitable dirt roads in the whole state, and Davis entourage had estimated six wagons, almost 30 horses, and tons of equipment.
Some forty adults, and four children. Three slaves to attend Davis and Varina.
Union troops had Davis locked in -- apparently, front and back. He could not -- he would never -- fight his way out. Davis had never been in an actual battle anyway.
The Cowardly part was that as shots were fired, Davis did not pause - he was ready.
OBSESSED TO SHOW
HE WAS BRAVE IN OWN CLOTHES
HE WAS BRAVE IN OWN CLOTHES
Davis -- according to his biographer--was "obsessed" the rest of his life to prove he was not a coward that day.
That biographer believed Davis.
But Davis was a coward that day, as Varina would document. Again, not for the dress, but for telling his wife to get herself killed
then running away as his wife and children were in danger.
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WHAT WOULD LINCOLN DO
No one alive, then now or ever, would think Lincoln would dress like a woman, run away in a dress, while his wife and children were in danger.
Lincoln - at Fort Stevens, July 14, 1864 stood tall as he watched Confederate forces approach Washinton DC.
The man next to him -- almost as tall as Lincoln, was shot by rifle fire -- through the head. Lincoln did not flinch. Lincoln remained standing.
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Varina Davis, wife of Jeff Davis, is hated by many in Virginia, even today.
For example, Virginia Historical Encyclopedia trashes Varina -- calls her essentially ugly, ill-suited, and suggests she was stupid.
It is quite unlike a "History Encyclopedia" to trash any "first lady" -- and it takes a while to learn why of COURSE they would trash Varina.
Because Varina told the truth -- embarrassing truth-- about her husband.
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SHE SPENT TIME IN THE NORTH!
The Virginia Historical Encyclopedia journal trashed Varina this way:
✔️ Trashed Varina's appearance
✔️Trashed Varina's intelligence
✔️Insulted her father
✔️Claimed Varina "Spent time in the North"
Remember, the Virginia Historical society dreamed up this attack 60 years later. None of them ever knew her.
Yet they blamed her for "living in the North" is a vile deception.
She lived with DAVIS - in the North!
Varina lived in the North with Jeff Davis -- obeying him, catering to him, and having his children. But the encylopdeia folks needed to hate her anyway.
As for the slam she was not attractive --
She was actually very attractive in her youth, and exceptionally smart. Davis was much older - an ugly sick looking cross man of bad temperament.
He chased Varina, not the other way around, after his first wife died.
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As US soldiers surrounded Davis at gun point, pointing revolvers at his head -- Varina jumped in front of Davis!
It was at that moment - when US soldiers promised Davis they would blow his head off if he did not identify himself -- that Varina jumped in from of him- - and said "Leave her alone-- she is my mother"
The Blairs did not destroy all of the letter -- out of twenty pages, eight remained.
It's impossible to know what's on the pages the family destroyed. Maybe the family did throw away the more embarrassing things.
But there is plenty in her letter. And plenty in her book.
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DONATED TO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
The Blair children, in 1910, donated those 8 pages to Library of Congress--you can visit them in person, to this day
In a public dinner in Washington DC, 1916* the Blair children,
now old themselves, explained they all knew it was an open secret for the three years that Varina lived with the Blairs ---that Davis ran away in his wife's dress.
"For a Davis to be taken alive would bring shame upon the South."
.
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If not for Varina's letter to the Blair's, specifically the sentence "I said it was my mother," South/ Davis apologists could have fooled future generations.
Or even believe it themselves.
Naturally, Davis's supporters claim US soldiers lied, and newspapers lied.
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YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP
STRANGER THAN FICTION
When the Union soldiers allowed Davis and his wife and a slave to enter a tent for him to change......
--Varina emerged wearing the dress -- the very dress- - Davis had taken off. So reported the Union officer in charge. He did not make a big deal of it -- just a line in his report.
Varina put on her dress -- the dress Davis had just taken off. Likely to prevent the Union soldiers from taking it as a souvenir. Varina wrote that the Union soldiers scavenged (stole) assorted items from Davis's wagons.
Those details are in the Union reports.
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Union soldiers reports below.
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Davis Obsession --
Davis was obsessed after his capture to prove he did not wear his wife's dress.
To that end -- Davis had these pictures taken later -- and donated the pictures and the clothes he claimed to have worn during capture to the "Confederate Museum" where all of it is proudly shown to the public.
Of course that proves nothing. But generations of deluded Davis supporters buy those pictures as truth. Never mind pictures taken years later -- of clothing he gave them -- proves anything.
Davis claimed these were his exact clothes -- at the moment of capture. Utter nonsense.
Does that look like Varina's mother?
Remember Davis wanted those staged photos to prove he was not in a dress.
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VARINA'S LETTER
AT HOME IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
SINCE 1910.
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THANKS TO ELIZABETH KECKLEY
I never heard of the rumor that Davis wore a dress, until I read Keckley's autobiography.
That is how I got interested in Jeff Davis's "dress" and cowardice.
Keckley of course could not confirm that Davis wore his wife's dress the day of capture -- but she did confirm the dress shown in Chicago, said to be Varina's dress, was her work.
Keckley only mentioned that dress -- and meeting Varina and Jeff Davis, briefly. She did confirm the dress she saw in Chicago, put on display, was a dress she made for Varina. She could tell by the stichting.
She made no assumption if Davis wore it -- it would be stupid to wear a fancy dress made for formal dances, in the woods But it was a dress she made.
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"NEWSPAPER THING?"
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THE HOOP SKIRT DODGE
When asked in New York later about the dress (she moved to NYC) Varina would typically smile, and say "Mr. Davis did not wear a hoop skirt."
Famous cartoons of the time, in jest, drew Davis in a formal dress.
Of course no one claimed he wore a hoop skirt-- a formal very large dress worn only at the most fancy events. Always being in polite company, people smiled, and did not bother her further. She did not lie -- he did not wear a hoopskirt while trying to escape Union troops,
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IT WAS SOUTHERN PAPERS WHO FIRST REPORTED DAVIS COWARDICE
The "dress story" was not made up by Northern papers.
From North Carolina paper...
This bit of comedy was in a North Carolina paper, too.
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Davis had this picture taken
to "prove" what he wore.
These are clothes are on display to this day at Confederate Museum. They of course take Davis at his word, as if taking a picture and donating those exact garments are proof what he wore that day.
THE SPURS AND PISTOL DAVIS HAD ON HIS PERSON
Report to the Secretary of War, by Col Pritchard
BELOW is from the report to the Secretary of War, by Col Pritchard, who was there at the capture.
Pritchard was of course there when Davis was allowed to get out of the dress, and was there when Varina emerged wearing the dress Davis just took off. Link again.
.A more full account is below....
_________________________________VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY EVEN NOW
I noticed while researching Varina Davis, was the loathing, just beneath the surface, for her by the Virginia Historical Society -- to this day.
160 years later they seemed to hate Varina Davis! Why?
Keep in mind Varina was very loyal to Davis -- saved his life, protected him from everyone, and while she wrote that letter, she had no idea it would be saved and published.
Varina did all she could to spare him humiliation.
So why do they -- 160 years later -- hate Varina Davis?
Every thing Varina did --everything she said, in public, was that an obedient wife. Her two volume book on Davis is as flattering as it could possible be.
They claimed Varina was homely, and suggested she lured a lonely Davis into marriage. When just the opposite was true. Davis was already an ugly man, and old.
Actually Varina was HOT.
Varina was young, shapely ever so obedient. Exactly what Davis wanted in the bedroom and out.
By
Julian G. Dickinson, Late Adjutant 4th Michigan Cavalry and Brevet Captain, USV
Original Member of the Michigan Commandery, Insignia Number 3751
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
Read January 8, 1889 (First Published 1899)
...........................................
Being questioned by Col. Pritchard, he stated there had been several mounted men to the house ring the afternoon, from a camp near the village, to purchase forage and provisions, and the camp lay about a mile and a half out on the Abbeville road.
Every thing Varina did --everything she said, in public, was that an obedient wife. Her two volume book on Davis is as flattering as it could possible be.
Yet see this article about Varina in "Encyclopedia Virginia" which essentially glorifies slave owners, specifically Davis, and Lee.
But their tone and personal cruelty to Varina is amazing, given the supposed "academic" nature of their publication.
They claim she lived in Washington DC as if that was horrible -- but she lived there WITH DAVIS and left when Davis left. They Can you imagine concocting a like lie "She lived in Washington" as an insult, when she lived there with Davis!
They claimed she was "manifestly ill suited" for first lady and was not attractive --
Actually Varina was HOT.
Varina was young, shapely ever so obedient. Exactly what Davis wanted in the bedroom and out.
Davis was twice her age.
He courted her, and he ruled over her. She did what he said. She adopted every view, every slogan, every thought he did. Women submitted to the man like man is supposed to submit to the God of the Bible
Varina, after Davis died, would say the right side won the war. That is why Encyclopedia hates her.
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UNION SOLDIER REPORTS
THE CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS
Julian G. Dickinson
THE CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS
Julian G. Dickinson
By
Julian G. Dickinson, Late Adjutant 4th Michigan Cavalry and Brevet Captain, USV
Original Member of the Michigan Commandery, Insignia Number 3751
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
Read January 8, 1889 (First Published 1899)
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Being questioned by Col. Pritchard, he stated there had been several mounted men to the house ring the afternoon, from a camp near the village, to purchase forage and provisions, and the camp lay about a mile and a half out on the Abbeville road.
Placing the freedman (freedman = men who were once enslaved, but no longer slaves) in advance for guide, and directing the utmost silence to be preserved in the column, we moved out on the Abbeville road.
The night was rather dark, but clear and very quiet. We marched the distance of about a mile when we halted and made the necessary arrangements for the capture of the camp when light was deemed sufficient to enable us to discern its situation.
A detail of 25 men, under command of Lieut. Purinton, was sent to make a circuit of the camp and get into position on the road beyond, to station pickets, and take precautions for preventing the escape of the occupants in that direction, awaiting our advance and capture of the camp.
We rested until the first appearance of the dawn of the morning of the 10th.
A detail of 25 men, under command of Lieut. Purinton, was sent to make a circuit of the camp and get into position on the road beyond, to station pickets, and take precautions for preventing the escape of the occupants in that direction, awaiting our advance and capture of the camp.
We rested until the first appearance of the dawn of the morning of the 10th.
The order was then quietly given to mount, and placing a small force under command of Capt. Charles T. Hudson, as an advance guard, with directions to charge forward upon the camp, our column moved in support.
The charge was uninterrupted by a picket of camp guards, and we speedily entered and enveloped the camp by a surprise so complete that no one seemed to have been disturbed.
The advance guard moved directly and quickly through the camp toward Lieut. Purinton's picket.
The advance guard moved directly and quickly through the camp toward Lieut. Purinton's picket.
Our main column halted for a minute in the road before entering the camp. On the right of the road, in line, facing a clearing or parade, stood three wall tents; beyond the clearing there was, what appeared to me to be, a swampy thicket; on our left, in the woods, at some distance from the road, was a miscellaneous collection of tents and ambulances.
The extent of the camp could not, however, be distinctly seen from our position.
At this moment some of our men appeared to be straggling from the column and Col. Pritchard directed my attention to it and to the care of the camp, and as he moved forward with the column through the camp, I rode out and took a position by the roadside until the column passed me.
At this moment some of our men appeared to be straggling from the column and Col. Pritchard directed my attention to it and to the care of the camp, and as he moved forward with the column through the camp, I rode out and took a position by the roadside until the column passed me.
I then rode across the parade, in front of the wall tents, on the right of the road. I saw no one about the tents and there was nothing indicating who occupied them, until, as I passed the tents d started to move into the road beyond, I saw a man partially dressed, emerging from a "shelter-tent."
I at once rode up to him and inquired what force was there in camp. He looked at me seemingly bewildered. Not hearing him reply to me, I repeated the question, and while lingering for a response, I was suddenly startled by a familiar voice calling.
THERE GOES A MAN DRESSED IN WOMEN'S CLOTHES
I turned and saw Andrew Bee, our headquarters cook, who was standing close to the front of one of the wall tents and pointing to three persons in female attire, who, arm in arm, were moving rapidly across the clearing towards the thicket. Andrew called to me, "Adjutant, there goes a man dressed in woman's clothes."
The person indicated was quite apparent, and I rode at once toward the party, ordering them to halt, repeating the order rapidly, they seeming not to hear, or not inclined to obey, until I rode directly across their pathway, when they halted
The person indicated was quite apparent, and I rode at once toward the party, ordering them to halt, repeating the order rapidly, they seeming not to hear, or not inclined to obey, until I rode directly across their pathway, when they halted
At that moment Corporal Munger of Company C came riding up from the thicket, and taking a stand in the rear of the party brought his carbine to a position for firing up the man dressed in women's clothes, at the same time applying to him an appellation that was in vogue among the troopers as a designation of "Jeff. Davis."
I ordered the corporal not to fire, there being no perceptible resistance.
Davis had on for disguise a black shawl drawn closely around his head and shoulders, through the folds of which I could see his gray hairs.He wore upon his person a woman's long black dress, which completely concealed his figure, excepting his spurred boot heals
Davis had on for disguise a black shawl drawn closely around his head and shoulders, through the folds of which I could see his gray hairs.He wore upon his person a woman's long black dress, which completely concealed his figure, excepting his spurred boot heals
The dress was undoubtedly Mrs. Davis' traveling dress, which she afterwards wore on her return march to Macon.
At the time of the capture she(VARINA) was attired in her morning gown and a black shawl covering her head and stately form, while her waiting maid was completely attired in black.
I directed Corporal Munger to guard Mr. Davis and his party in their tents, and to take two men who came up with him for that purpose.
Glancing from this party before me, and around the position, I was startled by the presence of several rebel officers who in the meantime quietly came upon the scene. The positions they had taken clearly indicated they were interested in the movement of their chief.
I ordered Davis and his party to retire to their tents and then moved toward the rebel officers in question, requesting them to also retire. I was promptly obeyed.
I directed Corporal Munger to guard Mr. Davis and his party in their tents, and to take two men who came up with him for that purpose.
I then rode forward to report to Col. Pritchard the episode that had taken place.
In the meantime spirited firing had commenced, and the usual evidences of an engagement with an enemy appeared in the direction our column had advanced.
As I passed Davis' tent, in going to the front,
As I passed Davis' tent, in going to the front,
Mrs. Davis called to me, and I dismounted to hear her request. She asked what we were going to do with Mr. Davis and whether herself and family would be permitted to go along with him.
I informed her that I could not tell what would be done with any of them until I had reported to my commanding officer
. She then very earnestly said that we must not interfere with Mr. Davis as he was a very desperate man and would hurt some of us.
She further requested that I would see to certain things that she had in the wagon, and I promised to attend to that
As I moved into the road I met one of our officers from the front with something from the wagon, in the shape of a canteen of most excellent fluid, of which he freely offered me a share.
As I moved into the road I met one of our officers from the front with something from the wagon, in the shape of a canteen of most excellent fluid, of which he freely offered me a share.
I met Col. Pritchard just returning from an unfortunate conflict with the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, that regiment having come upon our pickets and mistaking them for an enemy, retired and formed for a battle, which forced our column to form in line and skirmish with them, in the belief that we had met a force of the enemy.
Col. Pritchard brought the engagement to a close by dashing into the lines of the 1st Wisconsin and notifying them of the mistake.
The fact was that the 1st Wisconsin and the 4th Michigan expected to find a desperate force of the enemy; the 1st Wisconsin, however, was marching without any knowledge of the locality of the camp, and without any expectation of finding it at that time, having been in bivouac most of the night, a few miles from our picket.
I reported to Col. Pritchard the capture of Jeff. Davis in his attempt to escape from the camp in female attire, and that I had put him under guard. In the meantime Mr. Davis put on his male attire - a suit of gray - and came out of his tent.
The fact was that the 1st Wisconsin and the 4th Michigan expected to find a desperate force of the enemy; the 1st Wisconsin, however, was marching without any knowledge of the locality of the camp, and without any expectation of finding it at that time, having been in bivouac most of the night, a few miles from our picket.
I reported to Col. Pritchard the capture of Jeff. Davis in his attempt to escape from the camp in female attire, and that I had put him under guard. In the meantime Mr. Davis put on his male attire - a suit of gray - and came out of his tent.
When he (DAVIS) saw Col. Pritchard he shouted out some inquiry, which he followed up with the old familiar charge, "You are vandals, thieves and robbers."
[Davis] evidently had worked himself into a rage, for when I went to him soon after, getting the names of the prisoners, he refused my request for his name, and I was obliged to receive it from his wife, who spoke up proudly, in answer to my repeated question, "his name is Jefferson Davis, sir."
The captured party consisted of Jefferson Davis, accompanied by Mrs. Davis and their three children;
The captured party consisted of Jefferson Davis, accompanied by Mrs. Davis and their three children;
John H. Reagan, Postmaster General;
Col. Johnston, A.D.C.; Col. Burton N. Harrison,
Private Secretary, and Col. F.R. Lubbock, A.D.C., of Jeff. Davis' staff; Major V.R. Maurin, of the Richmond Battery of Light Artillery; Capt. George V. Moody, Mollison's Light Artillery; Lieut. Hathaway, 14th Ky. Infantry; privates W.W. Monroe and F. Messick, 14th Ky.; privates Sanders, Ingraham, Wilbury, Baker, Smith, Heath and Alliston, of the 2d Ky. Cavalry; privates J.H. Taylor and A.W. Brady, Co. E. 15th Miss., private J.W. Furley, 13th Tenn.,
all of the late Confederate States army, and midshipman Howell of the Confederate navy, Miss Howell, a sister of Mrs. Davis, accompanied her.
There were two colored women and one colored man, servants of the Davis family. Of the three children of Mr. Davis' family, the youngest was a babe and quite a favorite in our command (once on the march I saw it handed along the line);
the oldest child was a little girl about ten years of age, and the other child was a boy of about seven or eight years. There was also with the party a little colored lad about the same age as young Davis, and the two created considerable amusement for us by their wrestling exercises. Burton N. Harrison, the Private Secretary, was the gentleman of whom I sought so diligently to elicit information immediately preceding the capture.
There was not the slightest show of any resistance on the part of any of the captured party, and they were all kindly treated by their captors.
There was not the slightest show of any resistance on the part of any of the captured party, and they were all kindly treated by their captors.
That their wagons and tents were searched thoroughly, I have no doubt. Lieut. James Vernor obtained a trophy of Davis' wardrobe, a dressing gown, which he exhibits, but whether Davis wore it as part of his garments at the capture is not known.
It might possibly have been worn under his disguise.
Their horses were all taken by our men and considerable sums of money in gold were captured.
Their horses were all taken by our men and considerable sums of money in gold were captured.
The gold was taken, as I understood from Col. Johnston at the time, in the holsters of the rebel officers, where it had been carried for safety and convenience
. Who captured the gold is somewhat of a mystery to this day.
At the camp, immediately after the capture, Col. Pritchard was informed that one of our men, a Tennessean named James H. Lynch, was possessed of most of the coin and the Colonel searched him but found none of the gold;
afterwards it is well known that Lynch distributed several pieces of gold coin among his companions and gave a few pieces to some of his officers. It is certain that the coin was never equally distributed.
In preparing for the return march their horses were all returned to the prisoners, and Mr. and Mrs. Davis and family were allowed the use of the ambulances, which they occupied most of the time on our return march.
On the 12th of May, returning, we met Major Robert Burns, A.A.G. of Minty's staff, from headquarters at Macon, who brought to us President Johnson's proclamation, offering rewards for the capture of Jeff. Davis and other fugitives.
In preparing for the return march their horses were all returned to the prisoners, and Mr. and Mrs. Davis and family were allowed the use of the ambulances, which they occupied most of the time on our return march.
On the 12th of May, returning, we met Major Robert Burns, A.A.G. of Minty's staff, from headquarters at Macon, who brought to us President Johnson's proclamation, offering rewards for the capture of Jeff. Davis and other fugitives.
The proclamation was the first intelligence we received of the assassination of our President, Abraham Lincoln, and of the reward.
I have now in my possession the copy of the proclamation which was handed to me at that time. It was issued on the 2d day of May, 1865, was published to the Cavalry Corps, M.D.M. at Macon, on the 8th day of May, 1865, and reached our command, as I have said, on the 12th day of May. Mr. Davis was securely guarded during our return march. Perhaps his guard was more strict than it would have been had he not given notice that he would make his escape if possible.
Before reaching Macon, Col. Pritchard received orders to make a detail form his regiment in readiness to take his prisoners to Washington, and after we reached camp, he proceeded upon that service and conveyed Jeff. Davis to Fortress Monroe.
The Secretary of War directed Col. Pritchard at Washington to obtain the disguise worn by Jeff. Davis at his capture, and Captain Charles T. Hudson undertook to procure it from Mrs. Davis.
Before reaching Macon, Col. Pritchard received orders to make a detail form his regiment in readiness to take his prisoners to Washington, and after we reached camp, he proceeded upon that service and conveyed Jeff. Davis to Fortress Monroe.
The Secretary of War directed Col. Pritchard at Washington to obtain the disguise worn by Jeff. Davis at his capture, and Captain Charles T. Hudson undertook to procure it from Mrs. Davis.
In his account of the affair, Capt. Hudson has related in a letter to Major-General J.H. Wilson, that Mrs. Davis stated to him that she attired Mr. Davis in her own dress, and she surrendered a certain garment which Col. Pritchard afterward described in his report to the Secretary of War as a "waterproof cloak or dress."
Though I did not examine the texture of the dress worn by Davis at the capture, and cannot say whether it was waterproof or not, it was beyond all question a "woman's dress," and precisely like the dress usually worn by Mrs. Davis after the capture during our march back to Macon.
I am very sure that not any gentleman's garment that could be described as a waterproof cloak was found or seen in the possession of Davis at his capture, or while on the march to Macon.
Burton N. Harrison, Jeff. Davis' Private Secretary, in his paper in "The Century," November, 1886, on this subject, states that Davis was not disguised at all,
Burton N. Harrison, Jeff. Davis' Private Secretary, in his paper in "The Century," November, 1886, on this subject, states that Davis was not disguised at all,
and that he wore a waterproof cloak which he usually wore on the march; and by further statement seeks to discredit other witnesses present at the capture, by assuring the public only one of our troopers was present there, the one who accosted him, and that he and Mrs. Davis and that one trooper, were the only persons who saw Davis at his capture; when the fact is, that while Davis was standing in his disguise in my presence, three of our troopers saw him, besides Andrew Bee, who pointed to Davis as "a man dressed in woman's clothes;" and there was present not more than two rods from the disguised figure, Capt. Moody and within about four rods from him, Col. Lubbock and other Confederate Army officers, who doubtless saw what took place.
My record of the event was made at the time in the line of my duty, and I then correctly and officially reported the fact of his disguise to my commanding officers.
My record of the event was made at the time in the line of my duty, and I then correctly and officially reported the fact of his disguise to my commanding officers.
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STORED HERE -- FOR LATER
Varina, hated later by Jeff Davis adoring fools at the Encyclopedia of Virginia to this day, apparently because of her letter and book she wrote long before those boys were even born. See below.
