The rebels were soon swept from the main line of works, and then the inner line of redans was carried in detail by assault, and possession had been gained of the entire inner line when the 4th division reached the outer works. The result of this gallant affair was the capture of the city with twenty-five pieces of artillery in position besides seventy-five pieces in the navy-yard, with a large amount of ammunition and stores, together with other property, and twentyeight hundred prisoners.

The regiment, still in command of Colonel Pritchard, remained at Selma until the morning of the 7th, assisting in building pontoons, when the division crossed the Alabama river. On the night of the 12th it crossed Big Swamp creek on pontoons, built from the planks of a house which had been pulled down for that purpose. Proceeding onward the city of Montgomery was reached, and peaceably taken possession of by the 1st division. The regiment, with its brigade, marched through Columbus on the 17th, which had been assaulted and taken by the 4th division on the previous night. Pushing forward towards Flint River with a view to saving the double bridges on the Macon road, marching all night it reached there at 6 A. M. on the 18th, where a gallant sabre charge was made by one battalion of the 4th Michigan, in command of Captain Charles T. Hudson, carrying the bridges, and taking prisoner every man of the rebel battalion which had been left to destroy them, including two majors and nine other commissioned officers.

On the 20th, the 2d division, to which the regiment was attached being in the advance, after marching 27 miles found the enemy and drove him rapidly for eighteen miles. At about 6 P. M. the advance regiment entered Macon at the gallop, surprising a battalion of rebel cavalry, and receiving the unconditional surrender of Major General Howell Cobb, with his entire force, consisting of five general officers, three hundred and seventy-four other commissioned officers, and nineteen hundred and ninety-four men, with sixty-two pieces of artillery, together with large and important arsenals, foundries, and machine shops. At that point the notice of the surrender of the rebel armies having been received, the further progress of the command was terminated. Major General Wilson, commanding, in his congratulatory order, under date of Selma, Ala., April 7th, 1865, says of the 2d division, to which the 4th. Michigan belonged:

*

"Selma lay before you, surrounded by two lines of intrenchments, the outer one continuous, flanked by impassable swamps, covered by stockades, and defended by seven thousand troops, under the command of Lieutenant General Forrest. Like an avalanche the intrepid soldiers of the 2d division swept over the defenses on the Summerville road, while the 4th division carried those on the Plantersville road. The enemy, astonished and disheartened, broke from their strong works, and Selma was fairly won. The enemy, under Chalmers, attempted to drive in the 2d division picket line during the battle, and go to the rescue of the rebel garrison, but their efforts were futile and they were compelled to retreat rapidly beyond the Cahawba."

"Soldiers, you have been called upon to perform long marches and endure privations, but your general relied upon and believed in your capacity and courage to undergo every task imposed upon you. Trusting in your valor, discipline, and armament, he did not hesitate to attack intrenchments believed by the rebel leaders to be impregnable, and which might well have caused double your numbers of veteran infantry to hesitate. Your achievements will always be considered among the most remarkable in the annals of cavalry."

Colonel Minty, in his report of the part taken by his brigade in the assault and capture of Selma, says:

"On the night of the 31st of March, I was encamped ten miles north of Montevallo, and on the night of the 1st of April I camped at Plantersville, having marched 45 miles on that day.

"On the morning of the 2d I marched at 6 o'clock, taking the advance at the main Selma road. The 3d Ohio was my advance regiment. It easily drove what small force we met without delaying the column for a moment. About six miles from Selma I turned to the right, taking a cross road which led to the Summerville road. At about 3 P. M. I found myself in front of the works around Selma. In accordance with orders from Brigadier General Long I sent the 3d Ohio to the right and rear to cover led horses and pack mules. The other three regiments, 4th Ohio, 7th Pennsylvania, and 4th Michigan, were dismounted and formed a line about half a mile from the works. A strong skirmish line was pushed forward a few hundred yards in advance and was immediately engaged with the enemy's skirmishers.

"At about 4 P. M., Major General Wilson, accompanied by Brigadier General Long, came forward to my skirmish line. After examining the ground for a few moments General Wilson ordered an assault. The 1st brigade was now moved to my right, and my skirmishers from that direction were drawn in. By direction of General Long I left one regiment, the 4th Michigan, to support the Chicago Board of Trade Battery. The 3d Ohio was still protecting the led animals, and was at this time skirmishing with Chalmer's advance. This left me but two regiments for the assault, numbering in all 33 officers and 671 men. At about 5 P. M. the order was given to advance. The men moved forward with enthusiasm and in pefect line until their left struck a swamp in which they were almost knee deep. This threw the right considerably in advance. The left of the 1st brigade came forward in the same manner, and as I afterwards learned, from the same cause, swamp in front of the outer flank.' Thus the right of the 4th Ohio and left of the 123d Illinois gained the works first, the flanks sweeping forward as if the movement had been that of individual echelon. Corporal Booth of Ă company, 4th Ohio, was the first man inside the works. He was almost immediately afterwards shot through the head. "The works at the point of assault consisted of a breastwork or parapet from six to eight feet high, with a ditch about five feet wide along the entire line. After entering the works we pushed up the line to the left, cleaning the rebels out of the bastions, in which we captured a considerable amount of artillery, until we arrived opposite the fort, near the cotton gin, which formed a portion of the inner line of works. This was immediately assaulted and carried. Three field pieces were captured in this work. Here we again turned to the left and attacked and carried the works on the Plantersville road, capturing five pieces of artillery, one of them a thirty-pounder Parrott. At this point I collected and re-formed my command, and about 11 P. M. bivouacked between the lines of works. As before stated, the total number engaged in the assault was thirty-three officers and six hundred and seventy-one men. Of these nine officers and one hundred and fourteen men were killed and wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Dobb, commanding 4th Ohio, was, I regret to say, killed, and Colonel McCormick, commanding 7th Pennsylvania, severely wounded.

"Each officer and soldier performed his duty well and nobly, and it is, therefore, difficult for me to make special mention of any.

"Major Burns, 4th Michigan Cavalry, my Acting Assistant Adjutant General, was among the first to enter the works, and acted in the most gallant manner throughout the entire action.

"

In a subsequent report, dated May 14th, 1865, to the commanding general, he says:

"Major Burns, 4th Michigan Cavalry, my A. A. A. G., formed and brought forward the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry to the assault; was among the first to enter the enemy's works, and afterwards took part in the charge made by the 4th United States Cavalry.

"This officer has been under my immediate command for nearly three years, and has invariably performed his duty with energy and zeal, and has distinguished himself in battle on many occasions.

*

"Where all did their duty so well, the man who distinguished himself above his comrades in arms was brave among the brave."

On the 7th of May, 1865, Lieutenant Colonel Pritchard was directed by Colonel Minty to proceed with the regiment as rapidly as possible to Spaulding, in Irwin Co., and picket the Ocmulgee river from Hawkinsville to the mouth

of the Oconee river, for the purpose of preventing the escape of Jefferson Davis, who was then supposed to be making his way to the Atlantic coast, and if he got on his track to follow him wherever he went, and to capture or kill him without fail.

At Abbyville he became satisfied that Davis had already crossed the Ocmulgee, and ascertained that the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry was following him closely in the direction of Irwinsville. With 153 of the best mounted men of the regiment he followed the line of the Ocmulgee for some miles, and then took a bridle path or blind road through the woods towards Irwinsville, and arrived at that place about 2 o'clock A. M. on the 10th, and found that Davis had not yet passed. Pretending to be a part of his escort, Colonel Pritchard gained information from a rebel citizen that Davis was encamped in the woods about three-fourths of a mile north of the town. The camp was at once surrounded, and at about 3 o'clock A. M. the force closed in and captured him and his party. Davis attempted to escape disguised in his wife's traveling cloak, with a shawl thrown over his head.

"Weave him a mantle of burning shame,

Stamp on his forehead that dreadful name,
Which deeds like his inscribe in blood,-
A traitor to man! a traitor to God!

"Plait him a crown of the flower that comes
In the ashes that lie o'er burned homes!
Let his sceptre be the smoking brand
Which his fiat sent throughout the land!"

Report of Colonel Pritchard to the Secretary of War, covering the pursuit and capture of Davis:

HEADQUARTERS 4TH MICH. CAV'Y DETACHMENT,
Washington, D. C., May 25, 1865.

HON. E. M. STANTON, Sec'y of War, Washington, D. C.:

}

SIR.-I have the honor to report that in obedience to orders received from Colonel R. H. G. Minty, commanding division, I left Macon, Ga., at 8 o'clock P. M. on the 7th inst., in command of the 4th Michigan Cavalry, with a numerical strength of 419 men and 20 officers, with directions to move down the south bank of the Ocmulgee river from 75 to 100 miles; to take possession of all the ferries below Hawkinsville; picket the river as far as the strength of my regiment would permit, and to scout the country on both sides of the river for the purpose of capturing Jeff. Davis and party, who was reported to have left Washington, Ga., on the morning of the 4th inst., traveling southwestward with an intention of crossing the Ocmulgee at some point between Hawkinsville and Jacksonville, or to capture any other government parties who might be fleeing from Richmond in that direction. I marched the command all night and until 8 o'clock A. M. of the 8th inst., having marched thirty-six miles, when I halted five hours, rested and fed my command. Moving on again at 1 o'clock P. M., I marched fifteen miles further and encamped for the night three miles below Hawkinsville, having marched 51 miles inside of 24 hours, including all halts. At 4 o'clock A. M. of the 9th inst., I moved my command out in the direction of Abbyville, which place I reached at 3 o'clock P. M., and where I discovered the first traces of the object of our search. Here I learned that a train of twelve wagons and two ambulances had crossed the Ocmulgee river at Brown's ferry, 14 miles above Abbyville, about 12 o'clock on the previous night; had stopped at Abbyville long enough to feed their animals, and moved on again before daylight in the direction of Irwinsville. I here met Lieutenant Colonel Harnden, of the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, who informed me that he, with a force of 70 men was following on the track of the train, and that his men were from one to two hours in advance, and as Colonel H. said he had ample force to contend with that supposed to be with the train, I decided not to move on the same road with him, and continued my course three miles further down the river, where I learned additional facts regarding the character of the train and the parties with it, which convinced me that it belonged to some of the parties for whom we were looking, and at once

determined to pursue by another road which I had also learned of after leaving Colonel H., which led into Irwinsville by a circuitous route, believing that if they were hard pressed at any time they would pass from road to road to baffle the efforts of their pursuers, and as they were reported as doing before crossing the river. Accordingly I ordered a detail of 128 men and 7 officers (besides myself), of the best mounted men in the command, leaving the rest of the regiment under command of Captain Hathaway, directing him to picket the river, scout the country etc., in accordance with former orders.

At 4 o'clock I put the column in motion, moving down the river road a distance of 12 miles to a point known as Wilcox's Mills. Thence by a blind woods road, through an almost unbroken waste of pine forest for a distance of 18 miles in a southwesterly direction to Irwinsville, which was reached about 1 o'clock on the morning of the 10th inst. Here passing my command as Confederate, and inquiring for our train,' representing that we were a rear guard left to fight back the Yankees, etc., I learned from the inhabitants that a train and party meeting the description of the one reported to me at Abbyville had encamped about dark, the night previous, about 14 miles out on the Abbyville road. I at once turned the head of my column in that direction, impressing a negro for a guide. After moving to within 1 miles of camp I halted under cover of a slight eminence, dismounted 25 men and sent them, under command of Lieutenant Purinton, to make the circuit of the camp and gain a position in its rear, and thus cut off all possibility of escape, and with special directions to execute the movement if possible without discovery, but if discovered and an alarm was raised, I would immediately charge the camp from the front, when he was to operate with his command from any point which he might occupy. That if no alarm was raised I should consider that he had gained the position directed, where he was to rest until I should commence the attack from the front. I had not decided at this time whether to move upon the camp at once or to wait until daylight; but, upon further consideration, decided to delay it, as it was now after 2 o'clock in the morning, the moon was getting low, and the deep shadows of the forest were falling heavily, rendering it easy for persons to escape undiscovered to the woods and swamps in the darkness. After waiting an hour or more, and just as the earliest dawn appeared, I put the column in motion and was enabled to approach within four or five rods of the camp undiscovered, when a dash was ordered, and in an instant the whole camp, with its inmates, was ours. A chain of mounted guards was immediately thrown around the camp, and dismounted sentries placed at the tents and wagons. The surprise was so complete, and the movement so sudden, that none of the enemy were able to make the slightest defense, or even arouse from their slumbers in time to grasp their weapons which were lying by their sides before they were wholly in our power.

"At this moment a new scene opened, destined in its mournful results to cloud the otherwise perfect and glorious success of our expedition. We had held possession of the camp but a few minutes, and not long enough to ascertain the extent of our capture, when sharp firing was commenced between the dismounted force under Lieutenant Purinton and what was supposed at the time to be the rebel force guarding the train. The firing was about 100 rods in rear of the camp, and across a narrow swamp. I immediately ordered all my forces to the scene of the firing, leaving only sufficient to guard the camp and prisoners. On arriving upon the ground I found my men engaging a force of dismounted men, who were concealed behind trees, etc. I at once formed my men in line, dismounted them, threw out a line of skirmishers who were advancing handsomely, when I became apprehensive that we were contending with some of our own men, from the determination displayed on their part and the peculiar report of their fire-arms. I ordered my men at once to cease firing, and rode over toward our opponents and hallooed to them, asking who they were, and received the reply, 1st Wisconsin.' This mistake was not discovered until it cost the lives of two men killed and a lieutenant severely wounded in the 4th Michigan, and three men severely and several slightly wounded in the 1st Wisconsin.

This lamentable accident arose principally from the refusal of the sergeant in charge of the advance guard of the 1st Wisconsin to give a proper response to the challenge of Lieutenant Purinton, and partially from the over zeal of both parties, each supposing they had met the enemy, and it was yet so dark in the woods that it was impossible to distinguish the uniforms of the men.

As soon as the firing had ceased, I returned to camp and took an inventory of our capture, when I ascertained that we had captured Jeff. Davis, his wife, and four children, John H. Reagan, his postmaster general, Colonels Johnson and Lubbock, A. D. C.'s to Davis, Burton N. Harrison, his private secretary, Major Maurand, Captain Moody, Lieutenant Hathaway, Jeff. D. Howell, midshipman in the rebel navy, and 13 private soldiers, besides Miss Maggie Howell, sister of Mrs. Davis, two waiting maids (one white and one colored), and several servants. We also captured 5 negroes, 3 ambulances, about 15 horses, and from 25 to 30 mules. The train was mostly loaded with commissary stores

and private baggage of the party. Upon returning to camp I was accosted by Davis from among the prisoners, who asked if I was the officer in command. Upon assuring him that I was, and asking whom I was to call him, he replied that I might call him 'what or whoever I pleased,' when I replied that I would call him Davis, and, after a moment's hesitation, he said that was his name. He suddenly drew himself up in true royal dignity and exclaimed: 'I suppose that you consider it bravery to charge a train of defenseless women and children, but it is theft; it is vandalism.'

"After allowing the prisoners time to prepare breakfast, I mounted them on their own horses, taking one of the ambulances for my wounded and one of the wagons for the dead, using the other two ambulances for the conveyance of the women and children, and started on my return by the direct route to Abbyville, where I arrived at sunset of the same day. Here I halted for the night and called in the rest of my regiment from its duty along the river, and resumed my march toward Macon at an early hour on the morning of the 11th inst., after having buried our dead and performed the last solemn rites of the soldier over his fallen comrades, sending couriers in advance to announce the success of the expedition.

"On the afternoon of the 11th, and when several miles below Hawkinsville, we met the rest of our brigade just coming out from Macon, and received from them the first knowledge of the President's proclamation, accompanied by General Wilson's order, offering a reward for the capture of Davis, etc.

"Retaining my independent command, I continued my march to Macon, where I arrived at 3 o'clock P. M. on the 13th inst. While yet on the march, and nine miles out of town, I received orders, by courier, to provide myself with a special detail of 3 officers and 20 men from my regiment and prepare to depart at once for Washington, as special escort for Davis and party; also to take 150 men to act as train guard as far as Atlanta.

"I left Macon by special train at 7 o'clock on the evening of the 13th, under the direction of Major General Wilson, having turned over all the private soldiers captured with Davis and party except two, and received an accession of Clement C. Clay and wife.

"Arriving at Atlanta at daylight on the morning of the 14th, I found a train and guard in readiness to convey and escort the party to Augusta, where we arrived at sunset of the same day, finding carriages and everything in readiness to convey us to the steamer Standish, lying four miles below the city. We arrived on board at 8 o'clock, when I received Alexander H. Stevens and Major General Wheeler and staff, and immediately sailed for Savannah, where we arrived at 1 o'clock A. M. on the 16th.

"Reported to General Burge, and at 4 o'clock A. M. the steamer Emile was ordered along side, and the prisoners and guard were transferred on board, when she immediately steamed for Hilton Head. When opposite Fort Jackson we met the steamer Coit, with with General Gilmore on board, to whom I reported, and when we reached Savannah he telegraphed to Hilton Head for the steamer Clyde to be got in readiness at once to receive the prisoners and convey them to Washington. Upon our arrival we found all things in readiness, and the transfer from the Emile to the Clyde took place immediately, and at 3 o'clock P. M. of the 16th we put to sea, under convoy of the steam sloop-of-war Tuscarora. Arriving off Fortress Monroe at noon of the 19th inst., I immediately proceeded to shore and telegraphed my arrival to the Adjutant General, and received orders in reply to anchor out and await further orders. At midnight of the same day I received further orders from yourself, saying that General Halleck would be there at noon on the 20th to arrange for the final disposition of the prisoners. We remained on board the ship until the 22d inst., disposing meanwhile of all the prisoners except Davis, Clay, and families, in obedience to orders from General Halleck, and as per receipts in my possession. On the afternoon of that day the prisoners, Davis and Clay, were transferred, under orders from the same source, to the casemates of Fortress Monroe, and turned over to Brevet Major General Miles, the 4th Michigan Cavalry acting as special escort, after which it was temporarily assigned quarters within the fort.

"On the afternoon of the 23d I received orders from the War Department, through General Miles, directing me to procure the disguise worn by Davis at the time of his capture, and proceed to Washington and report to the Secretary of War. Accordingly I went over to the steamer Clyde and received from Mrs. Davis a lady's waterproof cloak or robe, which Mrs. Davis said was worn by Davis as a disguise at the time of his capture, and which was identified by the men who saw it on him at the time. On the morning following the balance of the disguise was procured, which consisted of a shawl, which was indentified, and admitted to be the one by Mrs. Davis. These articles I brought to Washington and turned them over to the Secretary of War.

"This closes my account of the capture and custody, up to the time of his being turned over to the United States authorities, of the great conspirator and traitor Jefferson Davis. But I would not close this report without recording my evidence of the high merits due to every officer and soldier in the command for their earnest zeal and untiring per