F

joining those with the wagons near the outskirts of the town. Thence they had all gone toward the south together. Mr. Davis was mounted on a fine bay horse.

Pursuit by the national cavalry.

Colonel Harnden, with a detachment of cavalry, had been for some time on the watch for the fugitives; he therefore at once pressed the pursuit, and soon fell on the track of the party. The trail led southward through a region of pine forests and cypress swamps almost uninhabited, affording no food for men or horses. Rain began to fall, and, as there was no road, the tracks of the wagon-wheels upon the sandy soil were soon obliterated. A citizen was pressed, and compelled to act as guide till the track was again discovered. The pursuit was continued with renewed vigor; but, as the wagon-tracks were once more lost in the waters bordering on Alligator Creek, the pursuing party was again delayed. That day was one of great toil, both to men and horses; they had marched 40 miles through an almost trackless forest, much of the way under the rain and in water up to their saddle-girths. They bivouacked after dark on the borders of Gum Swamp, heavy rain still falling, and before daylight on the 9th resumed their march. In the afternoon they met with another pursuing cavalry detachment, under Colonel Pritchard, to whom they gave the information they had gained. The two detachments now marched to Irwinville by different roads. Pritchard reached it first, at 2 A.M. on the 10th, and, guided by a negro whom he compelled to act, came within half a mile of the camp of the fugitives.

At daybreak the order was passed in a whisper to make His camp at Irwin- ready to enter the camp, which was found ville discovered. pitched on both sides of the road. On the left hand were wagons, horses, tents, and men; on the right were two wall tents, fronting from the road. No guards were encountered.

camp,

While they were thus in the act of surprising the a sharp firing was heard. It turned out to be an acci

He assumes dis

tured.

dental collision with the other cavalry party, in which, unfortunately, two men were killed and several wounded. Three persons in female attire, who had apparently just left one of the large tents, were seen moving guise, but is cap- toward the thick woods. A corporal who confronted them cried "Halt, or I'll fire." They halted, and were found to be Jefferson Davis, his wife, and sister. Mr. Davis had a black mantle wrapped about his head; over his suit of Confederate gray he had a lady's water-proof cloak gathered at the waist; a shawl was thrown over his head; in his hand he carried a tin pail. As they walked back to the tent, it was observed that Davis's high top-boots were not covered by his dis guise.

Lieutenant Stuart, one of Mr. Davis's staff, thus relates the incident of the capture: "When the musketry firing was heard at dim gray dawn, it was supposed to be between (some) marauders and Mrs. Davis's few camp de fenders. Under this impression, Mr. Davis hurriedly put on his boots, and prepared to go out for the purpose of interposing, saying,

"They will, at least as yet, respect me.'

"As he got to the door, thus hastily equipped, and with this good intention of preventing an effusion of blood by an appeal, in the name of a fading but not wholly faded authority, he saw a few cavalry ride up the road and deploy in front.

"Ha, Federals!' was his exclamation.

"Then you are captured,' cried Mrs. Davis, with emotion.

"In a moment she caught an idea-a woman's ideaand as quickly as women execute their designs it was done. He slept in a wrapper-a loose one. It was yet around him. This she fastened ere he was aware of it, and then, bidding him adieu, urged him to go to the spring, a

short distance off, where his horses and arms were. Strange as it may appear, there was not even a pistol in the tent. Davis felt that his only course was to reach his horse and arms, and complied. As he was leaving the door, followed by a servant with a water-bucket, Miss Howell flung a shawl over his head. There was no time to remove it without exposure and embarrassment, and, as he had not far to go, he ran the chance exactly as it was devised for him."

His imprisonment

release.

The empty water-pail-an emblem of the Confederacy -had dropped from the captive president's and subsequent hand. He was sent to Fortress Monroe, where he was for a long time confined, not, however, with a vindictive, but with a merciful intent. Had he been brought to trial before time had somewhat softened the remembrance of all the bloodshed and devastation which the rebellion had caused, his life would hardly have been spared. When resentment had subsided he was set at liberty, a monument of the clemency of the Republic.

III-R R

CHAPTER XCIV.

THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN, AND THE DISBANDING OF THE NATIONAL ARMY.

As the affairs of the Confederacy declined, conspiracies were entered into by certain desperadoes for the abduction or murder of President Lincoln.

He was assassinated in a theatre in Washington.

Immediately after the surrender of the Confederate armies, measures were taken for the disbanding of the national army and the reduction of the navy.

An abstract of the report of the Secretary of War is given, showing the manner in which this was done.

IMMEDIATELY after the re-election of Lincoln in 1864, a Conspiracy to ab- conspiracy was set on foot to seize him and duct the President. carry him to the South. It was expected that the success of the plot would throw affairs in Washington into irretrievable confusion. The leading spirit in this undertaking was a play-actor whose name was John Wilkes Booth, and who looked upon slavery, so he said, as one of the greatest blessings that God had ever bestowed upon a favored nation. He had aided in the capture and execution of John Brown, and declared, "I was proud of my little share in the transaction, for I deemed it my duty, and that I was helping our common country to perform an act of justice."

It

"For six months," says Booth, "we had worked to capConspiracy to assas- ture, but, our cause being almost lost, somesinate him. thing decisive and great must be done." was therefore determined to assassinate the President, the Vice-President, the members of the cabinet, and General Grant.

Lincoln, full of charity for all, and with malice to none, seems never to have comprehended how bitter may be the revenge of passionate and desperate men. A stranger to personal fear, and forgetful how important his life was to

the nation, he sometimes exposed himself needlessly, and therefore unjustifiably. Thus, on the day after the capture of Richmond, he made an objectless public entrance into that city, though it abounded with persons familiar with scenes of violence, wild with excitement, and looking upon him as the author of their humiliation.

On his return to Washington his conversation with his official and personal friends showed that his mind was filled with ideas of forgiveness, amnesties, reconciliation, reunion. Looking at a photograph of General Lee, he could not refrain from expressing his delight at its urbane and benevolent lineaments.

He is shot in the theatre.

On the evening of the 14th of April, at 9 o'clock, he repaired to Ford's Theatre. In the box with him were his wife, another lady, and Major Rathbun. He had been there about an hour when Booth, who was well acquainted with the building, made his way stealthily to the box, and, putting a pistol at the back of the President's head, fired. Major Rathbun attempted to seize the assassin, but was stabbed by him. For a moment Booth stood at the front of the box, and, brandishing his knife, exclaimed, "Sic semper tyrannis!" the motto of Virginia; then, placing his hand on the railing of the box, he leaped on the stage, but in so doing his spur caught in a national flag that was hung in front of the box; he was thrown down, and his leg injured severely by the fall. Recovering himself, he again stood erect, and, once more flourishing his knife before the audience, shouted out, "The South is avenged!" So saying, he es caped.

The death of

The ball had entered the President's head behind the left ear, and, passing through the brain, lodged Lincoln. at the back of the right eye. He uttered no word, and was so instantly insensible that probably he never knew what had happened. He was removed to a house in the neighborhood, and breathed his last soon aft