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Regiment: 4th Michigan Calvary
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Benjamin D. Pritchard, Jefferson Davis
2
Head-Quarters Second Brigade, Second Division Cavalry,
May 20186
We intended to picket the whole length of Flint
River. so that the
[ ? ] gentleman would be between
two liner. I don’t think he could have escaped us.
At midnight of the 11
th a despatch came from
Lt Col Andress of the 7
th Pa informing us that Pritchard
and the 4
th Mich had caught J. D. on the morning
of the 10
th at Irwinville. This carrier found
us at Gum Creek in Dooley Co. At the news
we did shout, and perform saltatory exercises “en dich-
abille” I, for one felt particularly pleased, as it
was my own regiment which had nabbed the
erratic individual. There is always a friendly
rivalry between regiments of the same Brigade & Divis-
ion, and each man bets high on his own. My
only regret was that I was not with Pritchard. Had
I had the slightest idea that he would have been suc-
cessful I would have ridden with him to the end
of Florida, but we have been on so many unsuc-
cessful scouts and excrusions, that no one thinks
of volunteering for such a ride. When Pritchard and
the others started out they did not in the least
suppose they would be successfully. You undoubt-
edly have read the full account of his captures
his vain endeavor to escape in his wife’s dress as
the “poor old mother” of Mrs. D. so I will not re-
hearse the particulars.
At 5 30 A.M. on the 12th I started with 3 or 4
men from Gum Creek to see if I could not catch
Pritchard before he got to Macon. I reached Haw-
kinsville, 36 miles, at 2 P.M. and Pritchard
had passed through the night before, so I gave
up all hopes, however I determined to go on
to Macon. At 5 30 the next day I started
again and reached Macon 44 miles at 2 30
and caught up with the 4
th Mich just before
the regiment reached the city. I there had
an opportunity of seeing Mr. Davis, his family,
and the reception given him by his former
friends. No one gave him an encouraging word
and but one man appeared to sympathize
with him. I really pitied him, traitor
as he is. Early in the morning of the
12
th I saw a sight never before witnessed by
me at the South now anywhere else. I saw
a negro chered by bloodhounds and men.
I of course did not see the negro but the
[ ? ]
went on the run by us on his tracks. I
did not know until they had passed what
was going on or I should certainly have shot
some of them. I never had such a feeling
of honor and loathing come over me as I did
when I knew what they were after. I have seen
a great many men killed in battle but was
not atall affected in comparison I am
becoming a good deal of an abolitionist. If
our late troubles is settled without the total and
immediate abolition of slavery, we will make a great
mistake. People who haven’t been here, knows
nothing about it.
On the 14th we received a mail the first
and only one we have had since March 21
st
In it were yours of April 9
th and two from
Detroit. That was the longest time we have ever
been without a mail.
We expect to start homeward on the
22
nd inst. Our regiment has orders to be ready
to move Northward at that time. We expect
to march through to Nashville. and it
will probably six weeks or two months.
