Jefferson Davis Memorial State Park
On May 4, 1865, Jefferson Davis arrived in Washington, Georgia (178 miles NE of the Park), where he performed his last duties as President of the Confederate States of America. Shortly thereafter, with a small staff and escort, he departed enroute to the trasn-Mississippi Department where, supported by those Confederate forces not yet surrendered, he hoped to negotiate a just peace.
After a difficult journey via Sandersville, Dublin and Abbeville, he camped a mile north or Irwinville (18 miles NE) in the present Jefferson Davis Memorial Park, unaware that, in Dublin, the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry (USA) had found his trail and begun pursuit.
Ar dawn on May 10th, his camp was surrounded by men of the 1st Wisconsin and 4th Michigan cavalry regiments (USA) and he became a `state prisoner`, his hopes for a new nation -- in which each stae would exercise without interference its cherished `Constitutional Rights` -- forever dead.
To visit the park, take State 125 from Tifton to its junction with State 32, thence to Irwinville. To continue North after the visit, turn right in Irwinville on State 32 to its junction with US 41 at Sycamore. Museum. Open 9 to 6. Picnic grounds.
GHM 137-2 Georgia Historical Commission 1957
Plaque courtesy Lat34North.com.
Original page, with additional info, here.
Photo credit: Byron Hooks of Lat34North.com.