Jefferson Davis
On May 4, 1865. Jefferson Davis arrived in Washington. Georgia (68miles N). where he perform what proved to be his last duties as President of the Confederate States of America, Shortly thereafter, with a small staff and escort. he departed enroute to the trans- Mississippi Department. from which vantage point he hope to negotiate just peace. His party reached Sandersville about soon on may 5th. where Judge John H. Reagan. Act`g Sec`y of the Treasury, and Captain M. H. Clark, Act`g Treasurer, transacted the last official business of the Confederate State Treasury.
That evening, they camped near Balls ferry (17 miles SW), but upon learning of a threat to his family, which was on a converging route some hours ahead. Mr. Davis decided to press on end. After an all night ride over strange roads, he found them near the home of Mr. E. J. Blackshear, 10 miles north of Dublin.
After a hard journey via Dublin and Abbeville, they camped a mile N of Irwinville (110 miles SW) in the present Jefferson Davis Memorial State Park. At the dawn on may 10th, his camp was surrounded by men of the 1st Wisconsin and the 4th Michigan cavalry regiments [USA] and he became a `state prisoner` his hopes for a new nation in which each would exercise without interference its cherished ` Constitutional rights` forever dead.
GHM 152-11 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1957
Plaque courtesy Lat34North.com.
Original page, with additional info, here.
Photo credit: Ken Moser.