On 22 May 1865 in Irwinville, Georgia, the fugitive president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, was captured by the Union cavalry officer Benjamin Dudley Pritchard.

Historical legend has it that Davis was disguised as a woman when he was arrested, hence the reference in this newspaper report (published in June 1865) to ‘the petticoat story’ perhaps being a falsehood.

Derby Mercury – Wednesday 28 June 1865

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