Reward Money For Capture of Jefferson Davis

[historybuff22]

This is a perfect example of why historians should NOT rely on only one source to form their conclusions. I found one veteran's diary that claimed his unit, Wisconsin 1st Cavalry, captured and received the reward money. Yet another veteran's diary claimed his unit, Michigan 4th Cavalry, captured Davis and received the reward money. Yet another example is a newspaper article I found in a 1903 newspaper stating that "only the men present" at the capture would receive reward money. The article claimed that some men from each unit - Wisconsin 1st Cavalry and Michigan 4th Cavalry - would receive part of the reward money. The source that was sited as a response to my request for info to settle the matter, a United States Government Publishing House publication printed in 1866 settled the matter. The breakdown lists about 100 men by name and amount of reward they received. It accept this as the final determination. None of the men in the Wisconsin 1st Cavalry received any reward money.

Thanks for your kind assistance and efforts.

Rick Brown
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