Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site Facts for Kids

The Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site is a special place in Irwin County, Georgia. It marks the exact spot where Jefferson Davis, who was the President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, was captured. This happened on May 10, 1865, by soldiers from the United States Cavalry.

The site has a granite monument with a bronze statue of Davis at the capture spot. There's also a museum built in 1939. This museum shows off Civil War weapons, uniforms, and other items. It also tells the story of President Davis's journey in 1865 from Richmond, Virginia to Irwin County, Georgia.

Quick facts for kids Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site Jefferson Davis Capture Site
Monument in 2017
Location	Irwin County, Georgia
Nearest city	Fitzgerald, Georgia
Area	12.668 acres (5.127 ha)
Founded	July 26, 1920
Founder	James B. Clements
Visitors	2,873 (in 2015)
Governing body	Irwin County (Georgia) Board of Commissioners
Website	Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site

U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Official name: Jefferson Davis Capture Site
Designated	April 1, 1980
Reference no.	80001094

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The Story of Jefferson Davis's Flight
- Journey Through Georgia
- The Capture at Irwinville
About the Capture Site
- The Monument and Museum
Things to Do at the Site
Gallery
See also

The Story of Jefferson Davis's Flight

Left marker at the site

Right marker at the site

The monument in June 1936

The American Civil War was ending in the spring of 1865. On April 2, Jefferson Davis, the Confederate President, left Richmond, Virginia. Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. The Confederate government was quickly falling apart.

Davis traveled south with some of his advisors and a military escort. They passed through several towns in North and South Carolina. On April 13, Davis learned that the main Confederate army had surrendered. A few days later, he heard about the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

Journey Through Georgia

On May 3, 1865, Davis and his group crossed into Georgia. He hoped to gather more Confederate soldiers in the western parts of the country. He wanted to continue fighting the war.

Davis arrived in Washington, Georgia, and officially ended the Confederate government there. By May 7, he met up with his wife, Varina, and their children. Union troops were chasing them closely. Davis and his family continued to flee through Wilcox County.

The Capture at Irwinville

On the night of May 9, Davis and his group reached Irwinville in Irwin County. They set up camp in a pine forest. This forest is now the Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site. They didn't know that Union soldiers were very close by.

At dawn on May 10, two Union cavalry groups surrounded them. These were the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry and the 4th Michigan Cavalry. The two Union groups didn't know each other were there. They briefly shot at each other by mistake before realizing they were on the same side.

Davis tried to escape to a nearby creek. However, a Michigan cavalryman arrested him. Along with Davis and his wife, his private secretary, the Postmaster General, and other aides were captured.

Davis was later charged with treason. He was held in Fort Monroe, Virginia for two years before being released.

About the Capture Site

The land where Davis was captured was once owned by Judge James Bagley Clements. In 1920, he gave four acres to the State of Georgia. He wanted it to become a state park. His father had bought the land after the war to make sure it stayed in local hands.

The Monument and Museum

The United Daughters of the Confederacy put up a monument exactly where Davis was captured. It's a tall granite stone with a base. It has carvings and words on it. On top is a bronze bust, which is a statue of Davis's head and shoulders. The front carving shows Davis being captured by two Union soldiers.

The Works Progress Administration built the Civil War Museum at the site. It was finished in 1939. More land was added over time, making the park almost 13 acres by 1952.

In the mid-1970s, the site became part of Irwin County. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Today, the monument is surrounded by gravel and a low iron fence.