1860 Currier and Ives Political Cartoon of Jefferson Davis fleeing as a Woman

One of the great political cartoons of the Post-Civil War era, this is a humorous 1864 Civil War Era image poking fun of Jefferson Davis's flight from Union trips in Irwinville, Georgia on May 10, 1865. Apparently,

in the gray of early morning, Davis had, in the midst of a futile, last-ditch effort to elude capture, mistakenly donned his wife’s raincoat, and she had hastily draped her shawl around his head and shoulders against the morning cold.

The tale was exploited by the press and became increasingly exaggerated, as in this political cartoon by Currier and Ives. Here in a mocking image, emasculated Jefferson Davis has fully donned women's clothing and flees, carrying stolen wealth, shouting 'I thought your government more magnanimous than to hunt down women and children!' His wife is in the background discouraging the Unions soldiers pursuing Davis. It is of note that at least one of the soldiers appears to be black.

Although well represented in institutional collections, this print has become quite rare on the private market.