Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-07-08
WHY JefI. Davis was Put In Irons
Another Account Of His Capture.
IT. NUo.h;.c,op Rannhlicon nf Vadnn

: The Washington Repuohcan OF Wednes
, day says:
Why and how JEFF. Davis was manacled
or whether he was manacled at all, ha.
been enveloped in some uncertainty. L
|. is true that irons were placed on his feet
but they were subsequently, removed
when they had answered their purpose
Not only was he imperious and naughty,
as usual, but he became absolutely OBJ
streperous, insulting the guard, abusing
the officers and their Government, throw
ing his food at his attendants, and tearing
q secession passion to tatters generally
sometimes threatening others, sometimes
Automatically counting a bayonetpunc-
ture of his own breast. As O necessity
and possibly as a punishment and warn
~ing-orders were given to place manacles
on his feet. The Captain in charge, Ut
tended by a blacksmith and manacles, ap-
preached, saying, "Mr. Davis, I have a
very unpleasant duty to perform" my
God" exclaimed jeff, "you don't intend
to put those things on me?" Such were
the orders; the Captain could only obey.
jeff. remonstrated-they should never be
put on-the Captain must go to General
Halleck and have the order coun.ermand-
ed. The Captain replied: "But. Mr..
Davis, the order came from Gen. Halleck."
Davis insisted that the order must be
countermanded. The Captain said: "Vou
are a military man, Mr.. Davis, and know
that my only course is, to obey orders"
JEFF. then went off in a more towering
passion than before, and declared he would
never be ironed alive. After becoming q
little cool, and mechanically placing one
foot on a stool, the Captain told the black
smith to proceed. Leaning forward to
take to his arms the heels of his rebel
majesty, jeff. seized him, and with q Wig
orous push tumbled him backward on the
nant, hurled his hammer at "the Presi-
dent" but missed him. Davis then at
tempted to seize q gun, and asked to be
bayoneted. The guards presented bayo-
nets, and the Captain feared he might rush
upon them, and so ordered the guard to
fall back. The Captain then called in four
stout men, and ordered them to lay JEFF.
on his bunk, which they did, the prisoner
resisting with almost p~reternatural
strength, and writhing in their grasp while
the blacksmith hammered on the rivet
with a will. When placed in his chair
again, JEFF. looked in utter despair upon
his manacled limbs, and burst into tears.
This medicine had the desired effect, and
the great rebel became comparatively do
cile, far less defiant, but more depressed /;
and the irons have since been removed.
II was feared that he would starve himself
to death, refusing persistently to eat SOL
dler's ra,ions, (Which C. c. Clay munches
without a murmur,) and his physician
prescribed a more agreeable diet, which
4" the President" ate with great av:dity-
and still enjoys the extra fare. On being
asked what he thought Of the neglect Of
his Generals to make any provision for
his safety, or for amnesty with the rest of
the army, he said he was o prisoner, and
it didn't become him to speak Of it, but
that any man Of sense could imagine h
he thought.
A correspondent of the Rochester DEM
ocrat, writing from the Fortress, says:
He now walks his cell almost constant
", and amuses himself as he approaches
either wall by trying to put his finger on
the careless flies that dot the w~hitewashed
surface. but they invariably, ike the
throne he sought to grasp, elude him. He
talks in o loud, strong voice, and Is very
inquisitivr. The privates have strict or
ders not to speak to him, yet occasionally
they will answer q question. His suit OF
rebel gray has been exchanged for n Of
black.
The Detroit Free Press has received
Major Hudson, Of that city, who COM
manded the squad of the Fourth Michi-
gan Cavalry, who captured Davis. the
following story of the scene
To Major Hudson was given the duty
of surrounding the tent Of the rebel chief.
He picked fifteen of his best men and pro-
ceeded to execute the order, which was
done with cons ummate skill, and to the
entire satisfaction of his superior officer.
The place of capture was about one hun
dred and twenty-five miles south Of Ma
con, in the woods adjoining the small
town of Irwinsville. After the order had
been properly executed of surrounding
the tent, the Major proceeded to the tent
OF Davis, where he was met by Mrs.
Davis, somewhat en- dishabiHe. She in
quired if they intended to invade the
privacy of a lady's apartment. The Major
thought not. At this iuncture, an in
dividual having the appearance of an anti
| ouated grandame, dressed with q lady's
| waterproof cloak and shawl, minus the
inevitable hoop skirts, however, accom-
| panied by q young negro servant girl,
bringing a small bucket, emerged from the
tent, apparently for the purpose of going
to the spring for a bucket of water. This
was an ingenious device of Mrs. Davis to
get her husband through the lines. The
ruse failed and Jefferson Davis was dis
covered. The servant girl ran back to
the tent, and Jefferson was soon effectually
secured. For some time he remained
sulky, very much after the fashion Of an
old lady in need Of her usual compound
extract Of strong tea !; but the "Presi-
dent" after q while, got over his fits"
and became quite communicative, con-
versing freely on ordinary topics, but
maintaining a prudent silence on current
military and political events. On their
way up to Fortress Monroe, Mr.. and Mrs:
Davis spoke in pleasant anticipation Of
meeting old friends in Washington. in
ouiring about old associates, and evident
" expecting to be lionized and fsted upon
arriving at the capital Davis had attempted
in vain for four years to destroy. Upon
Col. Pritchard receiving the order from
Secretary Stanton to forward the garments
worn by Davis at the time of his capture,
Major Hudson called upon Mrs. Davis,
who was very indignant. She accused
him and his party Of taking her jewelry
and her money, which, Of course, was a
feminine falsehood, as that distinguished
lady retained some $4,000 in gold, and all
the yaluables and money that she had in
her possession. After a good deal of par
leying, the Madame consented to give up
the cloak and shawl, against which Mrs.
Clay most violently protested, calling
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