Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-06-21

believe they are now in the Possession of Major
General Miles, and will form an interesting relic
I" This is too monstrous groaned the !e prisoner,
glarring hurriedly round the room, as if for some
weapon, or means of self-destruction. 81 demand
Captain, that you let me see the commanding Of
fcer. Can he pretend that such shackies are re-
quired to secure the safe custody OF weak old
man, so guarded and in such fort as this ?"
cit could serve no purpose" replied Captain
Titlow &c his orders are from Washington, as
mine are from him. - -.-
"But he can telegraph, interposed Mr. Davis,
eagerly "there must be some mistake. No such
outrage as you threaten me with is on record in
the history of nations Beg him to telegraph, and
delay until he answers" IL. ~
"My orders are peremptory, said the officer,
"and admit of no delay. For your own sake, let
me advise you to submit with patience. As a sol
der, Mr. Davis, you know must execute orders. y
"These are not orders for a soldier" shouted
ted the prisoner, losing all control of himself
" They orders for a jailer-for a hangman,
which no soldier wearing sword should accept
tell you the world will ring with this disgrace.
The war is over, the South is conquered [ have
no longer any country but America and it is for
the honor of America, as for my own honor and
life that plead against this degradation. Kill
me kill me p he cried, passionately throwing his
arms wide open and exposing his. breast, g rather
than infict on me, and on my people through me,
this insult worse than death. 49,. t.,,,:,
''Do your duty, blacksmith said the officer,
walking towards the embrasure AS if not caring to
pain on all sides to protract this interview"
At these words the blacksmith advanced with
the shackles, and seeing that the prisoner had one
foot upon the chair near his bedside, his right
hand resting on the back of it, the brawny me-
chanic made an attempt to slip one of the shack
les over the ankle raised but, as if with the
vehemence and strength which frenzy can mpart,
even to the weakest invalid, Mr.. Davis suddenly
seized his assailant and hurled him halfway across
the room.
On this Captain Titlow turned, and seeing that
Davis had backed against the wall for further re-
sistance, began to demonstrate, pointing out in
brief clear language, that this course was mad
ness, and that orders must be enforced at any
cost. 'Why compel me" he said, ''to add the
further indignity Of personal violence to the ne
cessity of your being ironed %
81 prisoner of war; fercely retorted Da-
Wis "I have been a soldierin the armies of Amer
ica and know how to die. Only kill me, and my
last breath shall be blessing on your head. But
while have life and strength to resist, for myself
and for my people, this thing shall not be done.
Hereupon Captain Titlow called in a sergeant
and file of soldiers from the next room, and the
sergeant advanced to seize the prisoner. Imme
diately Mr.. Davis flew on him, seized his musket
and attempted to wrench it from his grasp.
Of course such scene could have but one issue.
There was short, passionate scuthe In a mo-
ment Davis was flung upon his bed, and before
his four powerful assailants removed their hands
from him, the blacksmith and his assistant had
done their work-one securing the rivet On the
rgnt ankle, While the other turned the Key on the
paddock on the left.
This DONE Mr.. Davis lay for a moment as if in
a stupor. Then slowly raising himself and turn
ing round, he dropped his shackled feet to the
floor The harsh clank of the striking chain
seems first to have recalled him to his situation,
to passionate flood of sobbing, rocking to and
fro, and muttering at bief intervals ooh, the
shame, the shame !''
It may here be stated, though out of it's due Or
&Iot11y hoe
ant subiect-tnat Mr.. Davis some two months
later, when frequent visits had made him more
free OF converse, gave me curious explanation OF
the last feature of this incident.
He had been speaking of suicide, and denoun-
cling it as the worst form of cowardice and folly
" Life is not like commission that we resign
when disguised with the service Taking it by
your own hand is confession of judgment to all
that your worst enemies can allege It has often
flashed across tempting remedy for neural
gic torture but thank God I never sought my
own death but once, and then when completely
frenzied and not master of my actions When
they came to iron that day, as last resource
of desperation, seized soldiers musket and
attempted to wrench it from his grasp, hoping
that in the scufle and surprise, some of his com
rades would shoot or bayonet me-
On the morning of May Oath, was sent for
about half-past A. NJ, by Major General Miles
was told that State prisoner Davis complained of
being i'll, and that had been assigned his med
lcal attendant.
Calling upon the prisoner-the first time I had
ever seen him closely-he presented very misera-
BILE and affecting aspect. Stretched upon his pal
let and very much emaciated. Mr.. Davis appeared
0 mere fascine of raw and tremulous nerves-his |
eye restless and fevered his head continually shif
ting from side to side for cool spot the pillow
and his case clearly in which intense cerebral
excitement was the first thing needing attention.
He was extremely Respondent, his pulse full and
at ninety, tongue thickly coated, extremites cold
and his head troubled with long established neu-
ralgic disorder. Complained of his thin camp
mattress and pillow stuffed with hair, adding that
he was so emaciated and his skin chafed easily
against the Stats and, as these complaints were
we'll founded, ordered additional hospital
mattress and setter pillow, for which he thanked
me courteously.
"But [ fear, he said as, having prescribed II
was about taking my leave, accompanied by Cap |
tain Evans, Third Pennsylvania Artillery who |
was officer of the day 81 fear, Doctor you will |
have troublesome and unsatisfactory patient
One whose case can reflect on you little credit
There are circumstances at work outside your art
to counterfeit your art and suppose there must |
be conflict between your feelings as a soldier |
OF the Union and your duties as healer of the |
sick" |
This last was said with faint smile, and tried
to cheer him. assuring him, if he would only keep
quiet and endeaver to get some rest and sleep, |
which my prescription mainly addressed to |
obtain that he would be well in a few days. For
the rest of course physician could have no feel
lngs nor recognize any duties but towards his pa
hent.
MIR. Davis turned to the officer of the day, and
demanded whether he had been shackled by spe- |
cial order of the Secretary of War or whether Cen
eral Miles had considered this violent course essen
lal to his safe-keeping The Captain replied that
he knew nothing of the matter and so our first |
ended. ....s.
On quitting Mr.. Davis, I at once wrote to Ma |