Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-06-22

ure OF his sight troubling him, and his nights
almost without sleep. His present treat
ment was killing him BY inches, and he
wished shorter work could be made of his
torment
The torture of being necessarily watched
is, to the mind, what the water dropping is
to the body, but more effective, as the mind
is more susceptible of pain. The lamp burn
ing in my room all night would seem tor
mcnt, devised by some one who had intimate
knowledge of my habits, my custom having
been through life never to sleep except in
total darkness
July 20.-Found Mr.. Davis in a very
critical state; his nervous debility extreme;
his mind more Respondent than ever hereto
fore; his appetite gone; complexion livid,
and pulse denoting deep prostration Of all
the physical energies Was much alarmed,
and realized with painful anxiety the respon-
sibilitics Of my position. If he were to die
in prison, and without trial, subject to such
seventies as had been inflicted on his attenu-
ated frame, the world would form unjust con-
illusions, but conclusions with enough color
to pass them into history. 1t seemed to me,
let me frankly confess, due to the honour Of
America, and the future glory Of our strug-
gle for national existence, that this result
should not happen.
Mr.. Davis asked me could nothing be done
to better his condition, or secure him the
justice of a trial before death. The effort of
his people to establish country had failed,
and they had no country now but America.
1t was for the honour Of America, not less
than for his own, and for justice to his cause,
that he pleaded
Prisoner complained bitterly Of the restric-
tons imposed by Gen. Miles on his cores
pondence with his wife certain subjects, and
those perhaps of most interest, being forbid
den to both. The convicts in State prisons
were allowed this liberty unimpeded, or only
subject to the supervision Of the Chaplain
Mr.. Davis turned to the officer of the day,
and demanded whether he had been shack
led by special order Of the Secretary Of war,
or whether Gen. Miles had considered this
violent course essential to his safe keeping
The Captain replied that he knew nothing of
the matter and so our first interview ended
He expressed great concern lest his wife
should hear through newspapers Of the scene
in his cell when he was ironcd. Would it be
published, did think And on my remain
ing silent-for knew it had been to the news
papers on the afternoon Of its transporting
he interlased his fingers across his eyes, and
CALCULATED: ooh, my poor wife, my poor,
poor girl How the heart rending narrative
will afflict her!
He remained silent for some moments as I
sat beside his bed; and then continued, ex-
tending his hand that [ might feel his pulse
Il wish she could have been spared this
knowledge. There was no necessity for the
act.
MIR. DAVIS OWN ACCOUNT OF HIS CAPTURE.
Towards morning, Mr.. Davis says he had
just fallen into the deep sleep Of exhaustion,
when his wife's faithful negro servant, Rob
ert, came to him announcing that there was
firing up the road. He started up, dressed
himself and went out. It was inst at gray
dawn, and by the imperfect light he saw a
party approaching the camp They were re-
cognized as federal cavalry by the way in
which they deployed to surround the train,
and he stepped back into the tent, to warn
his wife that the enemy was at hand.
Their tent WIS prominent, being issolated
from the other tents of the train and as he
was quitting it to find his horse, several of
the cavalry rode up, directing him to halt
and surrender To this he gave a defiant
answer. This one whom he supposed to be
an officer asked, had he any arms, to which
Mr.. Davis replied: IF had, you would
not be alive to ask that question" His pis-
tolls had been left in the holsters, as it had
been his intention, the evening before, to
start whenever the camp was settled but
horse, saddle, and holsters were now in the
enemy's possession, and he was completely
unarmed.
COL Pritchard, commanding the federal
cavalry, came up soon, to whom Mr.. Davis
said: 81 suppose, sir, your orders are &C
complished in arresting me. You can have
no wish to interfere with women and children;
and [ beg they may he permitted to pursue
their Journey The Colonel replied that his
orders were to take every one found in my
company back to Macon, and he would have
to do so, though grieved to Inconvenience the
ladies' Mr.. Davis said his wife's party was
composed Of paroled men, who had commit
ted no act of war since their release, and
begged they might be permitted to 60 to
their homes but the Colonel under his Or
ders, did not feel at liberty to grant this re-
quest. They were all taken to Macon, there
fore, reaching it in four days, and from thence
were carried by rail to Augusta
MIR. DAvIs's OPINION OF GENERAL GRANT.
70 my question what be thought of Gen
eral Grant, Mr.. Davis replied that he was
great soldier beyond doubt, but Of q new
school. IF he had not started with an enor
nous account in bank, his checks would have
been dishonored before the elimination was
reached At Shiloh he was defeated the first
day, and would have been destroyed or COM
PEELED to surrender next morning but for
Buelrs timely arrival with a fresh and we'll
disciplined reinforcement, the strength Of
which had been variously stated.