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

easements OF OrtresS Monroe. 1t is no nc
ton: no story of Northern correspondent,
but real impartial, authoritative statement
of the Surgeon Of the Post at Fortress lhom-
roe arho attended Mr. Darts for serem long
months after his capticiy. The account has
just been published in the North, and what
we give below is copied, word for word from
the Surgeons own statement, as published
in the New York World. 1t needs no COM
ment-it forms the most cold blooded, infa-
nous and dcvilish atrocity that was ever per-
petratcd on earth The blood runs cold at
the recital of such torture and suffering -
Talk of Libby Prison, of Andersonville-b but
what were all their imaginary horrors COM
pared to the story below They pale into
insigni6cance All we ask is that every per-
son in 4he South will read this and as he does
let him recollect that these are the words Of
Yankee Surgeon, who cannot be suspected
of any sympathy with Mr.. Davis, and there
fore does not make his treatment appear as
bad as it really was. Where is the shame
Of the North when such barbarism and tor
ture is allowed to be visited upon poor help
less, defenceless, manacled prisoner
HOW MIR. DAVIS WAS CONDUCTED INTO PRISON.
May 81, 1865.
The procession into the fort was under the
immediate inspection of Major General Hal
leck and Charles A. Dana, then Assistant
Secretary of War; Colonel Pritchard, of the
Michigan cavalry, who Immediately effected
the capture, being the officer in command Of
the guard from the vessel to the fort. First
came Major General Miles holding the arms
of Mr.. Davis, who was dressed in suit of
plain Confederate gray, with gray SLOUGH
ed hat-always thin, and now looking much
wasted and very haggard. Immediately af-
ter these came Col. Pritchard accompanying
Mr.. Clay, with guard Of soldiers in their
rear. Thus they passed through files Of men
in blue from the Engineers Landing to the
Water Battery Postern; and on arriving at
the casemate which had been fitted up into
cells for their incarceration, Mr.. Davis was
shown into easement No two and Clay into
No. four, guards of soldiers being stationed
in the cells numbered one, three and FIVE,
upon each side of them
HOW Mr.. DAVIS WAS PUT IN IRoNs-AN OFF,
CIAL STATEMENT.
On the morning Of the 22nd of May, a yet
bitter trial was in store for the proud spirit
"a trial severer, probably, than has ever in
modern times been inflicted upon any one
who had enjoyed such eminence. THIS morn
ma Jefferson Ducis uos shackled.
Captain Jerome Titlow, of the Third Penn
sylvania Artillery, entered the prisonel's cell,
followed by the blacksmith of the fort and
his assistant, the latter carrying in his hand
some heavy and harshly rafting shackles.-
AS they entered, Mr. Davis was reclining
on his bed, feverish and weary after sleep
less night, the food placed near to him the
preceding day still lying untouched on the
plate near his bedside.
Well p said Mr.. Davis as they entered,
slightly raising his head.
Il have an unpleasant duty to perform,
sir, said Captain Titlow and as he spoke
the senior blacksmith took the shackles from
his assistant
Davis lcaped instantly from bis rccumbent
attitude, flush passing over his face for a
moment, and then his countenance growing
livid and rigid as death
He gasped for breath, clutching his throat
with the thin fingers of the right hand, and
then recovering himself slowly, while his
wasted figure lowered up to its full height
now appearing to swell with Indignation and
then to shrink with terror, as he glanced
from the captains face to the shackles-he
said slowly and with laboring chest:
N,1 h, H., l.
iron me %
"Such are my orders, sir" replied the
officer, reckoning the blacksmith to approach,
who stepped forward, unlocking the paddock
and preparing the letters to do their Office
These letters acere Of heavy iron, probably
fce-eigths OF an inch IN thickness, and con-
nected together by a chain Of like aceigM I
believe they are now in possession Of Major
General Miles, and will form an interesting
relic
This is too monstrous," groaned the
prisoner, glaring hurriedly round the room,
as IT for some weapon, or means OF self-de
struction. Il demand, Captain, that you
let me see the commanding officer. Can he
pretend that such shackles are required to Sc
cure Gilc odlo CuoCOuy VI d WEAK Olu HAL, 81
guarded and in such fort as this?"
g It could serve to no purpose" replied
Captain Titlow; 90 his orders are from Wash
ington, as mine are from him"
But he can telegraph" interposed Mr..
Davis, eagerly; g there must be some mis-
take. No such outbrake as you threaten me
with is on record in the history of nations.
Beg him to telegraph, and delay until he an
swers."
"My orders are percmptory," said the Of
6cer, and admit of no delay. For your own
sake, let me advise you to submit with pa
tience. AS a soldier, Mr.. Davis, you know
I must execute orders"
"These are not orders for a soldier"
shouted the prisoner, losing all control Of
himself They are orders for jailor-for
angman-which 10 soldier wearing a
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'' he cried passlonately,
throwing his arms wide open and exposing
his breast "rather than infict on me, and
on my people through me, this insult worse
than death"