New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-09-03
Hon. Jefferson DavIs.
A LADY's Stretch or HIS PRISON LIFE.

The Abbeville Is. o. Banner has been per
mitted to make the following extract from letter
concerning the President of the aa Confederate
States. The letter, which was written without
any idea of publication, is in the familiar style of
friend deeply impressed with the truth of the sub
ect of which She writes, imparting in almost
every sentence a sense of that deep sympathy
which all the women and men of the late Confede
rate States feel for the lustrious captive. But to
the extracts:
My friend, Mrs. B., Mrs. Davis niece wrote
me She was going to Fortress Monroe and invited
me to ioin her. Not receiving her letter in time
to meet her, we followed her to Fortress Monroe,
and after some little diplomacy got permission to
enter, and spend the day (the 4th of July.) We
had the happiness of seeing, listening to and din
| ing with our iustrous Presdent-illustrious by
his misfortunes his talents, his high position and
| his many virtues which shine most Respondent in
| in the day of gloom.
DR.. Cooper Qike Dr. Craven) is enthusiastic in
his praises of him says it is impossible to entrap
him into one word of bitterness or impatience to-
/ wards his enemies and shows himself greater in
his magnanimity, his patience and gentleness, his
wonderful self-control under petty Sights and in
dignities, than in the days of his power in the
" C0nfederaGY. We saw him first walking feebly
ACROSS the parade from his lookup to the case
mate where his wife lives, the nurse and baby by
his side, his emaciated figure and tottering step
telling the tale of hardships and ill-treatment.
Presently we lOllOWeu lltl anu uoI one OF US DuI
kissed the emaciated hands which he held out to
t welcome us, wetting them withour tears. He
talks pleasantly, but with difficulty; his voice is
weak, and every hour they give him teaspoonful
of brandy and he lies down often to rest his
0 back. 5a q
S | could understand the temptation to Dr. Craven
to set down his conversation, so wonderful 1t IS
= so pointed, so strong and so tOrGlble every sen
y tence so concentrated as to seem the very essence
; of wisdom found out through Mrs. B. and DIR
n Cooper his ofAnon of DR.. Crayen's book; it is no
n reliable.
= He says he IS often misrepresented and Otter
misunderstood not that he thinks DR.. CraYel
!. would falsify wilfully, but Colonel Halpine, VIII
5 wrote the book of Craven, has garbled the con
yersation to suit his own views and wishes, Col
Halpine was on Gen. Hunters staff hence h
g makes Mr.. Davis guilty of the nconsis, ency
:. saying "Hunter was his model of SOLDIER
If whereas, Mr.. Davis said in our presence, 'Hunte
is simply brute. In our early days we wer
much associated, and thought him conscientious
y though a fanatic but he has entirely change
N since then.'
While Mr.. Davis rested, we were taken to Sc
"a his apartment in Carroll Hall, which is precisel
70 like apartments occupied by lions and tigers in
1t menagerie. The back is closed and three side
I'd are Of iron lars, and great padocks Befor
~ these bars three guards walk gazing at him. wal
80 ing sleeping, washing, dressing-not even a Gu
Vi tain to protect him. At O'Clock A. NJ, he is Il
a out, and at sunset the trumpet Sounds his guar
appears, and he is locked in cage. A brigl
- light from some two lamps blazes in his fac
which, with the challenging of the passers by, tt
ISL changing of the sentines every two hours effect
IN ally Keep him awake. He walks out to the rar
or parts from five to six P. NJ Mrs. Davis and B. su
l., porting him. When the signal sounds for the loo
w. up and the guard appears, he says never wor
ar but turns from his companions with look of
much agony, mingled with fortltude, as Is hea
es rending to witness.
~ The most touching sight ever witnessed was
hU see him lift his emaciated hands and say grae
thanking God for all his mercies.