Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-07-06
JEFFERSON: DAVIS IN PRISON.

JEFFERSON DAVIS IN PRISON.
THE PR1soE LITE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS
by Lit. Col. John J. Craven, NJ. D.,
late Surgeon u. S. Volunteers and Ply
sciau Of the Prisoner. Carleton: Now
York. -.
We close present notice Of tho admira-
mirably written work Of DR.. Craven with
tho followipgsextracts. We make no apol-,
ogy for having devoted SO much space to
the prison history Of Mr.. Davis, believing
that we can in no way contribute SO much
to tho qualification of readers. The work
will no doubt soon be for sale by our book
sellers, when all may satisfy the desire,
sharpcncd by the extracts we have given,
to read the work entire. 1t is rcmarka-
bile volume, and though apparently trench
ing on strict propciety, is written with such
admirable taste and judgment as to violate
in no way the trust imposed in tho conf
,dentia. relations existing between the illus.
trious prisoner and his biographer.
lie AYERS TIE PURITY OF Ills MOTIVES.
'They charge me with crime, Doctor,
but God knows my innocence. indorsed
no measure that'was not justified by the
laws Of war. Failure is all forms Of guilt
in one, to men who occupied my position
Should die, repeat this for the sake of my
dear wife, and poor darling children.
Tell the world only loved America, and
that in following my State was only car
rying out doctrines received from reveren-
ced lips in my early youth, and adopted by
my judgment as the convictions of ripper
years" ....-. ..s
Mr.. Davis spoke with intense earnestness
the solemnity Of dying man, though
not then in my judgment, in any immedi-
ate danger. Ills words, as quoted, were
taken down on my return to quarters, and
ARE here given for what each reader may
think them worth. They certainly impress
,sed me as sincere, and as if-whether true
or not, judged by the standard of law
the speaker uttered them in the good faith
of religious man, who thought death
might possibly bo near, ifnot imminent and
certain. .--.-- .
CRITICAL STATE OF Observation-Disclosures
AIR TIE CAUSE.
September WAS called at daylight
by Capt. T'tlow, officer Of the day, to see
State prisoner Davis, who appeared rapidly
sinking, and was believed in a critical con-
dition. The carbuncle was much infamed,
his pulse indicating extreme prostration of
the vital forces. The erysipelas:which had
subsidized now rc-appcared, and the lebsile
excitement ran very high. Prescribed sucl,
remedies, constitutional and topical, as were
indicated but always had much trouble to
persuade him to use the stimu,ants so ur-
gently needed by his. condition. Lot me
here say, however, that in, docilily and
strict adherence TO whatever regimen was
prescribed, Mr.. Davis was. the model patient
OF my practice. He seemed to, regard the
doctor as captain of the patients health,
and ebeyed every direction, however irk-
some diaagreeable, orpainful, With militia
~ exactness.. - -: II
Ma 4aasis!renev:ed his complaints of the,
'yitiated atmosphere Of; the, casemate, de-
alsfisgi it to be .poxiouaz and pestilential
From the causes before neticed..l Mould.
gathered upon hisshoes, showing the danp>,
,neaa Of the place; and no enimal life could
pzosper- in an. atmosphere that granted
thesabyphope.ous fungi. From the tia-
ingApd falling Of the tides in the loose
epaaktiosssof the casenate, mephitic fun--
= - "s'adz fha spoies.ut which. aosGsg
H. tt -