The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-06-26
THE NATIONAL DISGRACE.
Con
federafe States Put i'm
Irons I'm May, 1865.
Extract from the Diary Of the Sur
geon Of Fortress Monroe i'm
Relation to the ironing
OF jefferson Davis.
lsEWARD AND STANTON DISGRACE AMER
IoA-AN INVALID IN IRONS.

OA-1AN AN
On the morning Of the 23d of May, a
vet hitterer trial was in store for the
proud spirit-a trial severcr, probably,
thar has ever in modern times been in
Hicted upon any one who had enjoyed
such eminence. This morning Jefferson
Dauis 1ods shdckled.
Tt was while all the swarming camps of
the armies of the Potomac, the Tennes-
see and Georgia-ovsr 100000 bronzed
and laureled veterans-were preparing
for the grand review of next morning, in
which, passing in endless succession be-
fore the mansion Of the President, the
~conquering military power Of the nation
was to lay down its arms at the feet Of
the civil authority that the following
scene was enacted at Fort Monroe:
Captain Jerome E. Titlow. of the Third
Pennsylvania Artillery. entered the pris-
oner's cell, followed by the blacksmith Of
the fort and his assistant, the latter car
rying in his hands some heavy and harsh.
lS-rattling shackles. As they entered, Mr..
Davis was reclining on his bed, feverish
and weary after a sleepless nighttime food
placed near to him the preceding day still
Lying untouched on its tin plate near his
bedside.
"WellIn said Mr.. Davis as they enter
ed, slightly raising his head.
81 have an unpleasant duty to perform,
SIR" said Captain Titlow; and as he spoke
the senior blacksmith took the shackles
from his assistant.
Davis leaped instantly from his recum-
bent attitude, a flush passing over his
face for a moment, and then his counte-
nance growing liyid and rigid as death.
He gasped for breath, clutched his
throat with the thin fingers Of his right
hand, and then recovering himself slowly,
while his wasted figure lowered up to Its
full hight, now appearing to swell with
indignation and then to shrink with ter
ror, as he glanced from the Captains face
to the shackles-he said slowly and with
a laboring chest:
"My Godl You Scan not have been
sent to iron me?"
"Such are my orders, SIT" replied the
officer, beckoning the blacksmith to APP
proach, who stepped forward, unlocking
the paddock and preparing the letters to
do their Office. These letters were of
heavy iron, probably five-eighths of an
inch in thickness, and connected together
by a chain of like weight, l believe they
are now in the possession Of Major Gene
raj Miles, and win form an interesting
relic.
"This is too menstrous," groaned the
prisoner. glazing hurriedly round the
room as if for some weapon or means of
self-destruetion. 81 demand, Captain,
that you let me see the commanding eff
Ger. Can he pretend that such shackles
are required to secure the safe custody of
a weak old man, so guarded, and in such
a fort as this?s
ut would serve no purpose, replied
Captain TitloW; disorders are from Wash
~ington, as mine are from him."
aBut he can telegraph, "interposed Mr..
Davis eagerly; .there must be- some mis-
take. No such outrage as you threaten
me with is on record in the history of ma
tions. Beg him to telegraph, and delay
until he answers" ms
"My orders are peremptory," said the
officer, aand admit of no delay. For
your own. sake, let me advise you to sub
NIT with patience. AS a soldier, Mr..
Davis, you know I must execute orders"
ssThese are not orders for a soldier"
shouted the prisoner, losing all control eff
himself. "They are orders for a jailer-
for a hangman, which no 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 butaAmerica,
andit isafor the honor of America, as fer
my ownhonor and fe,thatI plead against
this degradation. Kill mel kill mel he
cried ~passionately, 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"
etDo your duty, blacksmith" said the
officer, walking toward the embrasure as
if not caring to witness the performance.
at only gives increased pain on all sides
to protract this interview"
At these words the blacksmith ad-
yanced with the shackles, and, seeing that
the prisoner had one foot upon tie chair
near his bedside, his right hand resting on
the back of 1.-THE braWny mechanic made
an attempt to slip one. of the shackles
over the ankle so raised; but, as if with
the rehemence and strength which frenzy
can impart, aver to the weakest invalid,
Mr.. Davis suddenly seized his assailant
and hurled him half way across the room.
On this Captain Titlow turned, and see
ing that Davis had backed against the
wall for further resistance, began to re-
monstrate, pointing out in brief, clear
language, that this course was madness;
and that orders must be enforced at any
cost. aWhy compel me-" he said, ito
add the further indignity of personal vi
olence to the necessity of your being iron
ed"
81 am a prisoner of war;" fcrcely re-
torted Davis; 81 have been a soldier in
the armies OF America, and know how to
die. Only kill me, and my last breath
shall be a blessing upon your head. But
while I have life and strength to resist,
for myself and for my people, this thing
shall not be DONE"
Hereupon Captain Titlow called in a
s~ergeantand file of soldiers from the next
room, and the sergeant advanced to seize
the prisoner. Immediately Mr.. Davis