The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-12-18
How MR. DAVIS WAS IMPRTsoNED
545 IN FORTRESS MONROE. ae' .

Ihe ironing Business-Ihe frue Reldti0n of
Facts ty The Prisoner aud an Odfcer eft4eD Dag.
ri yepo From the, ,Natchez Coarier, Novsi5. .-nsil
1nsWhen JEFF Davis was brought captive 20
Fortress Monroe,I be was confined in the quo.
room OF a scasemate, the embrasure Of which
was closed With a heavy grating, and the doors
which eommunicatedl With the gunner'so room
were closed with heavy double shutters, fasteni
ed with cross bars and 'padlocks - The side
openings bad been closedeup with fresh mason
ary, the pfastering Of which was soft to the
touch, the top being an arch to support the
earth of the parapet.y Two sentinels with mus.
kets loaded and bayooets fixed, paced to snd
fro across the small prison.. Two other senti.
nels and a commissioned officer occupied the
gunners room, the doors and windows oe which
we're strongly secured. The officer of the day
had the key of the outer door, and seDtneis
were posted on the outer pavement in front OF
It,. There was also two sentinels on the para.
pet overhead. The embrasure looked out on
the vet ditch, say sixty feet wide, the water 10
which was probably from seven to ten feet deep,
the scrap aud counterscrap revctted with dressed
masoaary. Beyond the ditch, on the glacis,
was double chain of sentioels, and in tie case
mate rooms, on each side of his prison, we're
quartered that part Of the guard which was not
on post. --s$'.'F' e..
Borne down by privation, over exertion and
exposure, he was in no condition when thrown
into prison to resist exciting causes of disease
The damp walls, the food too coarse aud bad to
be eaten, the deprivation Of sleep caused by the
tramping of sentries around the iron cot, the
Light Of the lamp which shone full upon it, the
loud calling of the roll when another relief was
turned out, the noise of unlocking the doors,
the tramp of she sentinels who came to relieve
those On post, produced fever, aud rapidly
wasted his strength Without mechanical aid,
though his efforts were not Interrupted, no one
could have removed the grating from the en-
brasure. IF that had been done, and any one
could have swan across the ditch, and climbed
up the revetment on the opposite side, which
was doubtsul, be then would hiye encountered
the sentinels on the glacis. The circumstances,
together with many manifestations Indicating
feeling toward him, led him to the conclusion
that it was not the belief that these things was
necessary to prevent bis escape, but purpose
to offer an indignity, to infict physical pain,
and perhaps to deprive him of life a-, 4. 4
On the 23d Of May, 1865, the officer of the
day, Captain j. Tftlow, of the third Pennsylva-
MIA Artillery, came into bis prison with two
blacksmitbs, bearing pair Of heavy leg irons,
coupled together by pondrous chain. Cap
tain Titlow, in a manner fully sustaining words,
Informed him that, with great personal reluc-
tance, he came to execute an order to put irons
upon him. Mr. Davis asked whether General
Miles had given that order, and on being an-
swered in the affirmative, said be wished to see
Gen. Miles. Captain Titlow replied that he
had Just left Gen. Miles, who was leaving the
fort. Mr. Davis then asked that the execution
of the order. should be postponed until Gen.
Miles returned Captain TitIow said his orders
would not permit that, and that to an old sol.
der it was needless to say that an officer was
bound to execute an order as it was given to
him. Mr. Davis told him that it was too OBJ
vious that there could be no necessity for the
use of such means to render his im prisoamept
secure; and, on Captain Titlow's repeating that
his duty was to execute his orders, Mr. Davis
said it was not such an oIder as a soldier could
give, or should receive, aud he would not sub
nit to it; that i: was evidently the intention to
torture HIN to death; that he would neves tame
ly be subjected to indignities by which Il vas
sought in bis person to degrade the cause of
which he was the representative. The officer
of the day, with evident kind feeling endeavored
to dissuade hin from resistance. The officer OF
the guard came in from the front room with
the officer of the day, to induce him to yield
1t was needless to show what was very apparent
that resistance could not be suecessfnl--ahd
Mr. Davis answer was that he "was soldier
and gentleman; that he knew how TO die"
and pointing to the sentinel who stood ready,
said: "Let your men shoot me at once" He
faced round with bis back to the wall, and stood
silently waiting. His quiet manner led the
officer to suppose that no resistance would be
made, and therefore the blacksmiths were di.
rected to do their work. AS one of them stoop-
ed down to put on the fetters, Mr Davis sung
him of so violently as to throw him on the foor;
he recovered and raised bis hammer to strike,
but the officer of the day stopped him; simulta-
neously one of the sentineis cooked aud lowered
his musket, advancing on the prisoner, who had
turned to encounter this assailant ard thas did
not see the purpose of the blacksmith. Captain
Titlow saw the new danger, and promptly inter
posed, telling the sentinels that they were not
to fire. Ordered the officer of the guard to 1
bring in four of the strongest uen of the guard
without firearms, for the purpose of oyereom-
lug, by muscular strength, the resistance which
was threatened. Dir Davis had nothing with
which to defend himself, even bis pen-knise
having previously been taken from him. The
contest was hs:e. ,.and ended iu his being thrown
down, four men beiog on bis body and head
He could not see tie blacksmiths whea they
approached to put on the iroEs, but feeling one
OF them, he kicked him off against the wall - 4
? The smith recovered, end with the aid which
the other men could give him, -succeededr in the
second attempt to rivet one fetier, and secure
the paddock which held the other. Air Davis
asked bis assaitants if they t'ealledp
themselves soldiers" and said, 'fhe shame 10
yours, not mine" ~ The object being effected,
the officer Of the day Withdrew the men he bad
brought 10. The prisoner lay. down On the. cot,
covered his ironed limbs With the blanket, and !