The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-05-11
MRS. JEFF. DAVIS.
FoRrsrss MONROE, Nav 8, 1855

FORTRESS MONROE, May 8, 1885,
Mrs. JEFF. Davis arrived here this morning
Her youngest child, sprightly girl, twenty
months old, colored man-servant, possessing
the stalwart form and fierce moustache of :
Russian grenadier, -four trunks of immensely larve
proportions, and travelling basket of the isr-
gest pattern, bore her company. Upon landing
she went to the Hygeia Hotel, adjacent to the
wharf, and, without stopping to change her
travelling dress, or even removing her bonnet,
oreakfasted and then sent a message inside
the fort, announcing her arrival and the permits
sion from President johnson she bore with her
to visit her husband Meantime the news of her
presence at the hotel spread rapidly, and a re-
time of anxious persons soon gathered sabont To
get look at her,. With admirable imperturba.
bility, not to say an agreeable eauanimity Of
temper-probably the result to some extent, of
past similar experiences-she submitted to the
painful necessity ofbeing gazed at. Time, that
old and stern teacher of wisdom, and unerring
revelator of the mutabilities of earthly dynasties
and hopes, has very sensibly changed her from
the haughty and defiant woman she was year
ago. Her tone il more subdued, her manners
more quiet and reserved and she does no. seek
to shine as resplendentlys in flashing diamonds
and costly laces. She has q much elder look
the look of a woman who has long born the bur-
den of grief and waged war with conflicting
doubts and hopes. But poor student OF ply
siogomy is he who does still read in tha, face
and penetrative glance of those eyes power of
will and determination as strong and pertina-
cious as life itself.
At 81 O'clock Lieut.. Fessenden, 9TH United
States artillery, waited upon her to escort her
inside the fort Her child accompanied them
She was taken to Gen. Miles headquarters, who
received her with every politeness and considera-
ton due her position. Under other circumstan-
ces she might have striven more sedulosly, per.
haps, to evoke the most favorable impression
possible upon the custodian of her husband, but
her great anxiety was to proceed at once TO her
husbands place of confinement and see him.
She was not long kept in anxiety. Mr.. Davis
had been apprized of her coming. Within ff-
teen minutes from the time of her admission to
the fort she was with him in Carroll Hall
Lieut.. Fessenden still bore her company She
has remained with Mr.. Davis all day and took
her dinner with him. An officer has been con-
stantly in the same room. Their meeting was a
tender and affecting one, such meeting must
naturally be after such protracted separation,
and particularly under the circumstances attend
ing their separation. And we let the curtain
drop over their talk of the past, their realiza-
tons OF the present and hopes for the future
She confesses finding Mr.. Davis in better health
than she had expected; but still AYERS he is
much feebler than when brought here. She is
every way satisfied with the treatment he has re-
ceived, and lodges that everything saw
ing his restoration to liberty, has been done fol
him that could be- To DIR. Cooper, his medical
attendant and adviser, she is specially thankful
| and gives the unqualified credit of keeping hin
as we'll and cheerful as he s. 1t is not known
yet whether she will stay at DR.. Cooper's during
her sojourn here or at the Hygeis Hotel. 1t i:
also not known yet how long she will remain
| here
Mrs. Davis left Montreal on Monday, at P NJ
She has travelled night and day to get here.