Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-06-19
THE GAZETTE.
TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 10.
lbe Prison scere-The Manacles on the Prisoner

LeT6r Crlal was IN SLOIe 1OA 'iA~ Pio"N' 'PiAie -
trial severer, probably, than has ever N modern
Zines been inflicted upon any one who had en-
loved such eminence. This morning Jefferson
Davis vas shackled. 1t was while all the
swarming camps of the armies of the Potomac
the Tennessee and Georgia-over two hundred
thousand bronzcd and laureed veterans-were
preparing for the grand review OF the next
morning, in which, passing IN endless success
sion before the mansion CT the PRESIDENT, the
conquering military power CT the patton was TO
lev down It's arms at the feet OF the civil au-
thority, that the following scene was eGacteo
a Fortress Monroe.
Capt. Jerome e. Titlow, Of the Sd Penusyl-
7ania artillery, entered the CELL followed by
.he blacksmith of the fort and his assistant, the
latter carrying in his hand the rafting shackles
Dr.. Davis was reclining on his bed, feverish
end weary after sleeplesS night, the food
placed near to him the previous day, still ~
Jag untouched on its tin plate, near his bed
side Well?' said Mr.. Davi., slightly raising
MS mead.
* have an important duty to perform sir,
sad Capt. Titlcw, and as he spoke the senior
blacksmith took the shackles from his assis-
AM.
Davis leaped instantly from his recumbarent
etitude, flush passing owe his face a mo-
:nent, and then his countcnance grew livid and
.ieid as death. He gasped for breath, clutch
;ag his throat with the thin fingers of his right
hand, and then recovering himself slowly, While
MS wasted figure lowered up to its full height
now appearing to swell With indignation and
hen to shrink with terror as he glanced from
J,le Captains face to the shakles-he said slov-
ly with laboring chest:
My God You cannot have been sent TO
son me ?" ....
Such are my orders, sir, replied the Off
Ger, beckoning the blacksmith to approach,
rho stepped forward, unlocking the paddock
and preparing the letters to do their Office
These fettcrs were heavy iron, probably five
eishths of an inch in thickness, and corrected
together by chain of like weight
This is too monstrous, 'groancd the prison
er, glaring hurriediy around the room, as if
Tor some weapon or means OF self-destructlon.
II demand Captain, that you let me see the
commanding officer. Can he pretend that
such shackles are required to secure the safe
custody Of a weak old man, so guarded and in
such fort as this?''
1T could serve no purpose" replied Capt
-itloW; his orders sre from Washington, as
mine are from him. -
But be can telegraph y iGtsTpo$ed Mr. Davis
eagerly: there must be some mistake No
such outrage as you threaten me with, is on
resord in the history Of nations. Beg him 70
telegraph and delay until he answers. -
my orders are peremtory," said the officer
and admit Of no delay. For your own sake,
let me advise you to submit with patience. As
Z soldier, Mr.. Davis, you know must execute
orders. y
These are not orders for i soldier" shout
ed the prisoner, losing all control Ct himself
They are orders for a jailer-ior 4 hangman,
which no soldier wearing a sword should &C
cept tell you the world Will ring with this
disgrace. The war is over; the South is con-
Guered. | have 10 longer any country but
America, and it IS for the honor OF America, as
for my own honor and life, that plead against
this degradation. Kill NE kill me he cried,
passionately throwing his arms wide open and
exposing his breast, rather than inAic, ga me
and on my people through ne, this insait worse
than death.
do your duty, biacksIaiti,, - said the officer
walking towards the alnbraspre as if rot caring
&c witness the performance 1t only gives ip.-
caeased pain on all sides to protract this int,er
view.
At these words the blacksmith advanced
With the shackles. and seeing that the pr soper
his right hand resting on tho back Of it, the
brawmy mechanic made an attempt 10 Slip one
Of the shackles oyer the ankle 80 !aisel; but
IS with tho Tehemence and strength which
frenzy can impart, even to the veal; est invalid,
III Davis suddenly seized his assai!ant and
2ulled him half way across the, room.
:}a this Captain ,Gitow ',nrued, and seeing
ihas Davis had backed ag9, INST the wall for fur
ne: resistance, began +, demonstrate, pointing
cut Ia brief, clear lar1guage, that this course
was madness, and that orders must be enforced
at any cost ''H,, by compel me- he said, to
ed the further indignity Of personal violence
20 the necessity Of your being ironed =
Il ON a prisoner of war" iiereely retorted
Davis; Il have been soldier IN tic armies OF
.-mcrica, and know how to die. Only kill me,
and my last breath shall be Il blessing on your
head. But while have life and strength to
resist, for myself and for my pcnp!c, this thing
shall not be done
Hereupon Captain IItlow called in q ser
ccapt and file Of soldiers from the next room,
and the sergeant advanced to seize the prison
or. Immediately Mr.. Davis flew on him, seized
his muskct, and attempted to wrench it from
ais grasp.
Of course such scene could have but one
Issue. There was short: passionate scutflc.
n G. moment Davis was flung upon his bed,
and before his four powerful as>ailauts removed
heir hands from him, the blacksmith and his
assistant had done their work-one securing
The rivet On the right ankle, while the other
turned the key in the paddock on the Left
This done, Mr. Davis lay 10: a moment as if
in stupor Then slowly raising himself and
turning round he dropped his s!.aeklcd feet to
he floor. The harsh clailk of the striking
cnain seemed first to have recalled him to his
situation, and dropping his lace into his hands,
70 burst into passionate flood Of sobbing,
cooking to and fro, and mutte!iug at brief inter
rsls: "Oh, the shame, the Shamc'
It may here be stated though out Of its due
o:3cr-that we may get rid OF in haste an uu-
pleasant subicct-that Mr.. Davis, some two
months later, when frequent visits had made
lin more free of converse, gave HE 4 curious
explanation Of the last feature in this incident.
&c had been speaking Of suicide aud de-
;.cuncins it as the worst form Of cowardice and
div - Is, IS NOT like q commits snn that NO