Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-19
A IADY's SKETCH OF THE PRISON
LIFE OF MIR. DAVIS

The Abbeville Banner has been permitted
70 make the following extracts from a letter
which gives some interesting information
concerning the President Of the late Confed-
crate States. The letter, which was written
without any idea Of publication, is in the
familiar style Of a friend deeply impressed
with the truth Of the subject Of which she
writes, imparting in almost every sentence
a sense Of that deep sympathy which all the
women and men Of the late Confederate
States feel fer the illustrious captive. But
TO the extracts:
Ny friend, Mrs. 3. (Mrs. DAVIS niece
wrote me she was going to Fortress Monroe,
and invited me to join her. Not receiving
her letter in time 10 meet her, we followed
her 10 Fortress Monroe, and after some lit
tie diplomacy got permission 10 enter, and
spend the day lthe 4th july We had the
happiness Of seeing, listening TO and dining
with our illustrious President-illustriou
by his misfortunes, his talents, his high po-
sition and his many virtues, which shine
more resplendent in this day Of gloom
DR.. COOPER like DIR. CRAVEN is enthu-
siastic in his praise Of him, says that it is
impossible to entrap him into one word Of
bitterness or Impotence towards his enemies,
and shows himself greater in his magma
AaIlANN i4Aa NdtANlAA1 anu kGiiLlGlG1-, MS NOll-
derful selfcontrol under petty Sights and
indignities, than in the days Of his power in
the Confederacv. We saw him first walk
ing feebly across the parade from his lock-
up 20 the casemate where his wife lives, the
nurse and baby by his side, his emaciated
figure and tottering step telling the tale of
hardships and ill-reatment. Presently We
followed him, and not one Of us but kissed
the emaciated hands which he held out to
welcome us, wetting them with our tears.
He talks pleasantly, but with difficulty, his
voice is so weak, and every hour they give
him q teaspOoniul Of brandy and he lies
down often to rest his back.
81 could understand the temptation TO
DIR. CRAVEN 10 set down his conversation, so
wonderful is it, so pointed, so strong and so
forcible, every sentence so concentrated as
10 seem the very essence Of wisdom. |
found out through Mrs B. and DIR. COOPER
his opinion Of Dr. CRAyEN's book Il is not
reliable.
" He SAYS he is often misrepresensed and
oftener misunderstood, not that he thinks
Dr. CRAVEN would falsify willully, but Col.
HALPINE who wrote the book for CRAVEN,
has garbled the conversation 10 suit his own
views and wishes. Col. HALPINE was on
General HUNu.B's staff, hence he makes
Mr.. DAVIS guilty of the Inconsistency Of
saying HUNTER was his model of a soldier
Whereas Mr.. DAVIS said our presence
HUNTER is simply a brute. In our early
days we were much associated, and thought
him conscientious, though a ianaticc; but
he il entirely changed since then
While Mr.. DAVIS rested we were taken
10 see his apartment in Carroll Hall, which
is precisely like apartments occupied by
lions and tigers in a managerie. The
back is closed and three sides of iron bars,
and great padlocls. Before these bars three
guards walk, gazing at him, waking sleep
ing, washing, dressing; not even n curtain 10
protect him. At Q o'clock, A. NJ, he is let
out, and az sunset the trumpet sounds, his
guard appears, and he is locked in cage.
a bright light from two lamps bazes in his
face which, with the challenging Of the pass
he changing of the sentinels every
prs, efectually keep him awake. He
ut 20 the pmparts from 10 6 T. NJ
AVIS and B. supporting him. When |
al sounds for the lookup and the
upears he says never a word, but
VA his companions with n look of so
ony, mingled with fortitude, as is
heart-rending 20 witness.
" The most touching sight ] ever witness
ed was 10 see him lift his emaciated hands
and say grace, thanking Con for all his mer-
cies