The Portland daily press., 1866-06-22
HOW Jef. Davis was put in IRONS.

particulars concerning his health and habits
together with many conversations on topics O.
great public interest. By Brevet Lieutenant
Colonel John J. Craven, M. D., late surgeon
United States volunteers and physician of the
prisoner during his confinement in Fortress
Monroe, from May rs, 1855, up to December
rs, 1865" 1t is silly book, written in the in
fated, highfalutin style which Davis himself il
SO fond of indulging in, and containing great
amount ofsentimental nonsense about "the
distinguished captive" which few will care to
read. But of the querulous, fretful and unde'
nitied manner in " hich Davis endured the i'm
prisonment to which he Is condemned the
book affords abundant evidence, indeed the
Doctor himself, though rather disposed to adj.
mire his patient, does not attempt to conceal
the latter's disposition TO hold himself up as a
martyr and an Unused man.
1t will be remembered that at one time ii
was deemed necessary by the government to
put Davis in irons for few days. We extract
DIR. Craven's account of the scene which en-
sued when this order was communicated to
the prisoner:
Onthe morning of the 23d of May, a vet Bit
terer trial was in store for the proud spirit-a
trial severer, probably, than has ever in mod
ern times been inflicted upon any one who
had enjoyed such eminence This Daoy,aino
Jefferson DGuis aods shackled
1t was while all the swarming camps of the
armies OF the Potomac, the Tennessee and
Georgla-over two hundred thousand bronzed
and laurelled veterans-were preparing for the
Grand Review OF the next morning. in which.
passing in endless succession before the man.
sion 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 prisoners
cell, followed by the blacksmith Of the fort
and bis assistant, the latter carrying in his
hand some heavy and harshly -rattling shack
les. As they entered, Mr.. Davis was reclining
on his bed, teverish and weary after sleepIess
night, the food placed near to him the pre-
ceding day still lying untouched on its tin
plate near his bedside.
"WellP' said Mr.. Davis as they entered
slightly raising his head"
II have an unpleasant duty to perform, sir,
said Captain Titlow; and as he spoke the SEN
ior blacksmith took the shackles faom his as
sistant.
Davis leaped instantly from his recumbent
attitude, a flush passing over his face for mo-
ment, and then his countenance growing liyid
and rigid as death.
He gasped for breath, clutching his throat
with the thin fingers of his right hand, and
then recovering himself slowly. while his
wasted figure lowered up to its full height
now appearing to swell with Indignation and
then to shrink with terror, as he glanced from
the captains race to the shaclIes-he said
SLOWLY and with lahOrinp chest.
MY God! You cannot have been sent TO
iron me ?"
"Such are my orders, sir" replied the officer,
reckoning the blacksmith to approach. 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 togeth-
er by chain Of like weight. / bel eve they
are now in the possession of Major General
Miles, and will form an interesting relic.
"This is too monstrous," groaned the pris-
oner, glaring hurriedly round the room as If
for some weapon, or means of self-destruction.
IL demand, Captain, that you let me see the
commanding officer. Can he pretend that
such shackles are required to secure the safe
custody of weak old man, so guarded and in
such fort as this ?"
1T could serve no purpose" replied Captain
Titlow, "his orders are from Washington, as
mine are from him."
"But he can telegraph" interposed Mr.. Da-
Wis, eagerly; there must be some mistake.
No such outrage as you threaten me with is
in the history of nations. Beg him to tele-
graph, and delay until he answers"
"My orders are peremptory," said the Off
Ger, "and admit OF no delay. For your own
sake, let me advise you to submit with pa
thence. AS a soldier. Mr.. Davis, you know
must execute orders"
x,,1ko II g.. 4.
the prisoner, losing all control of himself
"They are orders for jailer-for hangmap,
which DO soldier wearing sword should ac-
cept! tell you helworld will ring with this
disgrace. The war is over; the South is con-
quered; have no 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 me Kill me p
he cried, passionately, throwing his arms wide
open and exposing his breast, "rather than in
fiict on me, and on my people through me.
this insult worse than DEATH"
"Do your duty, blacksmith, said the officer,
walking towards the embrasure as if not car
ing to witness the performance. at only
gives increased pain on all sides to protract
this interview"
At these words the blacksmith advanced
with the shackles, and seeing that the prison.
er had one foot upon the chair near his bed
side, his right hand resting on the back Of it.
the brawny mechanic made an attempt 20 slim
one OF the shackles over the ankle Sc raised:
but, as with the vehemence AMI STRENGTH
which frenzy can impart, even to the weakest
invalid, Mr.. Davis suddenly seized his assault
ant and hurled him halfway across the room
On this Captain Titlow turned, and seeing
that Davis had backed against the wall for tnr,
Their resistance, began TO remonstrate. POINTING
out in brief, clear language, that this course
was madness, and that orders must be enforc-
ed at any cost. 'Why compel me-" he said. .to
add the further indignity ofpersonal violence
to the necessity of your being ironed?"
81 am prisoner OF war;" fiercely retorted
Davis;'I have been soldier in the armies of
America, and know how TO die. Only. kill me.
and my last breath shall be blessing on YOUR
head But while have life and strength to
resist, for myself and for my people, this thing
shall not be DONE"
Hereupon Captain Titlow called in SER
geant and file OF soldiers from the next room.
and the sergeant advanced to seize the prison.
er. Immediately Mr.. Davis flew ON him, seiz-
ed ms musket and attempted to wrench it
VI course such scene could have but one
issue. There was short, passionate semitic
In moment Davis was flung unon his her,
and before his four powerful assailants remoy-
ed their hands from him, the blacksmith ond
his assistant had done their work-cna sec mr.
ing the rivet on the right ankle. while the
other turned the key on the paddock on the
left. 'ne
This done, Mr.. Davis lay for moment as If
in stupor. Then slowly raising himself and
turning round he dropped his shackled feet to
the door. The harsh clank of the striking
chain seems first to have recalled him to his
situation, and dropping his face into his
hands, he burst into passionate food of sob
bling, rocking to and fro, and muttering at
brief intervals: "Oh, the shame, the shame y
1t may here be stated, though out of It's due
order-that we may get rid In haste of an un-
pleasant subject-that Mr.. DAVIS some two
months later, when frequent visits had made
him more free of converse, gave me curioue
explanation of the last feature of this j. oil
dent.
He had been speaking Of suicide. and ,,o-
nOuncing it as the worst form OF cowarf,;oo
and folly. "Life is not like commission tbst
we can resign when disguised with the service