Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-06-26
sTAUNTON, VA, TUESDAY, JUNE 2e, 1866. J.

well formed Tor tOrture-rOOm OF the lnqulSl-
tion. Its arched roof made it perfect whis-
perng gallery, in which all sounds were jumbled
and repeated. The torment of his head was so
dreadful, he feared he must lose his mind
Already his memory, vision and hearing, were
impaired. He had but the remains of one eye
left. and the glaring white washed walls were
rapidly destroying this el aee
June 1O.-Mr. Davis out of sorts, very i'll
tempered. Complained that his clean linen, to
be sent over twice a week by General Miles,
had not been received. General Miles had ta-
ken charge of his clothing, and seemed to think
change OF linen twice a week enough. 1t
might be so in Massachusetts,. But now even
this wretched allowance was denied
Mr. Davis complained this sleeplessness was
aggravated by the lamp kept burning in his
room all night, SO that he could be seen at all
moments by the guard in the outer CELL If he
happened to dose one feverish moment, the
| noise of relieving guard in the next room
aroused him, and the lamp poured its full glare
into his aching and throbbing eyes. There
must be change in this, or he would go crazy,
or blind, or both
To have human eye riveted on you in every
moment of waking, or sleeping, sitting, walk
ing, or lying down; is refinement of torture
on anything the Camanches or Spanish Inqui-
sition ever dreamed.
Sunday, July 11.-Was sent for by Mr. Da-
Wis and called in company with Captain r. O.
Buckley officer of the day. ,4.
| Found prisoner very desponding, the failure
OF his sight troubling him, and his nights al
most without sleep. His present treatment
was killing him by inches, and he wished short
er work could be made of his torment;
| The torture of being necessarily watched is,
to the mind, what the water-dropping is to the
body, but more effective, as the mind is more
| susceptible Of pain The lamp burning in my
room all night would seem torment devised
| by some one who had intimate knowledge of
my habits, my custom having been through life
never to sleep except in total darkness.
July 20.-Found Mr.. Davis ina very critical
state; his nervous debility extreme; his mind
more respondent than ever heretofore; his ap-
petite gone complexion Hvid and pulse demo-
ting deep prostration of all the physical ener-
ges. Was much alarmed, and realized with
painful anxiety the responsibilities of my posi-
tlon. 1t he We're to die in prison, and without
trial, subject to such seventies as had been in
flicted on his attenuated frame, the world would
form unjust conclusions, but conclusions with
enough color to pass them into history. 1t
seemed to me, let me frankly confess, due to
the honor Of America, and the future glory of
our struggle for national existence, that this re-
suit should not happen.
MIR. Davis asked me could nothing be done to
OF trial before death. The effort of his peo-
pie to establish country had failed, and they
had no country now but America. It was for
the honor OF America, not less than for his own,
and for justice to his cause, that he pleaded s.
| Prisoner complained bitterly of the restric-
tions imposed by General Miles on his cores
pondence with his wife; certain subjects, and
those perhaps OF most interest, being forbidden
to BOTH The convicts in State prisons were
tOll III
to the supervision of the Chaplain
Mr.. Davis turned to the officer of the day,
and demanded whether he had been shackled
by special order of the Secretary of war, OF
whether General Miles had considered this vio-
lent course essential to his safe-keeping. The
Captain replied that he knew nothing of the
matter; and so our first interview ended
lie expressed great concern lest his wife
should hear, through newspapers, of the scene
In his cell when he was ironed. Would it be
published, did think? And on my remaining
sllent-for | knew it had been sent to the news
papers on the afternoon of it's transpiring-he
interaced his fingers across his eyes, and ejacu-
lated "Oh, my poor wife, my poor, poor girl
How the heart-rending narrative will afflict
her -
He remained silent for some moments as
sat beside his bed and then continued, ex-
tending his hand that might feel his pulse.
Il wish she could have been spared this
knowledge. There was no necessity for the
act. " "
MR.. DAVIS OWN ACCOUNT OF HIS CAPTURE.
Towards morning, Mr.. Davis says he had
! just fallen into the deep Sleep Of exhaustion
when his wife's faithful negro servant, Robert
came to him announcing that there was firing
UP the road. He started up, dressed himself,
and went out. 1t was just at gray dawn, and
hx,f fbo 1irh@ IL,
ing the camp They were recognized as feder
al cavalry by the way in which they deployed
to surround the train, and hestepped back into
the tent, to warn his wife that the enemy was
at hand. .fr9a'se- 9ts ioT o,tu i1t II
Their tent was prominet, being isolated from
the other tents of the train; and as he was
quitting it to find his horse, several of the cav
airy rode up, directing him to halt and surren
der 10 this he gave a defiant answer Ther
one whom he supposed to be an officer, asked
had he any arms, to which Mr. Davis replied
IF had, you would not be alive to ask tha
; question. His pistols had been left in the
holsters, as it had been his intention, the even
ing before, to start whenever the camp was set
tied !; but horse, saddle, and holsters were nov
In the enemys possession and he was com
pletely unarmed. ~ % f'A sts.
+ Colonel Pritchard, commanding the fedora
cavalry, came up soon, to jwhom Mr.. Davis
said" suppose, sir, your orders are accom-
plished in arresting me. You can have no wisl
to interfere with women and children and beg
they maybe permitted to pursue heirjourney'
The colonel replied that his orders were to takt
every one found in my company back to Macon
and he would have to do so, though grieved tt
Inconvenience the ladies' Mr. Davis said hi.
wife's party was composed of fparoled men, who
had committed no act of war since their release
and begged they might be permitted to go tt
their homes; but the colonel, under his orders
did not feel at liberty to grant this request.
They were all taken to Macon, therefore, reach
ing it in four days, and from thence were carried
by rail to Augusta. s''s'~s n lsib ''si
MR.. DAvIs's OPINION OF GENERAL GRANT Z
To my question what he thought of General
Grant, Mr.. d. replied that he was a great soldier
beyond doubt, but of new school. If he had
not started with an enormous account in bank,
his checks would have been dishonored before
the elimination was reached. At Shiloh he was
j Il II Il I !