The Van Buren press., 1866-07-07

the custody of weak old man, so guar
ded and in such fort as this p
"lt would serve to no purpose repH-
ed Captain Titlow; his orders are from
Washington as mine are from him."
But he can telegraph" interposed Mr.
Davis, eagerly; there must be some
mistake. No such outrage as you threa-
ten me with is on record in the history
of nations. Beg him TO telegraph, and
delay until he answers" ,.s,..
my orders are pcrcmptory," said the
officer, and admit of no delay. For
yonr own sake let me advise you to
submit with patience. As soldier, MI.
Davis, you know must execute orders"
These are not orders for soldier"
shouted the prisoner, losing all control
"They are orders for jailer-for
hangman-which no soldier wearing q
sword should accept. Itell you the world
will ring with this disgrace. The war is
over. The South is conquered: l have
no longer any country but America; and
it is for the honor Of America, as for my
own honor and life that l plead against
this degradation. Kill me kill mc!' he
cried passionately, throwing his arms
wide open, and exposing his breast"
rather than inflict OH me, and my people
through me this insult worse than DEATH"
"Do your duty, blacksmith" said the
officer, walking toward the embrasure a.
ifnot caring to witness the performance,
/" 1t only gives increased pain on gll sides
to protract this interview"
Atthese words the blacksmith advanc.-
ed with the shackles, and seeing that, the
prisoner had one foot upon the chair near.
his bedside, his right hand resting on the
back Of 1t, the brawny mechanic made an
attempt to slip one Of the shackles over
the ankle so raised; but as IL with the vs-
hemence and strength which frenzy can
impart, even to-. the weakest invalid, Mr..
Davis suddenly seized his assailant and
hurled him half way across the ROOM
On this Capt Titlow turned and Sec
ing that Davis had backed against the
wall for further resistance, began to re-
monstrate, pointing ont In brief, cloat
\ Language, that this course was msdpess,.
and that orders must be enforced at any
cost. "Why compel me-" he said, TO
add the further indignity Of pers ,nal VIC.
lcnce to the necessity Of your being
ironcd."
II am prisoner Of war" fercely 70.
torted Davis; / have been soldier In
the armies Of America, and know how to
die. Only kill me and my last breath
shall be blessing upon your head But
while / have life and strength to resist
for myself and for my people, this thing
shall not be DONE"
: Hereupon Capt. Tilton called In . ser.
geant and file of soldiers from the next
room, and the sergeant advanced to seize
the prisoner. Immediately Mr.. Davis
flew on him and seized bis musket and at.
tempted to wrench it from him. z =
OF course such scene could have but
one issue. There was q short passionate
scuffle. In q moment Davis was fiung
upon his bed, and before his four power.
ful assaillants removed their hands from
him. the blacksmith and his assistant had
done their work-one securing the rivet
on the right ankle, while the other turn
ed tbs key on the paddock on the left.
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 floor. The harsh
clank of the striking chain seemed first
to have recalled him to his situation, and
dropping his face into his hands, he
burst into q passionate food Of sobbing,
rocking to and fro and muttering at brief
intervals: !" Oh, the shame, the shame! p
i 1t may be here stated, though out OF
its due order--that we may get rid of an
unpleasant suhject-that Mr.. Davis, some
two months later, when frequent visits
had made him more free Of converse,
gave me curious explanation of the
last feature Of this incident.
He had been speaking of suicide, and
denounces 1t as the worst form OF COW
ardice and folly. Life is not like com.
mission that we can resign when disgust.
ed with the service Taking it by yoar
own hand is confession Of Judgment to
all that your worst enemies can allege. It
has often flashed across me as q tempt
ing remedy for o neuralgia torture; but,
thank God, ! never sought my own death
but once, and then when completely
frenzicd and not master of my actions.
When they came to iron me, that day, ~
last resource OF desperation, l seized >
soldiers musket and attempted to wrench