The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-05-13
SCENE AT THE WHARF.
PASSAGE FROM THE STEAMER TO THE
HOTEL UNDER MILITARY ESCORT.
Mr.. Davis in Court To-day.

Saturday was day of great interest to
the corhtry, and especially to Richmond,
bringing with it as it did the arrival of the
illustrious prisoner Of State, Mr.. Davis,
President of the former Confederate States,
who was transferred to this city to appear
before the United States Circuit Court,
now in session, and to answer whatever
charges may be brought against him. The
prominent part he has always taken in the
affairs of the nation, and the high position
he has always occupied as a statesman,
would have given interest to his arrival
long before the war was thought of but
coming as he does now, as it were, the
representative of defeated nation, with
its so-called crimes upon his shoulders, and
to answer for them, his arrival may truly
be called memorable event. The nation
at large has looked for it with great curl
osity, and his. own people have looked for
his coming within the pale of law and JUS
tice with mingled hope and anxiety. At
last he is with us; and the prayer arises
| from the Potomac and the Gulf, "God
grant him speedy release, and freedom
| from the cares and troubles that how STIR
sound him!"
HIS CAPTURE AND CONFINEMENT.
Mr.. Davis was captured on the 10th of
MAY, 1865, two miles from Jrvinsville, Ga,
| by Colonels Prichard and Harding, Of the
First Michigan and Fourth Wisconsin regi-
ments. He was conveyed to Hampton Roads
on board the steam propeller VIM. P. Clyde,
which cast anchor in the Roads on the 10Th
of May. The same vessel had several
other distinguished prisoners and Mrs.
Davis and family on board.
Messrs. A. H. Stephens, Vice. President,
and John II. Reagan, Postmaster-G General
of the late Confederacy, and others. were
sent to Fort Delaware and to Fort Warren
on the 21st.
On the I'D, after painful and touching
scene of separating from Mrs. Davis and
his family, Mr.. Davis was, with Mr.. G. G.
Clay, taken from the Clyde and placed in
close confinement in Fortress Monroe.
Colonel Prichard commanded the guard
which accompanied Mr.. Davis to the fort.
On that very day Major General Miles was
placed in command Of the fort as sue:
cessor to Colonel Roberts. The General
took Mr.. Davis's arm at the wharf, and
Colonel Prichard Mr.. Clay's, and, escorted
by the guard, the prisoners were ushered
into the fort to their unknown fate.
Mr.. Davis had, when he was removed on
Saturday, been two years less eleven days
in prison. 1t was great relief to him, no
doubt, to clear the walls of fort in which
he had passed so many days and months of
anxiety, distress, and suffering. Early last
fall General Miles was succeeded in CON-
mand by General Burton, under whose
authority Mr.. Davis's condition, for the
was greatly less rigid and prejudicial to his
health than it had been. General B. has
endeared himself to all humane persons for
his kindness to his distinguished prisoner,
| in the exercise of which he gratified all the
feelings of humanity without making the
slightest compromise of his duty as Mr..
Daviss custodian.
| FAREWELL TO THE FORT.
Our people are already familiar with the
proceedings that led to the giving of Mr..
| Davis into the hands of the civil authori-
ties; SO that we may begin with his de-
parture from Fortress Monroe, within the
walls of which he has remained for two
years resigned and uncomplaining priso-
ner, suffering his captivity with cheerful.
ness and fortitude that has won for him the
admiration'of the world and an increase OF
the sympathy and devotion already felt
for him by his own people. On the morn.
ing of Saturday the beautiful steamer John
Sylvester steamed from Norfolk on her
usual trip to this city, and touched at the
Fortress at about o'clock. Shortly after
her arrival, Mr.. Davis, accompanied by
Judge Ould and General Burton, and fol-
lowed by Mrs. Davisand Major Nc cElrath, ol
the Quartermaster's Department, reached
the boat, having walked from the fort
Then came freedman driving an ambu-
lance containing his baggage. Mr.. Davis
and party being on board, and everything
being in readiness, the Sylvester started
off from the wharf, and the captive bade
farewell-forever, we hope-to classmates
and prison walls.
| THE TRIP.
The trip up was most pleasant one
and was so pronounced by Mr.. Davis. II
was the intention of Captain Clifford to
have given Mr.. Davis and party the ladies
cabin but for q sad event on board
Of which we will speak elsewhere. As II
was, he was given freedom of the boat and
the use of state-ro "B." He was in
conversation with Judge Ould during most
of the voyage, though he would converse
occasionally with the officers with him and
others on board whom he knew. He was
very reticent on public affairs, and made but
one allnsion To his condition. A gentleman
who got on at Wilcox's wharf, ana VINO II
an old acquaintance of Mr.. Davis, had
long conversation with him on Mexican
affairs during which he remarked that he
had good deal of life in him yet, and a.
soon as his troubles were over, he felt thai
he would be strong and healthy again. dc
had not been on board long before Marsha
Underwood and Deputy Marshal Duncan
were introduced to him. He said: Gen
tlemen, / heard Of your visit to the for
yesterday" Marshal Duncan replied ~
hope the visit was not an unpleasant one.