Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-05-16
jeff Davis, Journey 10 Richmond


Monroe to Richmond, which will be found
OF interest to our readers in addition to
the particulars given in our telegraphic
reports Of yesterday morning.
Jefferson Davis, who so ingloriously
fed from the capital Of his tottering
Confederacy on the I'd of April, 1864, re-
turned yesterday and was received with
a homage that testified the fidelity of the
white Virginians to their deposed leader,
and TO the principles of which he is chief
representative.
This was the quiet termination OF the
Imprisonment at Fortress Monroe of the
arch traitor, who was at first treated
like a criminal, fed on prison fare and
put in irons when he was refractory,
but who has of late received every pos.
sible attention. and been furnished with
every comfort.
On reaching the steamer Mr.. Davis
was informed of an event which the an
clients would have regarded as sinister
augury, and which could but have i'm
pressed him. The Captain, meeting the
party as they came on board, informed
Mr.. Davis that he had intended to have
given him the exclusive use OF the
ladies cabin, but that a lady named
Davis had beeu transferred from the
Baltimore boat In a very feeble condi-
tiOn and taken into the ladies' cabin,
where she was then in the agonies of
death. This rendered it necessary for
Mr.. Davis to occupy state room, in
which he had interviews with his friends.
The suffering passenger breathed her
last not long after the boat left Fortress
Monroe.
After the steamer had started Judge
Ould told the United States civil officers
! Marshal Underwood and Deputy Mar
shal Duncan, who had come from Nor
| folk on the steamer-that Mr.. Davis
would receive them, and they visited his
| state room. After having been intro
| duced, Mr.. Davis said
II heard of your visit to the Fort yes
terday, gentlemen"
Deputy Marshal Duncan replied "I
hope, sir, that the visit was not an un-
welcome oue."
Certainly not" said Mr.. Davis con
the contrary it was one that l have
wished for impatiently for some time.
have wished to be brought within the
bounds Of the law. Two years ago
saw the leaves come out on the trees
within the fort, and | saw them fade
! and fall as winter came on. A year ago
I again saw the trees bud and the leaves
burst Eortb, and then in the autumn
wither md fade. This year for the third
| time, have seen the bursting buds; but
! assure you that l had no desire to
| witness again the fall of the leaf there.
"Sir," responded the Deputy Marshal
II hope your troubles will soon be over
Then turning to Judge Ould he added /:
II can say this with sincerity"
The officers then bowed and left.
have obtained this account of the in
| terview from one who was present, as
| illustrating the melodramatic state as
sumed by Mr.. Davis, and the assurances
! OF distinguished consideration which he
is receiving from the officials of that re-
public which he plotted to destroy. This
was not what "the boys in blue" bar
gained for when they used to go march
ing on against the enemy, and suggest
ing that "a sour apple tree" would make
fitting gallows for a traitor.
Mr.. Davis enjoyed the pleasant voy-
age up the James and went out on the
| upper deck at several of the landing
places to receive the salutatiOns of the
gentlemen whom he recognized. Burton
| Harrison, formerly his private secretary,
but now practising law in New York,
had come to Norfolk in the boat, and
entered at once upon the discharge
of former functions, writing several let
ters. Judge 0uld, being perfectly famil-
lar with the Notifications on the river,
called attention to the most interesting
points as the boat passed along, not for
| getting Gen. Buffers canal through
Dutch Gap, which has been recently
closed by an embankment.
An excellent dinner was enjoyed by
all who partook Of it, and the excursion
was really q very agreeable one. How
different was the trip down the same
river during the war to the emaciated,
diving prisoners released from Libby or
from Belle Isle, after having been kept
until there was little chance that they
could ever recover
Meanwhile the telegraph had an
nounced the approaching advent of Mr..
Davis at Richmond, where the political
leaders of public opinion had wisely de
termined Ito quote from one OF their
newspapers of that morning) ITO show
their regard for Mr.. Davis and their ap-
probation of the circumstances which
surround him by avoiding any mere
ostentatious exhibition of that feeling
toward him which is universal among
u.s." could not but think how the sit
uation has changed in aspect since Mr..
Davis came here from Montgomery in
1851, to establish a government whose
cornerstone should be slavery. Then
it was policy for the Richmond people
to make an OBSERVATIONS exhibition
of their feeling, which is now to be con-
cealed.
In 1861, as now, Mr.. Davis had the
entire first floor of the Spottswood Ho'
tel placed at his disposal, for the accom-
modationr of himself and suite, with q
private table for them.
1t was lovely afternoon, the bright
green foliage of the trees on the opposite
bank was agitated by a gentle breeze
and the usually sluggish current OF the