Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-29

Some Interesting Facts about q Popu-
lar BOOk-The ''Pr1s0n Life OF JefEer-
son Davis Written by MILES O'ReiIIy
In Nine Days.
From the Charleston IS. c. Mercury. Oct. o.
George Francis Train asserts that the
book entitled "Prison Life of Jefferson
Davis" and purporting to be the work Of
DIR. Craven, was written in nine days BY
the late Gen. G. G. Halpine.
The above paragraph is going the rounds
of the press as an item Of strange news.
The book, our readers will remember,
came out in New York soon after the re-
lease of Mr.. Davis on bail from his i'm
prisonment at Fortress Monroe. It was
the sensation Of the day, and excited deep
interest for the famous prisoner whose
story of life it assumed to give. While it
stirred the hearts Of the Southern people,
of whose lost cause be was the official
head, it awakened the curiosity, removed
the prejadices and enlisted the sympathies
of Northern men in behalf of one fallen
from high estate, a weary, feeble captive,
who yet challenged admiration for the
equanimity of his bearing and the accom-
plishment5 of his mind. ti I'D. 81
Our readers will be astonished to learn
that the averment of Mr.. Train is true,
and that this popular book, over which 80
much of feeling, Of indignation, pity, in.
terest and admiration-hss been created
and expended, is work of Imagination
q novel woven upon slendel threads OF
fact. las7 -ir t
seoR afeE the admission of Mr.. Davis 70
bail, Craven, the surgeon Of The post, went
90 New York, where be met his guandam
messnate Of the same staff, General Hal
pine. This literary friend congratulated
him forthwith on this opportunity be had
to immortslize himself in print and at the
same time make money on book on JEFF
Davis. The idea seemed new to Mr.. era
ven and he said it was impracticable. Hal
pine asked him where were his notes. He
replied, he had none and could not do it.
Then said Halpine give me whatever ma
terials you have and l will write in your
name, and we Will share the profits. This
was agreed TO.
Craven furnished three letters of Mrs.
Davis to him, and some notes written on
the margin Of Herald by Nj. Davis,
touching the points he desired ReVerdy
johnson to make in defending him for
treason. This was all the authentic ma
ter supplied.
At the request of General Halpine,
Craven also made list of the officers of
the post and their days for going on duty
and other little details of the post and gar
risou and of Mr.. Davis. @
Halpine then called to see several Con-
federates in New York, and, among Others,
General Dick Taylor. He pumped them
as to Mr.. Dlvis, his views and opinions on
public matters also in regard to leading
Southern men, and Mr.. Davis relations
and feelings toward them, etc.
A Philadelphia publishing house now
adyertises that it was soon to put forth a
life Of Davis; and HalpiAe saw the impor-
lance of anticipating this publication by
his book. 1t was arranged in New York
10 get il out Immediately. He agreed to
furnish his publisher forty pages Of fools
cap manuscript daily. And he sat down
to write-and wrote forty pages daily for
nine DAYS, when The book was completed
the web of his fertile brain and accom-.
plished mind. ... ..
The book was of great service TO Mr..
Davis and Gen. Halpine's share Of the
profits was seven thousand dollars last
March, when he communicated to Us the
above fats from his own graphic and
eloquent lips.
This is one of the curiosities of litera-
ture, and illustrates the talents Of the man,
who could so plausibly manufacture out OF
whole cloth the prison life Of Jefferson
Daviq, with his private views and opinions
co ncerning men and things.