The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-08-01
HOW THE CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT WAS
PUT IN CHAINS.

enjoyed such cmincncc. This morning JEFF
fcrson Davis was Shacklcd.
1t was while all the swarming camps OF
the armies Of the Potomac, the Tennessee
and Gcorgia--ovcr two hun lrcd thousand
bronzed and laurclcd vctcrans-werc pre-.
pariug for the grand review of the next
morning, in which, passing in endless sue,
ccssion before the mansion of the President
the conquerng military power of the ma
tion was to lay down its arms at the feet of
the civil authority, that the following scene
was enacted at Fort Monroe:
Capt. Jerome f. Titlow, of the Third
Pennsylvania Artillery, entered the prison
cr's cell, followed by the blacksmith of the
fort and his assistant, the latter carrying in
his hands some heavy and barshly rattling
shacklcs. AS they entered Mr.. Davis was
reclining on his bed, feverish and weary,
after slcopless night, the food placed near
him the preceding day untouched on his
tin plate near his bedside.
Well ? said Mr.. Davis, as they entered,
slightly raising his head.
have an unpleasant duty to perform,
sir, said Captain Titlow and as he spoke
the senior blacksmith took the shacklcs from
his assistant.
Davis lcapcd instantly from his rccum-
bent attitude, a flush passing over his face
for moment, and then his countcnancc
growing as livid and rigid as death.
He gasped for breath, clutchiuS his
throat with the thin fingers of his right
hand, and then recovering himself slowly,
while his wasted figure lowered up to its
full hcight-now appearing to swell with
indignation and then to shrink with terror,
as he glanced from the Captains face to the
shackles-hc said slowly and with labor
My God You cannot have been sent
to iron me?
Such are my orders, sir, replied the Off
Ger, beckoniug the blacksmith to approach,
who stepped forward, unlocking the paddock
and preparing the fettcrs to do their office.
These fcttcrs were Of heavy iron, probably
live cights of an inch in thickness, and con
nectcd together by chain Of like weight.
believe they arc now in the possession Of
Major Genera! Miles, and will form an in-
tcrcstinG relic.
This is too monstrous, groancd the pris-
opcr, glarng hurrcdly round the room, as
if for some weapon, or means of sell: dcs-
struction. de-.and, Captain, that you let
mc sec the commanding officer. Can he
pretend that such shacklcs are required to
secure the safe custody of weak old man,
SO guarded and in such fort as this =?
1t would serve to no purpose, replied
Captain Titlow his orders arc from Wash
ington, rs mine arc from him.
But he can telegraph, intcrposcd Mr..
Davis, eagerly; there must be some mistake.
No such outrage as you threaten me with
is on record in the history of nations. Beg
him to telegraph, and delay until he re-
ccivcs an answer.
My orders arc pcremptory, said the Off
Ger, and admit of no delay. For your own
sake, let me advise you to submit with pa
ticncc. AS a soldier, Mr.. Davis, you know
| must execute orders.
These arc not orders for soldier, shouted
the prisoner losing all control of himself
They are orders tor a jailor-lor Il hang.
man, which no soldier wearing sword
should accept. | tell you the world will
ring with this disgrace. The war is over
the South is conquered. | have no longer
any country but America, and it is Cor the
honor of America, as fer my own honor
and lic that | plead against this degrade
tion. Kill me ! Kill Die he cried passion.
atcly, throwing MS arms wide open and
exposing his breast rather than iillct on me
and my people through me this insult,
worse than death.
DO your duty, blacksmith, said the officer
walking toward the cmbrasurc us if not car
ing to witness the performance. 1t olly
gives increased pain on all sides to protract
this interview
At these words the blacksmith advanced
with the shacklcs, aud seeing that the pris-
oncr had one foot upon the chair near his
bedside, his right hand resting on the back
of it, the brawny mcchansic made an at
tempt to slip one Of the chacklcs over the
ankle so raised but rs if the vchcmcncc
and power which frenzy alone can impart
even to the weakest individual, Mr.. Davis
suddenly seized his assailant and hurled
him half way across the room.
On this Captain Titlow turned, and see
ing that Davis had backed against the wall
for further resistance, began to demonstrate,
pointing out in brief, clcar language that
this course was madness, and that the order
must be enforced at any cost. Why COM
pei me, he added, to add the further indig-
nifty of personal violence to the necessity
of your being ironcd
e Il