The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-01-03
JEFE DAVIS IN IRONS.
An IndiSnfty offered the Southern
Leader While In Fortress Monroe.

Ben: Perley Poore in Boston Budget.
"Was jeff Davis ever manacled ?"
! asks a constant reader" of the Rem
iniscences." He was, at Fortress Mon
roe, on the ground that he had refused
to eat some of the food prepared for
/ him, and had SHE'D tin plate at the
head OF the soldier who served him.
/ This was revolt" strictly speaking,
but there was nothing to fear from the
! angry acts of an old man who was i'm
prisoned in the inner apartment of a
casemate, with guard IN the outer APP
/ partment and sentries posted on the out
side, at the port hole, and at the door.
But orders had undoubtedly been sent
| by Secretary Stanton to put the fallen
chief of the Confederacy in irons if he
gave any provocation, and he gave it.
Capt. Titlow, who was especially
charged with the. custody of Mr.. Davis
and who is authority for this state
ment-was accordingly ordered by
| the commandant of the fort to place
his prisoner in irons. Summoning a
blacksmith, who was in the habit of
riveting irons on soldiers sentenced by
courts-martial to wear them, the cap
tain went to the casemate, accompanied
by the blacksmith carrying the fetters
and his tools. They found Mr.. Davis
seated on his cot, there being no other
furniture besides but stool, and a few
articles of tinware. When he glanced
at the blacksmith and comprehended
the situation, he exclaimed: My
God this indignity to be put on mel
Not while l have lifel' At first he
pleaded for an opportunity to inquire of
Secretary Stanton. Then his excite
nent rose to fury as he walked the
cell, venting itself in almost intoherent
rawlings. The captain at length calmly
reminded him that, as O soldier, he
must be aware that, however Disagree
able the duty assigned, it must be per-
formed, and that, as in duty bound he
should perform it.
''None but n dog would obey such
orders" replied Mr.. Davis, emphasizing
his determination never to be n2anacled
alive by grasping the stool and aiming
a very vicious blow. The sentries
rushed forward to disarm him, but were
ordered back into their places. Capt.
Titlow explained that such demonstra-
tions of self-defense were foolish and
useless, and that it would be much
better for Mr.. Davis to submit to the
inevitable necessity. But while re-
tunity of grasping the musket of one
of the sentries, and in the furious en-
deavor to wrest it from him quite
scuffle. ensued.
That ended, the captain took the
precaution of clapping his hand on his
sword-hilt, as he perceived Mr.. Davis
eye was on it, and at once ordered the
corporal of the guard to send into the
casemate four of his strongest men
without side arms, as he feared they
might get into the wrong possession
and cause damage. They were ordered
to take the prisoner as gently as
possible, and using no unnecessary
force, to lay him upon the cot and there
hold him down. 1t proved about as
much as four men could do, the writh
ings and upheavings of the infuriated
man developing the strength of a
maniac, until it eliminated in sheer
exhaustion. When the unhappy task |
was done, Mr.. Davis, after lying still !
awhile, raised himself and sat on the |
side of the bed.
As his feet touched the floor and The |
chain clanked, he was utterly over
come; the tears burst out in a flood |
When he became calm he apologiZed in |
a manly way to the captain for the need |
less trouble he had caused him, and |
they afterward maintained mutual rela-
tions of personal esteem and friendliness.
The indignity had, however, such an
effect upon Ne Davis that the physician
called 81 ed on the removal of the
ireps fissien. to do this was re-
llle Obtained frsm Washington,
a, d sa1nes mans who had put ON the
fetSess feok E9era. off. This act did |
much to 7esr6sess3e deposed- leader Of
the rebellioaeso the, 4 saost place,
which he haa< srfeited, IN the hearts Of
those whoskasI reDelled.