Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-08-27


There are some unwrittcn incl
dents in the history OF Jefferson Davis
that | ihilk would interest your read
cr>. said Mai. John S. Stevenson to a
reporter Of the New York World the
other day. The m jor was out in the
late war with the 1nird PennSylvani
artillery, which garrisoued fortress
Monroe while the president Of the
southern confcderacy WAS confined
there
There are many incidents connected
with Davis Imprisonment that | think
have never appeared in print, and if
you will take notes for II while | viii
give them to you" continued the ma
jor. and he related the following:
about the middle of May, 1865,
considerable excitement was occasioned
at the fortress by the receipt of orders
from the war department that the post
should p cpare the easements for the
reception Of prisoners Of war. The
order was promptly carried ont, and
on May 10 the steamer William p
Clyde steamed up Hampton roads
having on board Jefferson Davis and
Clement G. Clay. She came to anchor
OIL the fortress, and | was oae of the
first officers of the garrison TO visit the
distinguished prisoners. 1t was neces-
sary to issue very strict orders for the
government of the soldiers. Many OF
them had suffered the horrors OF south
ern prisons, and the news of President
Lincoln's assassination was fresh in
their minds. The name of Davis was
closely associated in their minds with
all the sufferings and privatons of the
long campaign, and the crimes and in
dignities against the government. On
" an opportunity was lacking to lead
to the killing of the confederate ex-
president. ANY one of the men would
have shot him down at sight, even had
he known he would SWING for it the
next moment.
Davis was accompanied by his wife
and children and Mrs. Clay with hel
husband. Mrs Clay was extremely
solieitious for her husbands comfort
and requested the officers to treat him
kindly. Tie, too, was pleasant and
courteous in his manner. Mr.. Davis
was morose and cold in his demeanor.
He was suffering from neuralgia,
which had deprived him partially Of
his eye sight, and was besides hall
crazy from dyspepsia.
The prisoners were permitted to
stay on shipboard for three days with
their famiiies. but on May % Charles
Dana, assistant secretary OF war. made
/ preparations to bring them ashore. A
| strong line of senlrieS was stationed
! about the fortress, but Mt points whence
/ II was impossible to see Davis when he
! landed. Co. Pritchard went aboard
and led Davis out. after permitting
| hun to take leave of mis- wife. Imme
I dlateiy on landing Gen. Miles took
1 charge OF the prisoner and led him in
1 to the fortress by way of the water
battery postcrn, Pritchard's guart
forming an impenetrabIe line upon
] either side. At the entrance of tn,
fortress the inner guard escorted hin
to cell fitted up for him in the gun
room.
Extra precautions were taken &
make this cell secure from possibl,
/ raids hy relief parties. The embrasur,
WAS heavily barred, and an army
blanket hung inside to keep out th'
light. Davis bed-a hospital cot
was placed beneath the embrasure. Th'
door opening iato the gun-room wa
also heavily barred. A sentinel va
locked in the cell with the prisoner
while just outside the door an office
OF the guard was stationed to waicl
the sentinei. In front OF the CRATE,
embraSure was stationed an cxtr;
guard Of thirty armed sentries.
strict orders were issued reuarlin.
She treatment OF Davis. He was III
lowed no reading matter except In,
Bible and prayer-book. His food.
regular army ration. consisted of Ole
without milk for breakfast with luml
of bread; salt beei. bread an coffee 10
dinner and coffee aud hari-lac, ia
supper. he was allowed no knir .
forS. lest he should attempt >a s.,s
As he was ill with dyspepsia and snp
for a long time been able to eat moth