New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-10-14
JEFF. DAVIS IN PRISON.
Charles s. Tripler's Story Of His P1ssssn,
Life at Fort Monroe.

MONROE
From the San Francisco Alta.
I was in 1865 First Lieutenant IN
the Twelfth United States Infantry,
and in the absence OF my Captain,
commanded E Company of the First
Battalion Of that regiment. Early in
October Twas ordered to Fort Monroe,
and reported for duty to Gen. N. A.
Miles. My rank as Lieutenant sub
jected me to detail as officer of the
guard, as such had for the twenty
four hours OF my detail immediate
charge OF our distinguished prisoner,
my orders being mot to allow him out
OF my sight during my tour of duty"
Mr. Davis was confined to a room in
Carroll Hall, which was designed as
quarters for Lieutenants, who are en-
titled to two rooms only, so all the
rooms, except the mess hall and IL
brary, are In suites Of two rooms each.
The doorways were all grated with
iron, and sentry walked before each
on a pile OF cocoa mating some four
inches thick. The officer of the guard
was not allowed to leave the room
unless relieved by the officer of
the day, nor to sleep at all
during his twenty-four hours of
duty. The grated windows were lock
ed, the Keys being in the custody OF the
officer OF the day. AS was the custom
on my first day of duty as officer OF
the guard l was introduced by nv
predecessor to Mr.. Davis, thus: sMr.
Davis, Mr.. Tripler OF the Twelfth. Mr..
Davis said: care you Stuart Trip
ler?' [ said: eyes, SIR He then
said he remembered my grandmother
N1rs: Hunt) and had very pleasant
recollections OF my father Sturgeon
Tripler OF the army We had that
first day no further conversation un-
til the time came for his daily walk
around the parapet. At that time
the officer of the day came accompan-
led by two negro prisoners, unlocked
the door, when Mr.. Davis, dressed in
snuff-colored clothes, with Raglan
overcoat and a soft, high crowned,
black felt hat, stepped into my room.
Gen. Miles entered at this time with
the daily papers, which were placed on
a table in Mr.. D.'s room. The prison
ers commenced at once to clean up the
room, and we left in the following or
der: Mr.. Davis and officers of the
guard, ten PAGES behind two sentries,
a couple of PAGES behind them the Of
ticer OF the day, and lastly, some dis
lance off, Gen. Miles strolled along
reading.
We took our time, and Mr.. Davis,
by his instructive and most enter
tanning conversation, rendered this a
most delightful duty. He seemed to
know everything. He had the unusu-
al faculty of drawing a young out
and making him show his best side.
We would sometimes stop abreast OF
the water battery, in front ofthe COM
manding officers quarters, and recline
on the crest OF the works, where he
would relate pleasant stories of the
| old army, ask after common friends,
and often give me points in my pro-
fession which were invaluable. To
show how small matter he would
notice and speak of, there were a
number of trees growing along one OF
the fronts Of easements which bore
clusters Of white berries. Mr.. Da-
Wis said: "Lieut Tripler, I saw
you riding a nice-looking horse the
other day, but it is out of condition.
| Those berries you see there are one OF
the best condition medicines l know
of, and you can find them all over the
South; remember that; it's worth
knowing" On our return DR.. Cooper's
| servant came in with Mr.. Davis
lunch. All his meals were supplied
from DR.. Cooper's table, and Mrs.
Cooper was a notable housewife, and
the markets of Fort Monroe were
well supplied; you may be sure Mr..
quest he ever made me during the
time was stationed there was
| to bring him a few apples each
! time I came on guard, which I
Gid. l rather think he asked
me for the sake of letting me think L
was doing him a favor in return for
his exceeding kindness to my grand
mother when he was secretary of war.
He could make a request in such way
| that you felt he had conferred a favor
onyouin preferring it.
| G. c. Clay was confined in the rooms
directly beneath Mr.. Davis, but had
Mrs. Clay with him, and was not
| guarded as Mr.. Davis was Mrs Clay
used to send sometimes a pitcher of
punch to Mr.. Davis. My orders not
forbidding it, the pitcher was always
| passed in, Mr.. Davis was supplied with
good cigars by his friends. l know
they were good, because Mr.. Davis re-
marked that smokers are gregarious
and l can't enjoy cigar alone" and
offered me one nearly every night, after
he had assumed his most satanic
looking night robes-he wore a red
flannel nightgown, cap and drawers.
He was never annoyed, insulted, or
worried during his stay. Gen. Miles
was coldly civil, and others Officially
polite" /, perhaps, land as was natural,
was more kindly disposed, but never
exceeded my Instructions. Think Mr..
Davis will himself give the lie to the
exaggerated accounts of his sufferings.
Imprisonment is not pleasant under
the most favorable circumstances, and
no fallen chief of great movement
/ could have expected or received more