Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-23
JEFFERSON DAVIS IN PRISON,
ARd Row Gen. Grant and Gen. Burton
Acted Toward Him,


published in the alta OF last Monday,
July -, is written, he says. with All object
OF correcting the erroneous impression"
that Jefferson Davis ever had any suffer-
ings to complain of during his imprisou-
ment at Fortress Monroe. Capt. Tripler
has forgotten some important histoIical
I facts, or be wishes them washed away by
/ obliyions water. l do not wish TO revive
sad memories now fading, shrouded in the
midst of the receding past; but at this
/ present hour, when the entire nation is
mourning the death Of Gen. Grant, it is
/ gratifying to call to mind a characteristic
! trait OF the generous-hearted patriot and
/ true soldier.
/ ! also was at Fortress Monroe until Mr.
/ Davis, being released, went 10 Richmond,
/ accompanied by Gen. Burton, In 1851 In
/ Marcn, 1886, Gcn. Burton succeeded Gen.
! Miles in the command OF Fortress Monroe
/ Immediately upon taking command he
visited Mr.. Davis Ia his prison, and asked
/ him whether there WAS ANYTHING he desir-
/ ed done for his comfort. Mr.. Davis re-
/ piled that he wished 10 complain OF moth
| ing, but be would like Ia ask one favor,
/ ifit could be done with proprietY, and
/ that wss that his bed might be placed SO
/ that the light from the 4uard-roOm would
/ not shine IN his eyes, or at least that the
/ bed be placed out of the wind blowing
/ from the nails through his room. BE
\ cause" he added, II am a MARTYR to neu-
| ralgia, and having already lost the sight
/ OF one Of my eyes by continued neuralgia,
/ fear TO be blind Of both If | am obliged
! to pass many more nights under such cold
/ druughts OF wind and piercing rays Of
/ light. both of which 10 through my ewes
/ like hot irons all night. | never slept I'M
/ I'll after daylight, when the gauze is with
/ drawn and the light taken away.
/ But why IS not dark and heavy cur
tain put at your door to keep off the
| draught and darkeu your room? And
why is not your bed placed at whichever
corner Of the room that might be more shell
tered from the air? Why must the bed be
/ IN the centre of the room, in the cold
wind?' the General asked.
II do not know, but | suppose it Is
/ thought that l might try to escape if
the officer OF the guard is not looking at
me all night" Mr.. Davis said, smiling
/ sadly.
But how can you escape through heav-
! Migrated doors and windows? And where
would you go, with your bones broken by
jumping down the parapetp asked the
| General.
THAT l cahnOt say, only know would
not benetiCmyselt by jumping into the
mOat, and, with broken homes, SWIM out
OF 1t and then not know where TO 20 after
ward IN the event Of getting out of
it, which is highly improbable" said Mr..
Davis.
Gen. Burton ordered heavy and dark
blanket to be hung at the door to darken
the room and stop the draught and, In ad-
/ dItiOn, ordered the officer OF the day to
put the bed in the most sheltered corner
Of the room. The distinguished prisoner
slept soundly that night. On the follow
ing morning be thanked Gen. Burton
more warmly for it, saying that this was
the first night he bad slept since he arriy-
| ed at Fortress Monroe. "FOr / can not
say Sad slept any night" be said, ''as /
nave never been uble to sleep until day
light. l assure you, General, telt / was
being tortured to death with that wind
and that iight' and SCATTERING my nerves
/ with continued Insomnia.
For few days all went well, but when
it came the turn of Capt to be officer
OF the guard there was trouble. The Cap
| tain said he would not be responsible for
Jeh. Davis unless his bed was placed
where IL had benin the centre Of the
room, and the curtain removed from the
door. Gen. Burton said that he was re-
| spOnsible for Mr.. Davis safety, and Capt
- need not fear his trying TO escape
Still the Captain insisted doubtless
wishing 70 show Gen. Burton a lesion in
severe Patriotism and thus obtain great
/ reputation before the American people
There was no alternative for Gen. Bur
ton but TO place the insubordinate Cap
tain under arrest for dlsObedlence OF
orders and detail another officer TO 10 on
guard.
II would take many pages to relate all
that followed Cart. IS prOR1tRcidmehtO
Suffice il to say however. that Gen. Bur
ton had many official letters to answer,
as the r4atter had been misrepresented at
Washington, and the Secretary OF War
was not at all disposed TO soften the rig
ors OF imprisonment for Mr., Davis. But
Gen. Burton was firm on the ground he
had taken, that be alone was responsible
10 the government for Mr.. Davis safety,
and went further yet. He knew that Mr..
Davis was not we'll and required being in
the fresh air. To do this he would have
TO walk on the ramparts whenever the
weather or his health permitted. So Gen.
Burton put him on his parole OF honor not
10 escape, and allowed MIN the freedom of
the fortress. This was comparative hap
piness for the prisoner and he was much
pleased, particularly as about that time
mis- wife and youngest child were al
lowed to come and live with hlm. But
things were not so pleasant for Gen. Bur
ton, as he received many rude letters.
some OF which were ANONYMOUS and
!
"culpable leniency 70 the arch trAi-
tor" and threatened him with a court
martial.
In the meantime Gen. Burton had writ
ten 10 Gen. Grant whom he had known
at West POint), relating TO him the whole
matter, and his reason for acting as be
had done, and saying that il II was TO be
his duty TO torment MIR. Davis, he would
ask 10 be relieved Of the command OF For
tress Monroe. The answer OF Gen. Grant
was short and characteristic. IL ended
by saying; you are right in saying that
our government wished 10 crush the re-
beihOn. but not 20 torment subdued enc
mics. Tue people of the North do not
wish 20 iuhlct torture upon the people OF
The south," ctc.
Tue readiness Of Gen. Grant 10 sustain
Gen. Burton shows how Kindly he felt To-.
wards tle south, though he had done his
duty Well iu saving the Union. May he
be rewarded as he deseryesl G.. LOYAL.
A Survival from Colonial Times.
from M Neio Hasea Noes.
The General Court has a double surviv.
nj IN the Connecticut Legislature and the