The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-25
JEFF DAVIS IN PRISON.
dis Cell Life at Fortress Monroe-How Mr..
Dana Pat Him in Shackles.

Now York World.
There are some unwritten incidents in the
history of Jefferson Davis that think would in
ferest the World readers" said Maj. John S.
Stevenson the other day. The Major was out in
the late war with the Third Pennsylvania artil-
1ery which garrisoned Fortress Monroe while
the President of the Southern Confederacy was
confined there
''There are many incidents connected with
lDayis's Imprisonment that think have never
appeared in print and if you will take notes for
while viii give them to you' continued the
Major, and he related the following
ABOUT the middle of May, 1866. considerable
excitement was occasioned at the fortress by the
receipt of orders from the War Department that
the post should prepare the easements for the re-
seption of prisoners OF war. The order was
promptly carried out, and on May IL the steamer
William P. Clyde steamed up Hampton Roads,
having on board Jefferson Davis and Clement G.
Clay. She came to anchor off the fortress. and
was one Of the first officers of the garrison to
visit the distinguished prisoners. 1t was neces-
EaPvs TO issue very strict orders for the govern
xent On the soldiers. Many of them had suffered
the horrors IF Southern prisons and the news of
President Liuecln's assassination was fresh IN
their minds Thesame OF Davis was closely as
sociated in their minos with all the suuerlngs
ana pf1V6tiODS Oh the loES PoA5-t "AN eAS
crimes and indignities against the government.
Only the opportunity was lacking ~ lead to the
killing of the Confederate ex-Presidsrnt 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 was with her husband.
Mrs Clay was extremely solicitous for her hus-
bands comfort and requested the officers to
treat him kindly. He, too, was pleasant and
courteous in his manner. Mr.. Davis was morose
and cold in his demeanor. He was much detected
and refused to talk. He was suffering from
neuralgia, which had deprived him partially of
his eyesight and was, besides, half crazy from
dysjRspsia
board for three days with their families, but on
May % Charles A. Dana, Assistant Secretary of
War, made preparations to bring them ashore.
A strong line of sentries was stationed about the
fortress, but at points whence it was impossible
to see Davis when he landed Colonel Prtchard
went aboard and led Davis out, after permitting
him to take leave of his wife. Immediately on
Sanding Gen. Miles took charge of the prisoner
and led him into the fortress by way of the
water battery Fpostern, Pritchards guard form
ing an impenetlable line upon either side. AT
The entrance of the fortress the inner guard es
corted him to cell fitted up for him in the gun
room.
Extra precautions were taken to make this
CEN secure from possible raids by relief parties
The embrasure was heavily barred, and an army
blanket hung inside to keep out the light
Daviss bed-a hospital cot-was placed beneath
The embrasure The door opening into the gun
room was also heavily barred sentinel was
locked in the cell with the prisoner, while just
outside the door an officer of the guard was
stationed to watch the sentinel. In front of the
grated embrasure was stationed extra guard
of thirty armed sentries.
'Strct orders were issued regarding the treat
Ynent of Davis lie was allowed no reading mat
Ter except the Bible and prayer book. His food
regular army ration, consisted of coffee with
out milk for breakfast, with a lump of bread;
salt beef, bread and coffee for dinner and coffee
and bareback for supper. He was allowed
knife or fork lest he should attempt suicide AS
he was i'll with dyspepsia and had for long time
been able to eat nothing but the daintiest food,
this rough diet was nauseating. He didn't at
tempt to eat, but went without food for several
days. He was getting practical inkllng of the
way Union soldiers suffered in the Southern
prisons although the food offered him was
sumptuous compared with that given to the
latter.
"About this time an incident occurred illus
trating his bitterness towards the North. He
was SO i'll that DR.. Bancroft was sent to pre-
scribe for him.
"'Where are you 'FRONT.' he asked the Doctor.
Massachusetts, was the reply
" I'D sooner die than permit you to touch me,
or have anything to do with me. Is there no
other doctor herep
There's Dr. Craven of New Jersey
"New Jerseyi Well, that's an improvement
on Yankeedom; send him to me-
$50 DIR. Craven attended the arch REBEL and
found him really i'll.
1.-THE monotonous tramp, tramp of the senti-
mel, pacing up and down his cell, annoyed Davis.
He first glared as him angrily, and then request
ed him to stop walking. The sentry had orders
not to speak to the prisoner, so he said nothing,
but continued his measured tread. At last
Davis became exasperated. and rushing upon
the soldier, attempted to wrest the musket from
him.
1.-THE conduct was promptly reported and soon
an order m from WASHINGTON diractipo hat
Davis be put in irons The order was executed
at once. Blacksmiths came to the cell, and in
stead of using the common style of clasp shackles,
the old-fashioned chain and broad bracelet were
brought, and the smiths proceeded to fasten
them on with rivets."
. BY whose order is this outrage perpetratedF
asked Davis trembling with rage. his gaunt face
iivid with passion. i protest; | will not sub
nit to this indignity, and Davis caught a ham
mer from one of the and would have
smashed the blacksmiths skull if a soldier had
not caught his arm.n
Captain Titlow. who had charge of the iron
ing. said: Mr.. Davis ] am soldier acting
under orders from my superior officer. You, too,
are soldier, and know as we'll as / that the
order will be carried out, whether you submit
quietly or resist
'FDoes President Johnson know of thsr
groaned Mr.. Davis, as he sat down upon his cot
and permitted the smiths to rivet the shackes
IL was generally understood that Secretary Dana
was instrumental in securing the issuance of the
order.
The restraints of the irons proved very CALLING
to Davis. His humiliation was complete. But
few weeks before he was the head of the con-
federate government and commander in chief of
the Southern armies Now he was chained to
hospital cot in Yankee prison. unable to re-
s,inoye his clothing or even lie down in comfort
1t may be that his mind reverted to the niger
markets of his cherished but peculiar nstitu-
tuition, where the clanking of chains mingled
with the walls of human cattle. Whatever was
the nature of his reflections the ex President sat
for hours after the blacksmiths left. his head
bowed upon his hands and the tears trickling
through his fingers.
''For five days and nights Davis wore the
irons but the surgeon that he was chatting
himself to death. 1t would be poor policy for
the illustrious prisoner to die in consequence of
Northern treatment: hence the shackles were re.