The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-22

Charles S. Tripler's Story of His Pleas ant
Life at Fort Monroe.

Life at Fort Monroe.
Fan Francisco Alta
| was. in 1865 first lieutenant in the Twelfth
United States Infantry, and. in the absence of
my captain, commanded Company of the
First Battalion of that regiment Early i'll Oc-
tober / was ordered to Fort Monroe, and
reported for duty to Gen. n. A. Miles, My rank
as lieutenant subjected me to details as officer
ri the guard and as such had for the twenty
four hours of my detail immediate charge OF
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 were entitled to two rooms
only; so all the rooms, except the mess nall ana
library, 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 locked the keys being
IN the custody of the officer of the day. AS was
the custom on my first day of duty officer of
the guard, | was introduced by my pre-
decessor to Mr. Davis thus Mr. Davis, Mr.
Tripler, of the Twelfth" Mr.. Davis said
Are you Stuart Tripler?' said. Eyes, sir"
He then said he remembered my grandmother
Mrs. Hunt,) and had very pleasant recolections
of my father Sturgeon Tripler of the army
Wine had that first day no further conversation
uHtl Tune tll1le came Tor MS daily walk around
the parapet. At that time the officer of the day
came, accompanied by two negro prisoners. I'M
locked the door, when Mr.. Davis, dressed in
snuff colored clothes, with Raglan overcoat
and soft, high crowned, black felt hat stepped
into my room. General Miles entered at this
time with daily papers, which were placed on q
table in Mr. ID. S room. The prisoners com
menced at once to clean no the room, and we
left in the following order Mr.. Davis and off
OF the guard. ten PAGES behind two sentries,
a Of hob hoy Of nf no
day and lastly, some distance off. General Miles
StrOlled along reading.
We took our time, aud Mr. Davis, by his in
structlve and most entertaining conversation,
rendered this most delightful duty He
seemed to know everything. He had the I'M
usual faculty of drawing a young man out and
making him show his best side We would
sometimes stop abreast Of the water battery,
in front OF the commanding officers quarters
and recne 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 profession. 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 casemaUes
which bore clusters of small white berries Mr.
Davis said: 'Leutenant Tripler, | saw you
riding nice looking horse the other
day, but it is out of condition. Those
berries you see there one of the best condi-
tiCn medicines know of and you can find them
all over the South; remember that it's worth
knowing On our return DR.. Coopers servant
came in with Mr.. Daviss lunch All his meals
were supplied from Dr. Cooper's table. and MRS.
Cooper a notable housewife, and the markets
of Fort Monroe were well supplied; you may be
sure Mir. Davis did not suffer. The only request
ne ever made me during the time was stationed
there was to bring him few apples each time l
came guard. which did / rather think he
asked me for the sake of letting me think | was
doing him favor in return for his exceeding
kindness to my grandmother when he was Sec
Rotary of War. He could make request in
such way that you felt he had conferred a favor
on YOU in preferring it.
c. G. Clay was confined in the rooms directly
beneath Mr. Davis, but had Mrs Clay with him.
ana not guarded Mr. Davis was. Mrs
Clay used to send sometimes pitcher of punch
to Mr. Davis. My orders not forbddng it, the
pitcher was always passed in. Mr.. Davis was
supplied with good cigars by his friends |
know they were good, because Mr.. Davis re-
marked that smokers are gregariouS and [
can't enjoy cigar alone" and offered me one
nearly every night, after he had assumed bis
most satanic looking night robPs-he wore a
red flannel nightgown, cap and drawers. He
was never annoyed, insulted worried during
his stay. General Miles coldly civil, and
others ''ofiic!ally polite /. perhaps, and as
was natural. was more kindly disposed but
never exceeded my Instructions | think Mr..
Davis himself will give the lie to the exaggerated
accounts of his sutferings imprisonment is not
pleasant under the most favorable circumstances,
and no fallen chief Of a great movement could
have expected or received more cousiderate
treatment than did Mr.. Davis.