Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-08-22
JEFF DAVIS AS APK1soNER.

other day. The major was out in the
Tate war with the Third Pennsylvania
artillery, which garrisoncd Fortress
Monroe while the president of the
southern %.confcderacy was confined
there.
''There are many incidents connected
with Davis imprisonment that l think
have never appeared in print. aud if
you will take notes for Il while l will
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 prepare the easements for the
reception of prisoners of war. The
order was promptly carried out, and
on May 10 the steamer William p.
Clyde steamed up Hampton roads,
having on board Jefferson Davis and
Clement G. Cay. She came to anchor
off the fortress, and I was ono 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 sutferings and privations of the
long campaign, and the crimes and in-
dignitics against the government. On
ly 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 her
husband. Mrs. Clay was extremely
solicilious for her husbands comfort
and requested the officers to treat him
kindly. He, too, WAS pleasant and
courteous in his manner MIR. Davis
was morose and cold in his dcmeanor.
He was suffering from neuralgia,
which had deprived him partially of
his eye sight, and was besides half
crazy from dyspepsia.
The prisoners We're permitted to
stay on shipboard for three days with
their families. but on May % Charles
Dana. assistant secretary OF war, made
preparations to bring them ashore. a
strong line Of sentries was stationed
about the fortress, but ut points whence
it was impossible to see Davis when he
landed. Col. Pritchard went aboard
and led Davis out, after permitting
him to take leave of MS wife. Imme-
dia:ely on landing Gen. Miles took
charge of the prisoner and led him in
to the fortress by way of the water
battery p~ostern, Pritchard's guard
forming an impenctrablc line upon
either side. AT the entrance of the
fortress the inner guard escorted MN
to a cell fitted up for him in the gun
room.
Extra precautions were taken to
make this cell secure from possible
raids by relief parties. The embrasurc
was heavily barred, and an army
blanket hung inside to keep out the
light. Davis bed-a hospital cot
was placed beneath the embrasure. The
door opening into the gun-room was
also heavily barred. A sentinel was
locked in the cell with the prisoner,
while just outside the door an officer
OF tine guard was stationed to watch
the sentinel. In front of the grated
embrasure was stationed an extra
guard of thirty armed sentries.
Strict orders were issued regarding
the treatment of Davis. He was al
lowed no reading matter except the
Bible and prayer-book. His food, a
regular army ration, consisted of coffee
without milk for breakfast, with a lump
of bread; salt beef, bread and coffee for
dinner, and coffee and hard-tack for
supper. He was allowed no knife or
fork, lest he should attempt suicide.
AS he was ill with dyspepsia and had
for a long time been able to eat noth-
ing bat the daintiest food this rough
food was nauseating. He didn't at.
tempt TO eat. and went without food
for several days. He was getting a
practical inkling of how union soldiers
suffered in the southern prisons al
though the food offered him was sunp
tuous compared with that given to the
latter.
about this time an incident occur
red illustrating his bitterness toward
the north. He WAS so ill that DIR. Ban
croft was SEM 10 prescribe for him.
Where are you fromT he asked
the doctor.
Massachusetts. was the reply.
lid sooner die than permit you t.
touch me or have anything to do will
me; is there no other doctor here?'
There's DIR. Craven, of New Jcr
sey.'
New Jersey! Well, that's an i'm
provement on Yankeedom; send him t.
me-
$50 DR.. Craven attended the arch
rebel and found him really i'll.
''The monotonous tramp. tramp o
the sentinel, pacing up and down hi
cell, annoyed Davis. He first glare'
a. him angrily Abd then requested hin
to stop walking. The sentry had or
ders not to speak to the prisoner, so h
said nothing but continued his meas
ured tread. At last Davis became OK
asperated, and. rushing upon the sol
der, attempted to wrest the muske
from him.
"This conduct was promptly report
ed, and soon an order came from Wash
ington directing that Davis be put il
irons. The order was executed a
once. Blacksmiths came to the cell
and instead of using the common styl
of clasp shackles, the old-fashione
chain and broad bracelet were brought
and the smiths proceeded to taste
them on with rivets.
"'By whose order is this outrag
perpetrated?' asked Davis, tremblin,
with rage. his gaunt face livid wit
passion. Il protest; ! will not submit
20 this indignity,' and Davis caught
hammer from one of the men an