The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-14

Scenes During the Arch-Rebels Confinement
in Fortress Monroe.

Scenes During the Arch-Rebels Confinement
In Fortress Monroe.
Carp" in Cleveland Leader.
Perhaps the most exciting scene of all this
Fortress Monroe confinement was the putting oil
jeff Davis in irons, which was done on the 23d Of
May, 1865 On the morning of that day Captain
Titlow entered the cell in company with black
smith and his assistant The latter had in his
hands. some heavy iron shackles. which he
ratified as he came across the floor. Davis was
lying on the bed with his food on a tin plate
beside him yet untouched. AS these men en-
tered he raised himself and said "Well!" inter
negatively.
Captain Titlow replied: II have an unpleas-
ant duty to perform, sir" and at this moment
the senior blacksmith took up the shackles.
Davis leaped instantly to his feet. and his
countenance grew livid and rigid. He gasped
for breath and clutched his throat with his
right hand He then drew himself up slowly,
and his figure seemed to swell with indignation
and then to shrink with terror as he glanced
from the captains face to the shackles, and said
slowly and with laboring chest:
"My God! My God! You cannot have been
sent to iron me?'
II have been ordered to do So" replied the Of
ficer and he beckoned the blacksmith to APP
proach. Davis looked around the room as
though looking for some weapon and demanded
to see Major General Miles. Captain Titlow re-
piled that the orders came from Washington and
Major General Miles could not revoke them.
Davis then asked that telegram be sent, but
Captain Titlow replied: "My orders are peremp-
tory and admit no delay. For your own sake,
let me advise you to submit with patience. As
a soldier must execute my orders"
"These are not the orders for a soldier, y
shouted Davis losing all control of himself.
'"They are orders for jaier or a haneman,
which no soldier wearing sword should accept.
wide open and exposing his breast. rather than
infiict on me and on my people, through me.
this insult worse than DEATH"
Captain Titlow then ordered the blacksmith to
do his duty, and the blacksmith attempted to
put the shackles on Davis. Davis hurled him
with shove across the room, and Captain Titlow
called in sergeant and file of soldiers. These
attempted to seize Davis when he grabbed q
soldiers musket and tried to wrench 1t from him.
moment later he was thrown upon the bed,
and was held down while the shackles were riv-
eted upon his ankles
When this was completed he lay for moment
in stupor. He then raised himself aud dropped
his shackled feet to the floor AS he heard the
clank of the chains he burst into a passion of
tears, rocking himself to and fro and muttering:
''Oh the shame! Obi the shamel'
These shackles which were put on jeff Davis
were of heavy iron perhaps fv0eighths Of an
inch in thickness, and they were connected by a
chain of like weight. They remained on him
until, by the advice of his physician, they were
removed. I think he wore them less than week.
/ do lot know what has become of them but
they were for time in the possession of Major
general Miles.
His jailers were afraid that he would commit
suicide and they would not allow him the use of
knife or fork. His food was cut up before it
was sent to him, and he was allowed only spoons
to eat with. The soldiers stole his spoons and
sent them off as mementos to their friends, and
when, to prevent this, he kept his spoon in his
cell, they took his napkins and sent them off.
About five months after his imprisonment he
" moved Carroll
Hail. in another part of the fort, where he had
better accommodations From here he was
bailed out on 100000 bail. and Horace Greeley
was one of his bondsmen.