The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1891-03-25
MRS. DAVIS vs.. MILES.

imprisonment Of the Confedrr-
ate President at Fortress
Monroe.
In the first portion OF her me-
moirs. extracts from which were
printed in the World several
weeks ago, Mrs. Jefferson Davis
insisted that the treatment OF
her husband while a prisoner at
Fortress Monroe under General
Nelson Al. Miles, was unneces-
sarily brutal. To this charge
General Miles, who has recently
acquired SO much prominence:in
quelling the Indian disturbance,
made a general but vigorous do
NAL. In the second partof Mrs
Davis's memoirs, just received;
however the charge is repeated
and explicit details are given
which throw an interesting
sidelight upon that occurrence.
At that time patients az Fort.
ress Monroe were in charge OF
Military-Surgeon Craven, and
Mrs. Davis quotes freely from
his diary, written IN 1868. FOL
lowing are extracts:
NAV "A, 1885, Calling on the
prisoner-the first time ] had
ever seen him closely--he pre-
sented q very miserable and ef-
fecting aspect Stretched upon
his pallet and very much ena-
ciated. Mr.. Davis appeared 9
mere fascine OF raw and tremul-
GUS nerves, his eyes restless and
feyered. his head continually
shifting from side TO side for Q
cool spot ON The pillow, and hrs
case clearly one in which IN
tense cerebral excitement was
the first thing needing attention.
He was extremely respondent,
his pulse full and at ninety,
ii uuo thickly coated. extrem-
tiles cold, and his head troubled
withia ong-established neural
ola disorder. Complained Of
HI thin camp mattress and pil-
low stuffed with hair, adding
that he was so emaciated that
his akin chaffed easily againsts
the slats. and as these COM
nlaints were well founded ! or.
dered an additional hospital
mattress.
THE sHACKLES.
That afternoon at an inter-
view sought with Major-Gener-
nj Miles. my opinion was given
that the physical condition Of
state. Prisoner Davis required
remoyal Of his shackles until
such time as his health should
he established on some firmer
basis. Exercise lie absolutely
needed, and also some allevia-
fion az his abnormal nervous
excitement. No drugs could
aid 4 digestion naturally weak
and 40 impaired without exer.
e,se: nor could anything IN the
Pharmacopomia quiet nerves 60
overweight and shattered
Willie the continual friction OF
the letters was counterposing
whatever medicines could be
given.
"You believe Il, then, Q me
dical necessity queiied Cen
eral Miles.
~ do, most earnestly, " said ]
But Il was some time after
that before the schackles were
taken OH. The diary continues.
June i. w as distracted. night
and day, BY the unceasing tread
~ the two sentinels In his room,
and the murIner or gabble 81
the guards IN the outside cell,
He said his easements WIS wei
formed for d torture room Of thu
Inuuisition. Its arched rooi
made It a perfect whispering
gallery. IN which all sounds
We're iumblcd and repeated
The torment Of his head was *
dreadful he feared be must loss
his mind. Already his memory
vision, and hearing were I'M
paired. He had but the remains
of one eye left, and the glarinl
whitewashed walls were rapidly
destroying the other. He point
M I'd i creyice In the wall wher'
his bed hal been, explaining
that he had changed 10 the 9th
er side 10 avoid it. mephitit
vapors.
CHANGES oF LINEN.
June lO.--tieneral Miles hni
taken charge Of his clothing
and seemed to think q chang
~ linen twice d week enough
N m;uhtb 40 III Masaachus its