The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-16
HESAVED JEFF'S LIFE
Yet Gen. Miles is Reviled by the
Confederate Widow Davis.
GRAND ARMY MEN INDIGNANT.
Tho Rebel Leader Lived In Luxury, but
Had to Re Shielded From Mad
dencd Union Soldiers.

new HAVEN, Conn.,, Feb. H.-[Special.]
The statements published by Mrs. Jeffer-
son Davis, widow Of the president of the
Southern Confederacy, about the alleged
ill-treatment of the latter's husband at
Fortress Monroe, during confinement there
while awaiting trial or the pleasure of the
federal government, have excited great
deal of indignation in Grand Army circles.
DIR. C. A. Dorman, of this city. veteran
OF the war, was before attaining the rank
of surgeon a hospital steward in the
Army of the James, and at the time of
Jefferson Davis Incarceration had entire
charge of the hospital supplies Of every
description Of that port, which was then
the headquarters Of General Miles CON-
mand. He tells in detail the story of
Davis imprisonment. He was first placed
IN easement, where he lived on ordinary
camp fare, though it was wholesome and
good. His bedding and clothes were clean
and new, and everything made as COM
Portable as possible. Later he was removed
to the great building used as quarters for
the ranking officers. After this, said DIR.
Dorman, he lived on the fat of the land,
and his friends in Baltimore, Richmond
and Norfolk were allowed to send him
anything he wanted, such as champagne:
! handled box after box of this wine, and box
after box OF fine cigars. One day beautiful
silk-quiited dressing gown, without garnet and
within pink, was sent TO him. A meerschaum
pipe, amber tipped and silver mounted, and
said to have cost $500, was given to him,
but Mr.. Davis kindly exchanged this with
Surgeon Crane for an ordinary brierwood pipe,
doubtless in consideration of the numerous
favors rendered him. All of these luxurics
passed through the hands of the officers. II Mrs.
Davis is disposed to criticize General Miles she
must take into account the fect that those were
perilous times and jeff Davis was kept at first
in the easement, not only for security against
cape but as protection to his own life as there
were many soldiers who, angered at the treatment
OF their comrades in southern prisons, would
have shot him on sight. and she may
now thank me personally for the fact
that her husband lived to leave that case
nent, for / had charge of all the medicines
and drugs in the fortress. To show the intensity
of the feeling that characterized our hatred and
detestaton OF JEFF Davis at that time, will sim
ply say that when saw steamer load OF our
soldiers who had been returned from the South
ern prisons come to us with their forms I'M
dressed and suffering agony could hardly re-
strain myself from removing him. had in fact
formed plan for his quiet and speedy removal,
but some better -natured spirit came and shielded
him from my hends. 1t would have been SIM
plic!ty itself. and there was renown, or at least
notoriety, waiting for me, and at that time we
had no thought OF cur own individual existence.
Should have been the means OF his taking of,
whatever fate might have awaited me had no
terrOrs.