The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-09
JEFF DAVIS IN IRONS
Hitherto Unpublished Facts Made
Public by a Maine Veteran.
Joseph w. Grant, with O Handful of Sol
diers, Prevented Rescue of the Presi-
dent of the COnfederacy.
Bangor Me.) Letter in Boston Herald.

Bangor Me Letter in Boston Herald.
For some u-naccountable reason the man
who knows more about the capture and cap
tivity Of Jeff Davis than any one else has
never until now told his story, except to a
few friends now and then at his own fire
side, and nobody waS aware tina. il was a
Bangor man in command of he brave
Maine soldiers who had charge OF the pres
ident of the Confederacy and prevented his
capture by a mob of Southern rebels who
desired his release from the Union soldiers.
Joseph w. Grant is the Bangor man who
had charge of him. and now for the first
time his important and interesting story is
made public. the Herald correspondent hav-
ing obtained the full ard accurate account
Mr.. Grant tells his story as follows:
I'm the spring OF 1865 ! was second lieu
tenant Of and N command of Company A,
of the Fourteenth Maine Regiment, which
was among the forces sent to Savannah to
reinforce sherman when he had forced his
way from Atlanta to the sea. The surren-
der of General Lee found us there among
the garrison of Richmond Shortly after
ward the regiment was ordered to Augusta
to garrison that city. / was ordered to re-
port to the officer in charge at Augusta, and
we marched to the depot.
InlS orlcer told me he had n very i'm
portant duty for me TO perform, and asked
me if L could rely upon my men in a very
dangerous undertaking. L replied that my
men were all veterans, and could be de-
pended upon 70 stand TO their posts to the
last extremity.
How many men have your he asked.
and / replied that 1 had only forty-five, but
they were all brave and determined fellows.
He replied that, however brave they
might be, they would stand but little
chance in the conflict that threatened. He
then told me that jeff Davis has been cap
tured and would soon arrive IN the city,
and he had little or no force in the city TO
prevent a rescue by the citizens and re-
turned soldiers of the disbanded confeder-
ate army who then thronged the city. /
ventured TO advise that the train be held
back from entering the city until after
dark, and that the steamer Clyde be sent
down the river a couple OF miles and the
word given out that she had returned to
Savannah. / promised to keep the people
from entering the depot at all
hazards while the prisoners were be
rear of the depot and placed in ana
balances TO be conveyed rapidly 10 the
steamer down the river, and, after hat was
with what was left OF my little company.
He plainly stated TO me that my chance
of Surviving the mob which would un-
doubtediy appear was very small. 1 in
structed my little band as to what was
expected of them, and told them of their
around the depot. A large crowd assem-
bled at the depot, sullen but determined.
When the train arrived passed along
the line, ordering the people TO keep back,
and engaged their attention by rapidly
moving from one point TO another until
the signal was given me that Davis had
been placed in the ambulance and was NOV
ing off. My men then gave way, and as
the mob rushed past into the depot they
mingled with the crowd and worked their
way into the open streets, and then made
with all their speed for the m as
best they could, every man for himself.
Good luck attended all our movements and
we found the steamboat about two miles
below the town. We were ordered to es-
cort the prisoners to Savannah, as no
other troops were available.
THE TRIP TO WASHINGTON.
when we arrived at Savannah 1 went
on shore and reported to General Grover
that L had Davis and other prisoners under
my charge on board the steamer Clyde,
and awaited his orders. General Grover di-
rected me to keep the prisoners on the
steamer, and not to allow any intercourse
with the shore. He assigned the custody Of
the. prisoners to my command and ordeDed
me to proceed to Hilton Head and report
to General Gilmore. L reported to Gilmore
and waited at Hilton Head for about a
week for a naval convoy. At the end Of
this time two men-of-war appeared and
TOOK us under their charge, and We started
for Washington. Before leaving all of my
party and prisoners were transferred from
the Clyde to a small ocean transport. There
were at this time under my charge jeff Da-
Wis and wife and three children, Mrs. Da-
vis's sister Vice President stephens, Gen.
Wheeler, the Southern cavalry leader, G..
c. Clay, Mr.. Regain, Postmaster-general,
Colonies Lubbock. Johnston and Harrison.
During the voyage two incidents &C.
CURED to relieve the monotony. A large
made directly for US. One of the men-of-
war turned TO attack the stranger, while
the other kept close to us to protect us.
eral shots at the stranger she turned and
steamed away. The other concerned Jeff
Davis All prisoners were ordered to re-
tire TO their staterooms at dark and re-
main Until morning. Mr.. Davis, however,
one evening cverpowered the guard at his
door, and, pushing him aside. went out on
the deck. The guard, not having orders TO
fire in case Of resistance, called for his Off
GER. 1 found Davis sitting on the rail and
surlily that ne should do as he pleased.
T%hereupon l took him by the collar and. as
rather roughly TO his room After this |
had no further trouble with him at sea.
We reached Fortress Monroe about 10 a.
m. After waiting two days we received or
ders to land Davis at the fort and place
him in close quarters, while the rest Of the
prisoners remained on board or were sent
ing of Davis and his family and the other
prisoners was very affecting. They all re-
late President of the confederacy. And
there appeared TO be no doubt about his
punishment men by death In fact, and my
doubt about the hanging of Davis, and |
solemnly aver that. had we not been OF
that belief, the prisoner on the voyage
would have surely gone overheard for the
crimes perpetrated by his authority or by
his tacit permission. / landed with Davis
and guarded him for two weeks. Davis
was placed in q cell and given bread and
water as food. This he at first refused and
threw In the face of one Of my men. The
commander then authorized me to place
him in irons until he promised obedience
to orders. | went at once TO Davis and
told him Of my Instructions. He at once
few into a towering rage, and told me that
he knew his rights and would demand them
at all hazards. Davis refused to submit,
and, threatening me, / seized him and
threw him heavily to the floor and placed
the irons upon him. After he was ironed
he became silent and Surly. but caused us
no more trouble. According to my mem-
DRY of the circumstances, Davis in a few
hours promised obedience 10 orders. and
the irons were then removed. Two officers
came from Washington and took the eff
fects belonging to the prisoners. They told
Mrs. Davis that they must search her and
her sister. Whereupon Mrs. Davis drew a
pistol and told them with much frmness
that If they laid their hands upon her
she would shoot them. Finally I sent for
two women from shore 70 search them.
and they submitted. Mrs. Davis offered me
500 in gold TO deliver a letter to Mr.. Da
Wis and bring her the answer, but this /
refused TO do. When we parted she gave
| me several gifts, as / had been fond OF her
children"