The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-22
AT FORTRESS MONROE.
rxTRfCTS FROM TnE DIARf OF
IIEUTENANT CRAvENS.
President Jefferson Davis as n Prisoner
Protested Against the lndigni'y oi
Being Jroned- Talks on slavery

FORT MONROE, VA, sept. h-A,no"s
the multitudinous documents III the MI"
nv Mt Fort Monroe there is not one OF
moro absorbipa interest than the diary OF
Rrevet Lieut.. John J. Craven, surgeon
United States Volunteers, who was ths
physician in charge of the fort "heh
Jefferson Davis was a prisoner Nl'nlh
its walls. The diary gives gr"phlc a.
count Of the prison life Of Mr.. DAVIS anu
contains many incidents that reject MS
devotion to the Lost Cause. lts pages
are not colorsd by sectional feehhs' pu''
on the contrary, they bear the uhpieyu-
diced testimony OF "a medical ADVISER N'o
was not blind to the character anu ~
tainmonts of his patient 1t covers
period Of about six months, during which
time Dr. Craven attended the fIesidehI
Of the Confederacy almost daily.
The propeller William =. clyde, having
on board several important prisoners
dropped anchor IN Hampton Roads on
the 18th day Of May, 1865. The prisoners
were jefferson Davis, President OF the
Confederacy: Alexander II. stephens,
Vice-Presidont; John H. Reagan, POST
master-General; Clement G. clay, ana
others Of lesser note. Mrs. Davis ana
her four children were also on board the
C3yde. which lay IN the Roads several
davs before any move was made 10 trans
fer the prisoners on May Dist Mr. Ste
phens and Mr.. Reagan were removed 10
the gunbcat Tuscarora, which imihedI-
ately started with them for Fort Della
ware.
Gen. Nelson A. Miles arrived at Fort
Monroe from Baltimore on the afternoon
of Nav 22d. He relieved COL Roberts
of command Of the fort, and at once
made preparations for the transfer OF
Mr.. Davis to his prison house. Rows
of guards were stationed on either sue
Of the route from the engineers landlns'
where the prisoners we're 10 be put
ashore. to the water battery postern
That was done to keep back the crowd
that had gathered to catch glimpse
OF the distinguished prisoner.
The landing Of Mr.. Davis was under
the immediate inspection Of MaJor-Hen-
eral Hallock and the Hon. Charles A..
Dana. who was at that time Assistant
Secretary Of War Col. pritchard, Of the
Michigan Cavalry, who Immediately ei-
footed the arrest of Mr.. Davis. vas in
command of the guard from the vessel
10 the fort. First came Gen. Miles,
holding the arm of Mr.. Davis Follow
ing them came Gen Pritchard and Nr.
CLAW. with a squad Of soldiers 10 tne
rear AIR. Davis wore q plain suit OF
Confederate gray aud a gray slouchei
hat. lie looked much worn and very
hargard. He was placed in easement
No. and Mr.. Clay i'm No :. I'm nos. J,
3. and guards Of soldiers were stationed.
ON the morning Of The 23l Of May the
proud spirit Of jefferson Davis under
went a severe trial-a trial which Was
probably severer than has ever i'm mod
ern times been inflicted upon a man OF
such eminence. on that morning he
was shackled. Lieut. Craven's story OF
the circumstance is as follows;
Capt. jerome r. Titlow, of the Third
Pennsylvania Artillery. entered the pris-
oner's cell. followed by the blacksmith
of the fort and his assistant, the latter
carrying in his hands some heavy and
harshly rafting shackies. Mr.. Davis
feverish after a sleepless night. was Re-
clining on his couch when they entered.
Ills food Of the day before was still lying
untouched on a tin plate near him.
We'll" said Mr.. Davis as they entered,
slightly raising his head.
Il have an unpleasant duty TO perform,
sir" said Capt. TitlOw. and as he spoke
the blacksmith took the shackles from
his assistant
The prisoner leaped from his bed with
flushed face. and his C0unteHance grew
nvid and rigid as death. Tie gasped for
breath and clutched his throat with the
thin fiji gers of his right hand. Then.
recovering himself slowly, while his
wasted figure lowered mp 90 its fun
height. appearing first 10 swell with in-
dignation and then 10 shrink with terror
as he glanced from the Captains face
TO the shackles, he said slowly and with
deep emotion:
'lly God, you could not have been sent
20 iron mc2'
"such are my orders, sir" replied the
officer. reckoning 10 the blacksmith to
approach.
'This is too m0nstrous,' groaned the
prisoner, elaring around the room as If
for some weapon or means of sclf-d@.
structiCn 81 demand. Captain, that you
let ne see the commanding officer Can
he pretend that such shackles are re-
quired to secure IN, safe custody of a
veal, cid man IN such a fort as this''
ut could serve no purpose" replied
Can't TitlOw. Ills orders are from
| Washington. as mine are from him.
But he can telegraph insisted Mr..
| Davis. eagerly. "Thcrc must be some
mistake 80 such outrage as You threat
en- me with IS or record in the history of
nations. BEG him TO telegraph, and de-
| lay until he receives am answer"
My orders are peremptory,' said the
| officer. land admit Of no delay. For
! your own sake let me advise You to sub
NIT with patience. AS soldier. AIR.
Davis. you know that / must execute
orders"
These are not orders for a soldier
! shouted the prisoner losing AN control
! of himself "Thcy are orders for a Jail
| cr, for a hansman, which no soldier
wearing a sword should accept 1 tell
you the world viii ring with this dis
grace. The war is over. tho South is
conquered. 1 have no longer any coun-
try but America. and 70 is for the honor
| Of America. as for my own honor 600 nfe,
| that 1 plead against this degradation.
| Kill me, Kill me-" hc cried passionatciy.
! throwing his arms wide open and expos
ing his breast. rather than innict on me
and on my people this insult worse than
DEATH
do your duty, blacksmith" said the
officer, walking toward the embrasure. as
/ If not caring TO witness the perform
ance 1T only gives increased pain on
all sides to protraci this interview"
AT these words the blacksmith adj
Vanced with the shackics. and. seeing
that Tire prisoner had one foot upon the
| chair near his bedside and his right
hand resting upon the back of the chair.
| the brawny mechanic attempted TO slip
one OF the shackles over the foot SO
raised: but as If with the vehemence
and strength OF frenzy Mr. Davis sud-
denly seized the iron worker and hurled
him half way across the room.
Capt Titlow turned. and. seeing that
the prisoner had backed against the wall
for furf Inr Resistance l.pnu 10 rDurru-