West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-10-17
PINED AWAY IN CHAINS.
Life OF the Ex-President OF the Con
federacy I'm Fort Monroe.
JEFFERSON DAVIS IN PRISON
Extracts From the Diary OF the
Physician In Charge.
The Indignity OF Being Ironed.

'here Is not one OF more absorbing
interest than the diary of Brcyet
Lieut.. John j. Craven, surgeon
United States Volunteers, who was
the physician in charge Of the fort
when Jefferson Davis was a prison
er within its walls. says the Wash
ington Post. The diary gives a
graphic account of the prison life of
Mr. DAVIS and contains many Incl
dents that reflects his devotion To
the lost cause. It's pages are not
coiored by sectional feeling. but. on
the contrary. they beir the unpre-
JUDGE testimony Of medical ad
wiser who was not blind to tho
character and attainments Of his
patient. 1t covers period of about
SIX months, during which time DR..
craven attended the President of
the Confederncy almost daily.
The propeller William p. CLYDE.
having on board several mportant
prisoners, dropped anchor i'm Hamp.
Ton Roads on the 10Th day of Nav.
1900. The prisoners were Jefferson
DAVIS, President of the Confeder-
acr; Alexander III. Stevens. Vice
President; John IL. Reagan. Post.
master General; Clement @. CLAW
and others of lesser note. Mrs.
DAVIS and her four children were
also on board the Clyde, which Law
IN the Roads for several days before
any move was made TO transfer the
prisoners. On May II Mr.. Stevens
and Mr.. Reagan we're removed to
the gunboat Tuscarora. which inn
medlately started with them for
Fort Delaware.
ofen. Nelson A. Miles arrived at
Fort Monroe from Baltimore ON
ths afternoon of May %. He re
iieved Col. Roberts of command OF
the tort, and at once made prepara.
Sons for the transfer of Mr.. Davis
from tue Clyde to his prison house.
Rows Of guards were stationed on
either side OF the route from the
engineers landing, where the pris-
oners were TO be put ashore, to the
water battery postetn. That was
done to keep back the crowd that
mao gathered to catch glimpse OF
the distinguished prisoner.
The landing Of Mr.. Davis was
under the immediate inspection of
Maj. Gen. Halleck and Hon. Chas.
A. Dana, who was at that time
Assistant Secretary of War. Col
Pritchard, of the Michigan Cavalry,
who immediately effected the AR.
rest OF Mr. Davis, was in command
OF the guard FROM the vessel to the
fort. First came Gen. Miles. hold
ing the arm of Mr.. Davis. Follow
ing them came Col. Pritchard and
Mr.. Clay, with a squad Of soldiers
In the rear. Mr.. Davis wore a plain
suit Of Confederate gray and a gray
slouched hat. He looked much
worn and very haggard. He was
placed in easement No. 2, and Mr..
Clay in No. 4. In Nos. /, 3 and
. guards Of soldiers were stationed.
On the morning of the $50 Of
May the proud spirit Of Jefferson
Davis underwent a severe trial-a
trial which was probably severer
than has ever in modern times been
inflicted upon a man Of such emf.
hence. On that morning ne was
schackled. Lieut.. Craven's story
OF the circumstance is as follows /:
Capt. Jerome r.. Titlow. Of the
Third Pennsylvania Artillery, Ell
tered the prisoners cell, followed
by the blacksmith Of the fort and
bis assistant, the latter CARRYING i'm
his hands some heavy aud harshly
rafting shackles. Mr.. Davis, f..
Ferish after sleepless night. was
reclining on his couch when they
entered. His food of the day before
was still lying untouched on a tin
plate near him.
"Well," said Mr.. Davis az they
entered, slightly raising his head.
81 have an unpleasant duty to
perform, sir" said Capt Titlow.
and as he spoke tho blacksmith
took the shacklcs from bis assistant.
] he prisoner leaped from his bed
with flushed face and his counte-
nance grew liyid and rigid as death.
lie gasped for breath aud clutched
his throat with the thin fingers Of
his right hand. Then, recovering
himself slowly, while has wasted
figure lowered up TO It's full height.
appearing FIRST TO swell with indig-
nation and then TO shrink with Ter.
ror as he glanced from the Captain's
i'cc TO the shackles, he said slowly
and with deep emotion
My God you could not have
been sent TO iron mes"
such are my orders, sir.0 re-
piied .he officer, beckoning to tho
biacgsmnh TO approach.
cribs is too mons'rous. eroan
ed tbe prisoner glarinQ around the
room gs " for some weapon or
oceans Of self. destruction. II de-
mand, Captain that you let me see
the commanding officer. Can nc
pretend that such shackles are r,.
qolred TO secure the safe custody ol
weak old man 10 such fort az
ma