The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-04
NE PUT DAVIS IN IRONS.
GEN. NILES ACTION At FORT MON.
ROE REsURRECTEDL
Southern Senator Called the AZ.
tention 81 the senate Military
Committee to- Two Dispa tches.

when Jefferson Davis was . prisoner
at Fort Monroe. just after the assassina-
ton OF President Lincoln. he was put In
irons by General Miles. This fact has
been recalled. and Is being used to de-
feat the passage OF the bill which pro-
poses to revive the grade OF lieutenant
general. position which General Miles
II very anxious to secure. There Is no
denial Of the incident, but the authority
for the action II contained In an order is
sued BY Assistant Secretary of War
Dana.
Recently . Southern senator of infiu-
ence. who has long had knowledge OF
General Miles connection with Jefferson
Davis imprisonment. wrote a letter 10
the senate committee on military affairs.
In which he called attention to the rec
ords At the war department. He said he
regarded 1t as peculiarly ill-advised and
ill-ttmed, now that an era of good feeling
had been reached between the North. and
the South. and especially In view of the
recent demonstration of patriotism in
congress. to take any step that might
disturb the unity OF the sections and re-
vfve bitter memories of the civil war;
The effort to promote General Miles, he
was sure. would be resented by many pa
friosic Southern people. He also ex-
pressed the belief that General Miles mill
tary achievements were not such as to
entitle him to the higher honor.
The following dispatches secured from
the archives OF the war department were
sent to the committee:
War Department.
Washington City, May IS, 1865
Mai. Gen. Miles. commanding Fort Mon
roe. Virginia:
Please report whether irons have or
have not been placed on jefferson Davis.
II they have been. when II was done and
Tor what reason. and remove them
EDWIN NJ. STANTON.
Secretary OF War.
Fort Monroe. Va.
May q, ls6S-2.M D. m.
Hon. Edwin NJ. Stanton. Secretary of
War:
have the honor to state, In reply to
your dispatch. that when Jeff. Davis was
hr1t confined IN the casemate the inner
doors were Ugh, wooden ones without
locks.
/ directed anklets TO be put upon his
ankles. which would not interfere with
his waking. but would prevent his run
ming should he endeavor to escape. In
the meantime / have changed the wood
en- Doors for grated ones with locks, and
the anklets have been removed. Every
care 10 taken to avoid any pretense for
colsplaint. as well az to prevent the pos
sibeiity Of his escape. I remain, with the
higeest respect. your obedient servant.
y. A. MILES.
Brsgadier General.
An Investigation was made after these
records had been submitted to the COM
mittee. General Miles was found to be
fully prepared "a meet the case. He a.
once produced the following order as his
authority;
Fort Monroe. Va. May 2. 1866.
Hrevet Major General Mics is hereby
authorised and directed to place manacies
ana letters upon the hands and feet OF
Jefferson Davis and Clement c. Clay. IT.,
whenever he may think II advisable IN
order to render their imprisonment more
secure.
BY order of the Secretary of War.
c. A DANA
Assistant. Secretary of War.
In addition to this. General Miles told
his friends on the committee that he
had also a proclamation of President
Johnson. sssociating jefferson Davis with
the assassination OF Lincoln, and which.
In his opinion, would have JUSTIFIED ex-
fraordinary precautions II the direct or
der 10 that effect had not been given by
Mr.. Dana. This proclamation distinctly
averred tina, sit appears from evidence N
the bureau OF military Justice that the
atrocfous murder OF the late president
Abraham Lincoln. and the attemp,ed as.
sassination OF the Hen. w. r. Seward
secretary OF state. were inci,ed. concert,
ed and procured by and between JefYer-
son Davis. late OF Richmond Va and
Jacob Thompson. Clement c. CLAY peyer-
iy Tucker. George y. Sanders. ". q
tlsary and other rebels ard ,r,ttors
against the government OF The y-ni,.d
States" Rewards ranging from s,oa 90
Tor the arrest Of Davis 10 SO. 100 for the
arrest OF Clay were offered
Al TINS data has been seen by members
m sze .sxI
there Is In existence private ,etter fror,
Mr. Dana, written thirty years after the
occurrence. in wh!ch he refers 10 the or.
Ger De gave TO General Miles TO place
.sohs upon DAVIS There in no doubt tina;
the production of Mr.. Dana.x o,,ts- 80
considerable effect upon the minds ~
some or the senators on tae committee
and Mr. Petius. Of Aiabsna. was franz
10 say That General Miles had obeyed or
ders and he would vote for him. whgrh
he did. When the vote was taken a, .h~
motion 20 report the bill favorabiv -.