The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-04-18
JEFFERSON DAVIS CAPTURE.
"reminiscences Of His Imprison-
ment at Fortress Monroe.

"reminiscences of His Imprison-
ment at Fortress Monroe.
! Ex-Mayor John Burgess of East
Liverpool was one of the guards who
watched over Jefferson Davis while the
! latter was prisoner of war at Fortress
/ Monroe and three other residents of
/ this city served in the same capacity.
/ Burgess is the possesSor of an inter-
eSting souvenir of his experience While
guarding the. person of the Confederate
| leader, in the shape of letter written
many years after the war by Jefferson
Davis, then in the retirement Of mis-
home at Beauvoir, Miss, which is very
highly priced, and is now for the first
| time given to the public.
when Davis was brought to Fortress
Monroe, soon after his capture" said
Mr.. BURGESS, "he was in bad condition
physically, and very much depressed
mentally. He would hardly touch any
of the food given him, and bore the ap-
pearance of a man utterly detected.
The second day after our prisoners ar
rival the order came from Secretary
Stanton to put him in irons. At that
time there was a popular clamor for
hang him went up all over the North.
When the shackles were brought out,
and Davis realized that he was to wear
them, the proud spirit of the man who
had commanded millions rebelled.
Quick as a flash he grabbed the r>usket
from the hands of his guard and point
ing the bayonet at his breast made a
desperate attempt to commit suicide.
oil
ly disarmed, but smarting with his
disgrace Davis pulled open his shirt
front, pointing dramatically at his
heart. and said: Gentlemen, sooner
than suffer this disgrace, kill me, but
don't dishonor me and my people by
putting on those shackles.' The guard
who attempted to put on the irons met
sturdy resistance and the two men
grappled, rolling over and over. Davis
was soon overpowered and compelled
to wear the despised shackles We
had melancholy prisoner on our hands
after that That evening Davis re-
fused to touch the food provided at
supper time, but along toward mid
night the prisoner called to the officer
Of the guard stationed within his cell,
and asked if he could not have his cup
| OF CO1I0e WdTHlGQ up uC OlAlSCl
gruff1y told Davis that it would be i'm
possible, as we were all locked in for
the night The old man seemed to
take this to heart so much that L took
pity on him, and taking the cup held
it over an oil lamp with my musket
in the other hand, until 1 finally had
that coffee steaming hot. When /
brought it to the prisoner the SILVER
ing old man gave me a look of gratitude
which I shall never forget. He
grasped my hand and said: Guard,
if you are ever in such fix as I am
in, and it is within my power to help
you, I want you to call on Jefferson
Davis
Our watch was exceedingly weari-
some at times, as we were compelled
to march up and down the narrow cor
ridor, or stand like posts, and we pri-
Yates could not utter word. The Off
GERS were to talk to the prisoners. /
overhead many a sharp argument be-
tween Davis and our officers. and I re-
member how angry he became at an
egotistical young Lieutenant who taunt-
ed the old man about his disloyalty
Davis ordered the young officer out OF
his cell
Mr.. Davis held frequent converse
ton with General Nelson A. Miles, who
was in command at Fortress Monroe
and in one of the talks asked the Cen
eral if chairs could not be provided fol
the guard. The next day the chairs
were given us, and we were very CRATE
full for the favor. Military law ano
etiquette prevented any of US soldiers
from befouling the spotless floor of the
guardhouse with tobacco spit One day
our distinguished prisoner told Genera
Miles that he had seen members of the
guard spit in their hats, and even or
their coat tails, and he begged that
spittoons might be provided. The spit
toons came the next day.
THUS in many little ways did Jeffer'
son Davis show consideration for the
comfort of the hitherto despised Yam
kee soldiers, who kept him from free
dom. until he quite won our hearts
and when he was taken away, after
about six months confinement, every
. man of US was ready to affirm thai
the rebel leader had at least big hear
and a worthy consideration for human
, ity. Quite the opposite was Mr.. Davis
private secretary, Clay, member Of
the famous Kentucky family, who oc
cupied an adjoining cell. The latter
lost no opportunity to report any little
negligence on the part of the soldiers
and was well pleased whenever he sue
ceeded in causing any of our boys pun
ishment. During his prison life Mr.
Davis had many opportunities to take
his life, when the guards happened tc
be a little drowsy, but he did not en-
brace them.
Davis was frequently visited by
General Miles, and the General often
brought in newspapers and magazines
and read the story of his capture to
the prisoner The ex-President ex-
pressed vigorous disapproval of the
manner in which the newspaper writers
and artists caricatured that historic
event. Mrs Davis, who was permitted
to call, shared this feeling. Davis was
especially disgruntled over cartoon
representing him as being taken ir
hoopskirts. while scaling fence. Mr.
Davis freely told the manner of his
capture, in all its details, and the ac-
count differed very materially from the
version then current or any story Of the
affair since published. Mrs. Davis was
especially indignant over the filings OF