The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-19
SATURDAY. MARCH 70. 1895.
UNWORTHY OF THE HONOR.

At a time when the North and South
are ablaze with patriotism 1t does seem
TO us that Congress could be engaged In
better work than furthering the selfish
ends OF Major-General Miles. Since his
advent I'm the service. he has by pulling
every political string been putting him
self forward and selhshly disregarding
the feelings Of brother officers. lie is now
making every effort to push bill through
Congress creating the position Of Lieu
tenant-General, so that he may attain
that rank The South has nothing but
respect for the great soldiers of the
North. but Il is difficult TO see how any
right thinking American can desire the
promotion of q man so brutal and desti-
tute Of the instincts OF a gentleman as
this man Miles is shown to be by the eN-
tracts. which we to-day publish from the
book by Mrs. jefferson Davis, entitled:
jefferson Davis. q Memoir BY His Wife"
as follows:
In a little while General Miles came in
and assured me Of Davis good health.
lie showed tho same economy OF titles
in speaking Of my husband from the
time / went there until our departure.
Sometimes he varied the nomenclature
by calling him Jen Davis or JEFF. Page
as.
The bed was so injected with insects
as 10 make a perceptible odor to the
room. "-iage i5s
Gle mir Davis) was bitter at no earth
~ creature but expressed supreme con-
tempt tor the petty insults inflicted hour
ly upon HIM by General Miles. who, he
said. had exhausted his ingenuity 10 ana
something more affecting 10 visit upon
him. Page go.
General Burton. as l accidentally
learned. said Mr. Davis. which statement
was afterwards verified by him, when &c
Gliding upon "a casemate for me, was ad-
yised by General Miles 10 put me on the
side OF the fort occupied by the camp
women. he said there was an improperly
in associaung me with the families OF
the officers. but General Burton declined
10 ofler me me indignity, and assigned
me a casemale I'm the row with the OIL
GERS wives. Page '65.
I'VE excused much 20 General Miles.
whose opportunities 10 learn the habits
OF refined people were said 10 have been
few. and his sectional feeling was very
bitter, but that he should not have been
moved at the age Of tWenty-siX by the
evident physical and mental anguish OF
his prisoner, and should have devised IN
genious t0rturos for him, we could not
understand Page i6f.
Enough Of this sickening restrospect,
my memory does not furnish a record Of
the thousand little stabs he gave his
emaciated gray-haired prisoner. Suffice
II TO say he used his power 10 insult and
annoy TO the utmost. and IN ways previ-
ousiy unknown and not TO be anticipated
by gentlefolk. Page 7C6
'WhCn he (Aiilcs) was 10 be promoted
to higher grade. one OF his friends
wrote 10 Mr.. Davis for an expression Of
his opinion about General Miles conduct
30 him. saying that, from Mr. Davis not
having characterized II in his book, It
was hoped he would say there had been
no unsodierly persecution of a helpless
prisoner. To this Mr. Davis sent most
emphatic assertion of General Miles IN
manly and cruel conduct, and also wrote
a letter 10 a Senator from Mississippi,
which uld not reach him, owing 10 ms
being out OF town when the confirmation
occurred. else n would have been read IN
the Senate. Page I66
"Sir Hudson Lowe has received dur
ing the years that have elapsed since Ma
4 notions death. the execration OF all
brave men for seventies practiced on him
on 81. Helena but these were FAR less
stringent. and the insults much less overt
and degrading TO England and himself
than those inflicted by General Miles upon
Mr. Davis MIR. Davis silence In his book
was. because he did not choose 10 appeal
20 a public tribunal TO characterize the
wrongs ne could not. In his old age and
broken health avenge Page l66.
General Miles Is not worthy 10 hold
the rank OF Lieutenant General Of the
United States Army.