The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-08-08
THE DAVIS TRIAL.
Events Following the Fall OF the Confcd-
eracy Recalled.
G'cenrjUc Ncm,, U"iy :,


subordinate, Surgeon Cooper, whose
report had come to the public eye.
lie wrote (l2l, w. Of r., 9iO:
Confidential.
General +. y. Townsend, Assistant
Adjutant General.
Fort Monroe, Va, May IS, 1866.
General regret to say that |
think Surgeon Cooper is entirely un-
der the influence Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Davis, the former Of whom has the
happy faculty that strong mind has
over a weaker to mold it to agree
with its views and opinions. Surgeon
Cooper's wife is Scccssionist and
one of the +. +. VS. of this State.
He is exceedingly attentive to Mrs.
Davis, cscorting her to Norfolk and
back, and yesterday he had private
OConor and Shea. To-day the four
were together at the Doctors house.
| believe more might have been said
in this report. In my opinion there
are other reasons than the "waves Of
sound" 20 make Mr.. Davis nervous
and cxcitablc; for instance his age
and the disease to which he has been
subject in previous years The dis
appointment Of his hopes and ambi-
tions must necessarily affect the ner-
vous system of a man Of his pride
while prisoner. Since Mrs. Davis
appearance at this place there has
been determined effort made that as
he could not be hero to make a
martyr Of him.
NELSON A. MILES,
Major Gen. u. S. Volunteers.
Because Cooper could not close the
eyes of human suffering and keep his
eyes shut in the presence Of wrong
and cruelty, he is attacked in this
confidential communication. The
outcry of a brave and good man is
attributed to the malign influence of
his wife, who, it is charged, was
"scccssionist' and one of the +. +.
VS..
After the public became aware of
what was going on in the prison house
and the fearless press commenced to
inquire who was responsible, very
different treatment was accorded MIR.
Davis, and he was allowed the privi-
leges Of State prisoner. He had
the freedom Of the port on parole,
his wife and family were with him and
his counsel were permitted to see
him.
MILES MUSTERED OUT.
In August, 1866, the President or
dcred that General Miles be mustered
ont of the volunteer service. No
reason is given in the published re-
cords for this, but may be possibly
inferred from General Miles protest,
written on the Oath day of August
OIL War of Rebellion, 955), in which
he says:
"As l have been here fifteen months
since his Oavis) first imprisonment
would have preferred to have remain
ed one month longer until he was ro-
moved from this place at which time
intended 70 tonder my resignation,
which has cost many sacrifices and as
highly priced as life.
TWO YEARS IMPRISONED.
Thus it appears that instead of a
longing to be relieved Of the unpleas-
ant duties Of bsilff, the General
begged to be continued in Office so
long as Davis was to be prisoner.
The government did not crafty him.
He was relieved from duty on the
first of September, as ordered, mus
tered out of the volunteer service and
rclegated to the regular army, with
the rank of colonel. This paper,
therefore, need notice his career no
further.
Mr.. Davis was not relieved from
on the first day of October,
as General Miles anticipated. He re-
mained in Imprisonment until his
term had extended its slow length
through two whole years, but during
his second year he was treated as
State prisoner, and, except that his
trial was sc long delayed, there was no
just ground for complaint.
This practically closes 80 much Of
this paper as refers to the trials Of
Mr.. Davis. 1t will be noted that
has been quoted from the
either Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Davis, nor from any Confederate
source, not even from Federal sources
charged by General Miles with the
crime Of sympathy; sympathy for the
suffering Of an old and feeble gentle
man, who, though he had once held
sceptre, was treated as 8 common
felon. References have been made
only to official documents published
as such by the United States govern
ment. No deduction has been drawn
which they do not justify. If the
conclusions are unpleasant, and yet
are justified by the official evidence,
those who suffer in public estimation
from the bare recital Of their acts,
have none to blame but themselves.
OUT on HABEAs CORPUS.
On the first day of the May term,
1867, Judge Underwood opened the
Circuit Court of the United States at
Richmond, when Mr.. George Shea, of
New York, as counsel for Mr.. Davis,
filed o petition for writ Of habeas
corpus. It was granted, and on the
10th was served on Brigadier General
HanTv & Rurknn HuCCagsOr of Can