The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-03-28
Officer Who Shackled the Noted Confeder-
ate President Gives Facts
From His Memory.
Turning Over His Effects, He Earnestly
Pleads to be Allowed to Wear
His Catholic Medal.

r'lmored that morning that Davis was
to be put in irons. Gen. Miles showed
me part Of letter he had from
Secretary Stanton, in which he said
'hat IL he thought the safety of Davis
required 1t he could put irons on him
or words to that effect. The matter
was left optional with Gen. Miles as
to whether Davis should be put in
irons or not
Just before sundown relief 1 sent
my orderly out for the blacksmith to
meet me with the leg irons ut the case
mate. AS entered the garrison Davis
was sitting on the end of his cot or
hospital bed, reading his prayer book.
AS he looked up said:
Mr.. Davis, have an unpleasant
duty to execute At the same mo-
mcIlt, seeing the blacksmith with the
irons, lie said: You do not intend to
put fcttcrs OH me?' "Thosc are NV or
dcrs'
Those arc orders for a slave; no
nan with a soul in him would Olcy
such an order. shall never submit
TO such an lndignty,' was Davis an
sw'r. lie then asked if Gen. Miles
had given that ORDER and said he
would like to see Gen. Miles. Davis
asked that the execution of the order
be postponed and should telegraph
to the president in his name. | said:
MIR. Davis, you are an old soldier and
Know what orders are Davis re-
p'1c0 that he was Il soldier and knew
how to die, and, pointing to a sentinel.
said: let your men shoot me ut once.'
"'As the blacksmith stopped to place
the clasp of the shackle around his
ankle. Davis struck him violent blow
that threw him on the floor. He re-
covered at once and made for Davis
with his hammer and would have
struck him If 1 had not caught his
arm. moment after that | saw
Davis and one of the sentinels strug-
CLING, both having hold Of the musket.
Davis just below the shank Of the
bnyonct. The next instant the SEN
tlncl had wrenchcd the musket from
Davis hands. l Mt once ordered the
soldier to his post and rcprimanded
him for leaving.
II now saw there would be trouble
so J. ordered the officer Of the guard
to 90 out and get four of the best
men Of the guard without side arms
and have them report to me at once.
A few moments after four stalwart
soldiers made their appearance. AS
the men advanced Davis struck the
foremost, but all four instantly closed
on him and showed him on his cot.
The prisoner showed unnatural
strength. 1t was all the four men
could do to hold him while the smith
riveted the clasp around his ankle,
his helper holding a sledge hammer.
The other clasp was locked with a
brass lock.
"Just as was going out Davis
raised from his cot, threw his feet on
the floor, and with the Changing Of
the chain he gave way. Davis shed
tears, but not word had he to say.
Two hours after called to relieve the
guard and found Davis lying on the
cot. then unlocked the shackles, he
taking off his clothing and locking it
again himself. He seemed to be en-
trcly broken down. The next MORN
ing I found Davis much indisposed.
suggested to Gen. Miles to have a
Doctor. The general gave his con-
sent ut once. .....
con May 27 or % the shackles were
taken off Davis, and he never wore
them after that. About June % or "a
guards were removed from prisoners
quarters. On June "a Gen. Miles gave
permission for prisoners to have books
out Of the post library, and on that
day Gen. Miles accompanied me to
Davis quarters. AS we entered, re-
marked to Davis that the general had
given him permission to have books
out of the library. Davis then delib-
!; erately turned his back on Gen. Miles.