The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-02-23
MILES DEFENDS HIMSELF
WRITES ARTICLE ON HIS TREAT
MENT OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.
He Quotes a Letter From Mrs. Davi:
Thanking Him for His Cour-
tesy and Kin lness

New York, Feb. 2I.-Picayune Spe-
cial-General Miles has written an ar
ticle on My Treatment of Jefferson
Davis which appears in this week S
issue Of the Independent.
After referring to the assassination OF
President Lincoln, General Miles men,
tions that Mr. Davis did not surrender
with his principal armies, but lit was his
intention, as he admits in his own book.
The Rise and Fall of the Confederate
Government, to try to escape across the
Mississippi, so that he could join the
Confederate Army in that section and
continue the war
''He was hunted down and caught
near Irwinville, Ga. He was sent to
Fortress Monroe to await trial on the
charge of completely in the assassination
of Mr. Lincoln 1t was the expectation
and purpose of the government to bring
him to trial on that charge as soon as
the trial of the assassin, then going on,
was completed
General Miles quotes the proclana-
ton of President Johnson. that appeared
from the evidence in the bureau of mill
tary justice, that the murder of the late
President, Abraham Lincoln, and the
attempted assassination of William H.
Seward, Secretary of State, were in
cited, concerted and procured by and
between Jefferson Davis and o'her reebls
and traitors.
Details for the close study of Mr..
Davis were drawn up by Major Gen
eral Halleck, and Charles A. Dana, as
sistarlt secretary of war, went by direc-
ton of the Secretary of War to Fortress
Monroe, where he issued an order that
Major General Miles is hereby author
lied to place manacles and letters Upon
the hands and feet of Jefferson Davis
and Clement Clay, wheneve- ne may
think it advisable in order 70 render
their Imprisonment meie secure.
q General Miles relates that notification
was sent to Fortress Monroe of several
plots to effect the escape or rescue Of
Mr.. Davis. To comply with what was
suggested by the orders Of Assistant
Secretary Dana and General Halleck
s.Hght anklets were placed upon the
ankles of Jefferson Davis in order to
prevent the possibility of his attempting
TO jump past the guard or commit any
act of violence while the wooden doors
were being removed from the room
which he occupied, and grated doors
substituted. These did not prevent his
walking about the room.
"The change of doors was completed
in FIVE days, and the anklets were then
removed"
General Miles says Mr. Davis physi-
cal condition at that time had been mis-
represented, that he was strong and
agile, that when the anklets were put on
him he knocked down one powerful man
and it took four strong men to hold him.
There was not the least desire" con-
tinues General Miles, or purpose on the
part Of any official of the government to
place any indignities upon Mr.. Davis,
or in any way to hurniliate him.
General Miles inserts in his article the
following letter from Mr.. Jefferson
Davis, as an answer to the insinuations
that discourtesies were shown to Mr.
Davis: H. 81
Fort Monroe, Va, May 23, 1866
Please receive my thanks for your cour-
| tesy and kind answers to my questions
Of this morning MAY 23). can moi
quit the harbor without begging yor
again to look after my husbands health
for me. Yours very respectfully,
''VARINA DAVIS
Every precaution, says General Miles
was taken to prevent the possibility O
Mr.. Davis health being impaired by hi:
confinement General Miles produce.
evidence in the form of letters to sub
stantiate this. He adds that all tht
changes that were made from time tt
time to give Mr.. Davis more liberty ant
additional comforts were made by hin
| Miles or upon his recommendation.
L