The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-02-13
GENERAL MILES
INTERVIEWED
Replies to Statement of Daughter of
Jeff Davis.
WOMAN'S STORY UNTRUE
RECORDS SHOW THE FACTS IN
THE CASE.

Boston, Feb. TT have no wish to
reply to Mrs. j. A. Hayes of Colorado
Springs, Colo, daughter of Jefferson
Davis, who has made statement con-
corning my treatment of her father
while he was a prisoner in Fortress
Monroe and who is credited with say
ing I was as brutal as the worst brute,
because I viii not enter into a contro-
versy with woman said General
Nelson A. Miles yesterday.
This is not because I object to be
interviewed. but because I can furnish
proof that the woman is entirely IL
the wrong, and in this manner prove
my assertions without the necessity or
having any further talk about the mat
ter"
Facts in Printed Form.
Then the grizzled retired head of the
United states army handed the report
er a pamphlet. saying, Here are the
facts of the case"
The pamphlet, printed in Washing
ton by the Gibson Bros, in 1904, is en-
titled. a Statement of Facts Concern
ing the Imprisonment and Treatment OF
jefferson Davis While a Military Pris-
oner. at Fcrt Monroe, Va, in 1865 and
1866"
This pamphlet goes into great detail
regarding the capture Of Jefferson Dd-
Wis. mis- alleged connection with the as
sassination Of President Lincoln ana
especially the treatment he received at
the hands of General Miles, detailed to
care for him, to guard him, look out
for his health and be responsible Tor
him.
All Charges Refuted.
All charges made by Mrs. Hayes, the
Confederate leaders daughter, concern
Ing her fathers i'll health. his great
abuse and such things, together with
claims that her mother was insulted,
are fatty denied in this carefully pre-
pared pamphlet. while, on the other
hand, correspondence that is indispu-
table is reproduced
Following are extracts from the PAM
phIet:
a letter to General Miles from Colo-
mel Curry, dated from Fort Monroe
September 2. 1866, reads as follows:
% 'General-In view of the distorted
statements of a portion of the press
and especially of Surgeon Cravens book
regarding the imprisonment OF Jener-
son Davis at the post, the undersigned
officers of the government are unwilling
such representations should go into
history unanswered on the statement
of one Individual, and we deem 1t due
TO you to say that in your course as
commandment of this district we are sat
iSfied that you have practiced all of the
lenicncy 20 Mr.. Davis your duty TO the
government required
The details for the close custody
OF Mr.. Davis were drawn UP by Major
General Halleck. commanding that de-
partment, in person, and in his own
handwriting The last paragraph OF
the instructions reads as follows:
The commanding general of the
district is authorized to take any addi-
tional precautions he may deem neces-
sary for the security of his prisoners
III. W. HALLECK, L. s v.
Commanding.
Tried or Released.
All the changes that we're made from
time to time, by which Mr.. Davis was
allowed greater liberty and additional
comforts. I'm fact luXuries. were made
by General Miles, or upon his recon-
mendatiOn, and he also recommended
that he either be brought to trial or re-
leased. He was finally released in May,
1867. and left Fortress Monroe in bet
ter condition than when he entered
He lived for twenty-fOur years after
he was first Imprisoned and died of old
age at the age Of 81, and the statements
to the effect that he was maltreated
or that his physical condition was inn
paired result of his Imprisonment,
were Utterly untrue ~
Please receive my thanks for your
courtesy anG kind answers to my ques-
tions of this morning MAY 23)- I can
not quit the harbOr without begging
YOU again to look out for my husbands
health for me. Yours very respectfully,
NARINA DAVIS.
Was Physically Active.
Mr.. Davis physical condition at the
time of his imprisonment has been mis-
represented. He was as strong and
agile as other men OF his age, accord
ing to his own account in his book.
The Rise and Fall Of the Confederate
Government and was confident at the
time Of his capture that he could. sim
gle handed and alone. tumble a noun
ed soldier from his horse and then
spring into the saddle and escape
He was prevented from making the
attempt at the time the anklets We're
placed upon his ankles. when he
knocked down one powerful man and il
took four strong men to hold him.