Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-12-07
Famous Trials
JEFFERSON DAVIS

When the Civil war was over and the
Confederate arms had met with defeat.
resentment was felt in the North against
Southern leaders, and the first person to
feel the strong arm of the victors was the
President Of the Confederacy, Jefferson
Davis.
When President Lincoln was assistant
cd and Andrew Johnson assumed his
place, he at once laid plans to sppre-
head Davis, with WliOn he had never
been recenclnd since an ugly debate be-
tween than in the House OF Representa-
tives in 1s45.
President q hnson pTSa aaimed DsWis
an outlaw for supposed connection with
the conspiracy to assassinate Lincoln and
offered q, reward of $4,000 for his cap
ture.
Two miles northwest of Ir-winsville. Ga,
at early dawn of May 10, 1865, Davis
and his party were surprised by a iro p
of United States cavalry under the com
mand of Col. BIN amin D. Pmtchard
For a moment he thought of fighting his
way through the enArny Gordon or givin@
UP his life in the effort. He changed his
mind, however. and submitted to his car
t'-rs. who conducted him to, Macon and
there turned him over TO Gen. James H.
Wilson. tFe highest United States officer
in this region.
The journey to Macon was made I'M
pleasant by the jeers of the capto~s and
by the e1h bition to the carty of Pres
ident Joanson's manifesto. But Davis re-
c.Gniznd that it was the hand Of an old
personal AID political enemy.
From Macon Mr. Davis was sent TO
Augusta, Ga, where Vice President Ste
phens joined the party as a captive. Mrs
Davis and her children accompanied the
prisoner. After some days spent on a
ship Stephens was sent TO Fl. Warren,
in Boston harbor and Davis was placed
! in a easement in Fortress M-nroe.
In few days Gen. Nelson A. Miles
was given charge Of the state prisoner"
| and he ordered irons to be rivet"d to his
| ankles. All books except the Bible were
| denied him. and even letters from Mrs
! Davis were rot allowed to be delivered
until after they had been INSPECTED.
| Davis was compelled to remain in thi:
| pris until autumn when Horace Greeley
Henry ]. Raymond, Charles OConnor ant
| other Northern men took up his case ant
| he was given new and more comfortable
| quarters. Finally, in the summer of 1855
Davis and his family were reunited ant
| were allowed rooms in Carroll Hall.
Finally the charge of connection in tn
| ssassi=ation of Lincoln fell 10 TIE groun'
| and then the policy of proceeding on tn
charge of treason was taken up. Poth tn
president and General Grant Opp, sed tn
plan Of a trial on this charge.
On May 4, 1887 Davis was cenducte'
to Richmond where his case was to b
heard. The following day he was set fre
on bond signed by Horace Greeley, Ger
rift Smith and other former opponent
OF the south. The released prisoner a
once went to Canada to meet his famil
and others, whom the fortunes Of wa
had driven into exile.
In October Davis was again sunm3ne
| to appear in the United States court a
Richmond. The indictment that wa
drawn un against him was briefly, as fl
lows Jefferson Davis, late of the cit
of Richmond, yeoman, being an inhahit
ant and residing within the Unite
States Of America with force of arm
levied and carried on war insurrectio
and rebellion against the United State
! and with a great multitude of persons
whose names are to the jurors unknown
to the number Of 500 persons and upwarC
: arrayed III warlike r,annac--that Is
say-with cannon, muskets, etc. levie
and carried on the conflict contrary to tn
duty and allegiance and fidelity Of tn
said Davis against the Constitution, etc
When Davis reached Richmond he e.
pressed his readiness to be tried, but til
counsel of the government was not PR
pared and the trial was again postpon Ell
The Canadian winter having proved tt