Year: 1866




present Health OF Jen Davfs-Re In sa Id
to ne Entirely Broken Down and His
Lilo Lease Believed 20 he Nearly Run
Out.


OUR FORTRESS MONROE CORRESPONDENCE
FORTRESS MONROE, May l5, 1865


The rumor referred to yesterday Of special message
having been sent here by President Johnson asking an
immediate report to be made upon the present condition
OF JED Davis health proves TO have been correct Such
report has been asked for and DR. Cooper United States
Army post surgeon has already forwarded the required
document From what have learned to- day the report
is Of character that would no, facilitate procuring
policy Of life insurance for Mr. Davis On the cont rary
he represented as being exceedingly low state Of
health and having become very much debita,ed from
want OF sufficient exercise his muscular system reduced
almost to the feebeness Of infant his nervous sys-
TEN completely broken down. and the vital forces no.
manning to him insufficient to ward or any sudden attack
OF serious disease. Hls long Imprisonment continuous
anxe eel narsssWent q sleep from frequent changes
day and night OF the guard placed over him, are repre-
sened as the melting causes bringing about this ply
scal condition Tha, decisive action must follow
the submission Of this report there be little question.
The least that is looked for granting HIM the
privilege Of unrestricted walking and during
the day Some time since, through the protesa-
tions OF DR. Cooper that he must have exercise,
his time for exercise extended TO three hours per
day Within the past three days the number OF tho
guard stationed In his immediate proximity has been
likewise reduced No pacing sentinel walks
necessarily IN front OF his room windows, and two
other sentries who walked with the unendng
tramp on two other sides OF the have had
iessened the length OF their beats TO lessen
their disturbance OF him In the frequent changes Of
guard These latter changes were also effected
through tho influence OF DR.. Cooper. Putting all the
facts can get together Je Davis has evidently nearly
reached tho end Of his life lease. He in condition
70 resist disease, and II Is deemed doubtful whether ho
will DO able TO stand up under protracted trial In his
indomitabe will there is strong power OF resistance;
but the granite column trembes and finally breaks
under tho incessant ashIg Of the this iron will
may become broken under the too long and ncessant
burden he has had 10 bear.


The TAKING orr HATS TO JEFF


II currently reported that the questioning as to the
state OF health OF Mr. Davis Is likely 10 start up other
questions and call for general submission OF steward
ship to the treatment he has received during his
accounts be called for II is alleged that some
very unpalatable facts will be developed, and
small aud petty feelings. Much Of this is doubtless
nerest talk The gravest fault-hndng find at present
Is with recent verbal order forbddng officers from
taking of their hats TO JEFF Davis shaking hands with
him. While there are those who would both approve
and applaud humbling and contcmptuous course Of
conduct toward Mr Davis in his present position
temanly instincts and lifelong mingling with
polite and refined society would revolt against
such treatment toward almost any prisoner. and
particularly OF Mr. Davis antecedents, culture
and the honorcd social and political associations OF his
past life. Secretary McCulloch did not think II unbe.
coming in himself to remove his hat when introduced 70
Mr. Davis, and shake him warmly by the hand at meet
ing and parting with him.


ESCORT DAVIS


II was not my Intention In my present letter To
dyerge OF into topics disconnected with the health OF
Mr. Davis and the showing how entirely this official
port just made on the subject confirms what have all
along been writing. but being in tue diyerging way
will refer another order which n also the basis
Of good deal OF fault finding. This latter order
concerns the treatment OF Mrs. Davis, aud likewise
involves point Of politeness After her ARRIVAL
IL customary Tor Oifcer her back and
forth from her quarters her visits IN her husband
This work has been deputed ~ orderly; and
officers whose calamity might induce such acts of attcn
ton prohibited from exercising their pot In
any such way. fnterdcting polteness towards lady
and Ars. DAVIS most unquestonably Is one!s rather
startling novelty la the way Of military etiquette.