Author . 
 
 Title 
 
 Imprint. 
 
 JO — «737a-2 0I«0 
 
:* 
 
 STATEMENT OF THE FACTS 
 
 CONCERNING THE 
 
 IMPRISONMENT AND TREATMEN 
 
 OF 
 
 JEFFERSON DAVIS 
 
 WHILE A MILITARY PRISONER 
 AT FORT MONROE, VA. 
 
 IN 1865 AND 1866. 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C. : 
 
 GI^soN Bros., Printers and Bookbinders. 
 
 1902. 
 
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A STATEMENT OF THE FACTS 
 
 CONCERNING THE 
 
 IMPRISONMENT AND TREATMENT 
 
 OF 
 
 JEFFERSON DAVIS 
 
 WHILE A MILITARY PRISONER AT FORT MONROE, VA. 
 IN 1865 AND 1866. 
 
 During the great Civil War from 1861 to 1865 that was waged 
 with greater intensity and ferocity than any other of modern 
 times, it is well known that certain plots were formed against the 
 person or life of President Lincoln. On the night of April 14, 
 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated and a desperate effort 
 made to take the life of Secretary of State Seward, and the assas- 
 sination of the Vice-President and General Grant was also con- 
 templated by the conspirators who formed the plot to destroy 
 the heads of the Government. Fortunately, General Grant was 
 absent at Baltimore on that fatal night. The actual assassinations 
 were to be committed by a few insignificant and obscure men who 
 could have had no motive in such a fiendish conspiracy. 
 
 On May 2, 1865, the then Chief Magistrate of the United 
 States, Andrew Johnson, who, after the death of Abraham 'Lin- 
 coln, had taken the oath of office as President, issued the follow- 
 ing proclamation : 
 
 " Whereas it appears from evidence in the Bureau of Military 
 Justice that the atrocious murder of the late President, Abraham 
 Lincoln, and the attempted assassination of the Hon. William H. 
 Seward, Secretary of State, were incited, concerted, and procured 
 by and between Jefferson Davis, late of Eichmond, Virginia, and 
 
 '^3^ 
 
 
Jacob Thompson, Clement C. Clay, Beverly Tucker, George N. 
 Saunders, William C. Cleary, and other rebels and traitors 
 against the Government of the United States, harbored in 
 Canada ; ' 
 
 "Now, therefore, to the end that justice may be done, I, !• 
 
 Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do offer and f 
 
 promise for the arrest of said persons, or either of them, within 
 the limits of the United States, so that they can be brought to ' 
 
 trial, the following awards : i 
 
 " One hundred thousand dollars for the arrest of Jefferson 
 Davis ; 
 
 " Twenty-five thousand dollars for the arrest of Clement C. 
 Clay. 
 
 " Twenty-five thousand dollars for the arrest of Jacob Thomp- 
 son, late of Mississippi. I 
 
 " Twenty-five thousand dollars for the arrest of George N. 
 Saunders. 
 
 "Twenty-five thousand dollars for the arrest of Beverly \ 
 
 Tucker. 
 
 " Ten thousand dollars for the arrest of "William C. Cleary, late 
 Clerk of Clement C. Clay. 
 
 " The Provost-Marshal General of the United States is directed 
 to cause a description of said persons, with notice of the above 
 rewards, to be published. 
 
 " In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and 
 caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. 
 
 " Done at the city of Washington this second day of May, in 
 the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, 
 and of the Independence of the United States of America the 
 eighty-ninth. 
 
 "ANDREW JOHNSON. 
 
 " By the President : 
 
 "W. HUNTER, 
 
 "Acting /Secretary of Stated 
 
 Jefferson Davis did not surrender when the capital of the Con- 
 federacy, Richmond, was captured. He did not surrender with 
 his principal armies when they surrendered under Robert E. Lee 
 and Joseph E. Johnston, but it was his intention, as he admits in 
 his own book, " The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Govern- 
 ment," to try and escape and cross the Mississippi so that he 
 could join the Confederate army in that section and continue the 
 war. He was hunted down and caught in the disguise of a woman 
 near Selma, Alabama. The waterproof and shawl which covered 
 his male attire were takep and sent to the War Department at 
 
3 
 
 Washington, where they still remain, and he was sent to Fortress 
 Monroe to await trial on the charge of complicity in the assassina- 
 tion of Mr. Lincoln. It Avas the expectation and purpose of the 
 Government at that time to bring him to trial on that charge as 
 soon as the trials of the assassins then going on were completed. 
 The proclamation issued by the President was imperative and 
 authoritative to every ofl&cer and soldier in the military service of 
 the United States. They could not question the reliability of 
 the statements contained in it, but were bound to accept them 
 as based on facts ; in fact, the proclamation itself states : 
 
 '■'•It appears from evidence in the Bureau of Military Justice 
 that the atrocious murder of the late President Abraham Lincoln, 
 and the attempted assassination of the Hon. William H. Seward, 
 Secretary of State, were incited, concerted, and procured by and 
 between Jefferson Davis * * * and other rebels and traitors 
 against the Government of the United States * * *." 
 
 The details for the close custody of Mr. Davis were drawn up 
 by Major General Halleck, commanding that Department, in 
 person, and in his own handwriting. The last paragraph of the 
 instructions reads as follows : 
 
 " 7. The Commanding General of the District is authorized to 
 take any additional precautions he may deem necessary for the 
 security of his prisoners. 
 
 " (Signed) H. W. HALLECK, U. S. V., 
 
 ''ComWg. 
 "To Bvt. Maj. Gen'l Miles, 
 
 ''Com'<Vg, <&c. 
 " Fort Monroe, May 22, 1865." 
 
 The Assistant Secretary of War, Charles A. Dana, went to 
 Fortress Monroe, by direction of the Secretary of War, to also 
 see that every detail was properly arranged for the safe custody 
 of the prisoner, and, in his own handwriting, he wrote the fol- 
 lowing order as an additional precaution against the possibility 
 of auy escape, or attempt to escape, and also against the possi- 
 bility of the prisoner doing any violence to himself or to any 
 member of the guard : 
 
" Fortress Monroe, May 22, 1865. 
 "Brevet Major-General Miles is hereby authorized and directed 
 to place manacles and fetters upon the hands and feet of Jefferson 
 Davis and Clement C. Clay whenever he may think it advisable 
 in order to render their imprisonment more secure. 
 " By order of the Secretary of War : 
 
 "C. A. DANA, 
 ^^Assistant Secretary of War.^^ 
 
 Mr. Dana, in his official report to the Secretary of War, de- 
 scribed the appearance and condition of Jefferson Davis at that 
 time in the following language : 
 
 " Davis bore himself with a haughty attitude. His face was 
 somewhat flushed, but his features were composed and his step 
 firm. In Clay's manner there was less expression of bravado and 
 dramatic determination." 
 
 Notification was sent to the officials at Fortress Monroe of 
 several plots which were formed to effect the escape or rescue of 
 Davis, and they were directed to take every precaution to prevent 
 it. The place selected for his confinement was one of the case- 
 mates of the fort then occupied by one of the officers of the fort 
 with his family. The officer and his family^ were moved out of 
 the rooms and Mr. Davis placed in them. 
 
 To comply with what was authorized and, in fact, suggested 
 by the orders of both Assistant Secretary Dana and Major-Gen- 
 eral Halleck, light anklets were placed upon the ankles of Jeffer- 
 son 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 occu- 
 pied and grated doors substituted. These did not prevent his 
 walking about the room, but would have prevented him from 
 running, if, by any chance, an opportunity had occurred. The 
 change of doors was completed in five days and the anklets were 
 then removed. During this time mechanics were constantly go- 
 ing in and out of the rooms. It will be remembered that Louis 
 Napoleon escaped through the connivance of a physician and 
 mechanics who were employed in his prison. 
 
 Mr. Davis's physical condition at that time has been misrepre- 
 sented. He was as strong and agile as other men of his age — 56. 
 According to his own account on page 702 of his book, " The 
 
5 
 
 Rise and Fall of the Confederate Grovernment," he was confident, 
 at the time of his capture, of his ability to single-handed and 
 alone tumble a mounted soldier from his horse and then spring 
 into the saddle and escape. 
 
 He was, however, prevented from making the attempt. At 
 the time the anklets were placed upon his ankles, he knocked 
 down one powerful man and it took four strong men to hold 
 him. 
 
 There was not the least desire or purpose ou the part of any 
 official of the Government to place any indignities upon Mr. 
 Davis, or to in any way humiHate him. This is shown by a letter 
 written long afterwards by Assistant Secretary of War Dana, 
 from which the following is an extract : 
 
 "The Sun, 
 
 "New Yoek, Septemher 3, 1895. 
 " Dear Sir : 
 
 ******** 
 "When the War Department was advised that Jefi'erson 
 Davis would be landed at Fortress Monroe, Mr. Stanton ap- 
 pointed General Miles, then a colonel, to the command of the 
 Fortress, and sent General Halleck, then Chief of Staff to the 
 Army, and myself to supervise the landing and see that every- 
 thing that could look toward the safety of the prisoner should 
 be carefully attended to. * * * 
 
 "The disposition of his guards about the casemate, and of the 
 sentry who was kept constantly within it, were under the orders 
 of General Halleck ; while I, on my part, executed the instruc- 
 tions I had received from the Secretary by directing Colonel 
 Miles to see that the prisoner was prevented from doing violence 
 to himself, or from forcing the guard within the casemate to do 
 violence to him, by the application of handcuffs, if he (Colonel 
 Miles) should think that application to be prudent. This order 
 was of a purely precautionary nature, and was not founded at all 
 upon any wish to humiliate the prisoner. 
 " I am, dear sir, 
 
 " Very truly yours, 
 
 "(Signed) C. A. DANA. 
 " Mr. Leslie J. Perry." 
 
 The insinuations that discourtesies were shown Mr. Davis or 
 
 his people are best answered by the following extracts from 
 
letters written during bis confinement by Mrs. Davis and Mrs. 
 V. C. Clay to General Miles, thanking him for courtesies ex- 
 tended : 
 
 " FOKT MoNKOE, Va., 
 
 " \_May 23, 1865.] 
 " Please receive my thanks for your courtesy and kind answers 
 to my questions of this morning [May 23]. I cannot quit the 
 harbor without begging you again to look after my husband's 
 health for me. * * * 
 
 " Yours ver}^ respectfully, 
 
 "VARINA DAVIS." 
 
 " July 27, 1865. 
 " Your very kind and comforting letter reached me two days 
 after dispatching a second to you. * * * Accept my heart- 
 felt gratitude for your response with the hope that I may soon 
 welcome a second note from you. * * * 
 
 "I thank you for mentioning Mr. D. in your letter and the 
 assurance of his 'improved health.' Please do me the favor to 
 tender to him my deepest sympathy and most affectionate re- 
 membrance. * * * 
 
 " Again begging your kind offices for your prisoners and thank- 
 ing you for your letter, I remain, 
 " Respectfully, &c., 
 
 "V. C. CLAY." 
 
 " September 4, 1865. 
 " Accept my heartfelt thanks for your great kindness in for- 
 warding my dear husband's letter. May you never be placed in 
 a condition to realize the mingled joy and sorrow its reception 
 gave me. * * * 
 
 "With grateful appreciation of your courtesies to Mr. Clay and 
 myself, I am, 
 
 " Respectfully, your obedient sei'vant, 
 
 "V. C. CLAY" 
 
 It is a fact that every precaution was taken to prevent the pos- 
 sibility of Mr. Davis's health being impaired by his confinement. 
 General Miles gave positive orders to the surgeon to attend care- 
 fully to his physical conditiou, giving him anything that would 
 tempt his appetite, and furnishing everything that was needed 
 to preserve him in health and strength. This order was given 
 
in the presence of General Miles' Adjutant General, Captain 
 John S. McEwan, A. D. C. and A. A. A. G., who made the follow- 
 ing affidavit: 
 
 "Fort Monkoe, Va., May 31, 1866. 
 
 "Personally appeared before me the subscriber, Captain John 
 S. McEwan, 7th N. Y. Artillery, A. D. C. and A. A. A. G., who, 
 being- duly sworn, deposeth and says, that one day in the month 
 of May or June, 1865, Maj.-Gen. Nelson A. Miles, commanding 
 ' Military District of Fort Monroe, Va.,' did in his (deponent's) 
 presence, say to Surg. J. J. Craven, U. S. V., ' I want you to take 
 charge of the health of the State prisoners ' — Jefferson Davis and 
 Clement C Clay, Jun'r, being at that time in prison in the fort. 
 ' I do not wish they should suffer in health on account of treat- 
 ment or fare ; I would not for a great deal have either of them 
 die while at this post : I want you to make any suggestions or 
 recommendations that you think will benefit their health.' 
 
 "JOHN S. McEAVAN, 
 " Captain, A. D. C, and A. A. A. G. 
 
 " Sworn to and subscribed before me this 31st day of May 
 1866, at Fort Monroe, Va. 
 
 "H. S. GANSEVOORT, 
 " \st Lt. 5th IT. S. Artillery, 
 
 '•'•Judge Advocated 
 
 Sensational statements were made in certain papers of that 
 period, intended to excite sympathy for Mr. Davis, and a book 
 entitled, "The Prison Life of Jefferson Davis," purporting to have 
 been written by Mr. Craven, but which was really written by 
 Charles G. Halpin in twelve days, was also published for the 
 same purpose. 
 
 All the principal officers who were on duty at Fortress Monroe 
 at the time made written official statements, as follows : 
 
 " Fort Monkoe, Va., September 2, 1866. 
 
 "Maj.-Gen'l N. A. Miles, U. S. V., 
 
 " ComWg Dist. Fort Monroe, Fort Monroe, Va. 
 
 " General : In view of the distorted statements of a portion of 
 the press, and especially of Surgeon Craven's book regarding the 
 
imprisonment of Jefferson Davis at this Post, the undersigned 
 officers of the Government are unwilling such representations 
 should go into history unanswered, on the statement of one indi- 
 vidual, and we deem it due you to say that in your course as 
 Commandant of this district, we are satisfied that you have prac- 
 tised all the leniency to Mr. Davis your duty to the Government 
 required. 
 
 "Mr. Jefferson Davis was not only a State prisoner, but came 
 here under the charge of complicity in the assassination of Presi- 
 dent Lincoln, added to that of treason. His safekeeping — under 
 the plots formed for his rescue — was a matter of necessity, and 
 the utmost vigilance was lequired to be observed in preventing 
 any attempt to effect it. 
 
 "His treatment — so far as physical necessities are concerned — 
 was all that humanity demanded under the circumstances. 
 
 " We feel it is due you to say that the confinement of Mr. 
 Davis has been as comfortable as it could be made while he was 
 kept in safe custody. 
 
 " With sentiments of esteem and respect for yourself, and a de- 
 sire for your prosperity, we are, General, 
 "Very respectfully, 
 
 "JAMES CUERY, 
 
 ''Col. d a s. V. 
 
 "THOMAS G. WHYTAL, 
 
 "7?6'«. Zt. Col. <ft A. Q. J/." 
 
 " I coincide with the views expressed in the foregoing letter, 
 my opinion having been formed from personal observations since 
 mv arrival at this Post, viz., Dec. 12, 1865. 
 
 "H. S. BURTON, 
 " Bvt. Brig. Got., Jj. S. A. 
 
 "Jas. W. Piper, 
 
 " 1st Zt., 5th Arty., Megt. & Fast Adjt:' 
 
 " Since my arrival at this Post, February 15, 1866, so far as my 
 observation goes, the treatment of Mr. Davis by General Miles 
 has been as humane and considerate as the civcumstauces would 
 
 iustify. 
 
 ■" "WILLIAM HAYS, 
 
 "il/«/. 5«/j Art., Bvt. Brig. 6^ew." 
 
9 
 
 " The undersigued officers, on duty at this Post, have no hesi- 
 tation in endorsing the action of General Miles towards Mr. 
 Davis, as expressed in the foregoing letter. 
 
 "VAL. H. STONE, 
 " 1st Lieut. 5th Regt. Art., JJvt. 3IaJor, U. S. A. 
 "H. S. GANSEVOORT, 
 
 ''J^vt. 3Iajor, U. S. A. 
 "JAS. P. PRINCE, 
 " Surg. & Bvt. Lt. Col, U. S. V. 
 "T. P. McELRATH, 
 " 1st Lt., B. Q. M., 5th U. S. Arty., Bvt. Maj., U. S. A.'' 
 
 "Washington, D. C, Feb. 15, 1867. 
 
 "Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles, TJ. S. A., 
 
 ''Late (J. O., District of Ft. Monroe, Va. 
 
 "Genekal: I was on duty at Ft. Monroe during the first six 
 months of the imprisonment of Jeiferson Davis, being in com- 
 mand of the regiment (3d Pa. Heavy Artillery) which guarded 
 him during that period. I had a good opportunity from personal 
 observation and frequent conversation with officers of my regi- 
 ment of knowing of your treatment of him, and it was my im- 
 pression, as well as that of my officers, that it was strictly in 
 accordance with instructions from superior authority. His 
 physical comforts were all that could be expected or desired, his 
 meals having been sent to him, after the first few days of his im- 
 prisonment, from Dr. Craven's own table. 
 
 "Not having read Dr. Craven's book, I do not know what 
 statements he has made respecting you. 
 "I am, General, 
 
 " Very respectfully, 
 
 "Your obedient servant, 
 
 "JOSEPH ROBERTS, 
 "i«. Col. Ath U. 'S. Art., 
 
 " Bvt. Colooiel TJ. S. Arviy, 
 
 '■'■Ijate Col. 3(7 Ba. Heavy Art'y, and 
 ''Bvt. Brig. Gen.VoW 
 
 All the changes that were made from time to time by which 
 Mr. Davis was allowed greater liberty and additional comforts — 
 in fact, luxuries — were made by General Miles or upon his recom- 
 
10 
 
 mendation, and he also recommended that he either be brought 
 to trial or released. Ee was finally released in May, 1867, and 
 left Fortress Monroe in better condition than when he entered. 
 He lived for 24 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 impaired as a 
 result of his imprisonment, were utterly untrue. 
 
 Since that terrible war the spirit of magnanimity and friend- 
 ship has been manifested by many millions of people, and is 
 described by General Miles in his book, " Personal Recollections." 
 Speaking of the closing scenes at Appomattox Court-House, he 
 says (pages 43 and 44) : 
 
 " It is utterly impossible to adequately describe the scene or 
 the feelings that swelled the souls of that army. Thankfulness, 
 joy, generosity, magnaniraitj'', patriotism, were all mingled in the 
 feelings of the hour. The exultation of victory and the joyous 
 anticipation of returning to our homes, were tempered by sym- 
 pathy and respect for a vanquished but valiant foe. 
 
 " The black-mouthed cannon at last parked in silence, and the 
 long commissary trains of the victorious army passed through 
 the surrendered lines to supply alike both armies. The mag- 
 nanimity and generosity of the silent commander touched the 
 hearts of all with respect and admiration, and all realized that 
 the cause that divided the two forces had at last disappeared, 
 and that friendship and confidence must be restored. 
 
 " The great-hearted leader and beloved President was soon to 
 fall, but his wise and generous words exjjressed the spirit of the 
 million of armed veteran soldiers who prt off the habiliments of 
 war and resumed the responsibilities and duties of American 
 citizens. They represent the earnest aj^peal and wise council 
 contained in his first inaugural: 'We are not enemies, but 
 friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have 
 strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic 
 chords of memory stretching from every battlefield and every 
 patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this 
 broad land may yet swell the chorus of the Union, when touched 
 again, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature,' 
 and his words at Gettysburg, 'With charity for all, with malice 
 towards none, let us bind up the nation's wounds.' " 
 
11 
 
 The same spirit is also evidenced in the following letters : 
 
 " Selma, A.LABAMA, Mavch 4, 1898. 
 " General Nelson A. Miles, 
 
 " Washington, D. C. 
 "Sir: I was a Lieut, in the Confederate Army at the age of 
 eighteen, and have seen some service. I am a member of the 
 United Confederate Veterans, and belong to Camp Catesby Ap. 
 K. Jones, of Selma, Ala. My son, John W. Craig, is a Lieut, in 
 the 5th U. S. Cavalry at San Antonio, Texas, and another son is 
 the 1st sergeant of the Dallas County Dragoons, of this city, and 
 another is a sergeant of Infantry at the IJniversitj' of Alabama. 
 Our fathers fought for the old flag. We are ready to follow the 
 same in your hands ; and I offer my services, and can muster you 
 three thousand stalwart fighting Southern men at the tap of the 
 drum, headed by the Old Confederate Veterans, to defend the 
 Stars and Stripes and the honor of our country. We honor and 
 trust you, as the able and fearless leader of our Army, and re- 
 spect you as a man and citizen. 
 
 " Yours with respect, 
 
 " GEO. H. CRAIG. 
 
 " P. S. — The man who intimates that the Southern men would 
 hesitate to fight under you is simply ignorant of the state of feel- 
 ing in this 'neck of the woods.' I know the above offer should 
 go through or to our Governor, but I want you to know how our 
 people here feel ^your ownself and from an old Confederate.'' 
 
 " Headquarters of the Army, 
 
 " Washington, March 11, 1898. 
 " My Dear Sir : Thirty-three years ago the war drums ceased 
 to beat ; the bugles sounded the last charge, and the last tattoo 
 was heard over the graves of heroic sacrifice ; and as the veterans 
 partook of the soldiers' ^are from the same wagon train, it was 
 there determined that — 
 
 ' Henceforth and forever one nation we'd be, 
 From ocean to ocean, from the lakes to the sea, 
 And o'er all our laud one flag shall float, 
 One song ascend from every throat, 
 That flag, the banner of the free, 
 That song, the song of liberty.' 
 
 '' Ever after that time the earnest, patriotic eifort was to be 
 exerted in building up the waste places of our land and develop- 
 
12 
 
 ing its untold resources, strengtheaiag the moral, political, and 
 material elements of our nation, so that whether dangers came 
 from within or without, all true Americans would stand shoulder 
 to shoulder in maintaining our glorious institutions, our liberties, 
 and our sacred honor. Such was the spirit ; and at this hour I 
 rejoice to witness such a grand and noble manifestation of it 
 throughout our wonderful country as that of which your much 
 appreciated letter is typical ; a sentiment finding unequivocal ex- 
 pression in every quarter of the great Republic — North, South, 
 East, and West. 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 "NELSON A. MILES. 
 
 " Honorable Geo. H. Craig, 
 
 ^'Selma, Alabama.'''