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The prison life of Jefferson Davis.
[from the times-dispatch, February 12, 1905.]
The trying experience of the
Ex-President at
Fort Monroe.
Actual instructions of
Assistant Secretary of war as to Shackles.
The steamer
William P. Clyde, with
President Jefferson Davis,
Mrs. Davis, son and two daughters;
Vice-President Alexander H. Stephens,
Hon. C. C. Clay and
Mrs. Clay, Hon
John H. Reagan, Confederate
Postmaster-General;
General Joseph Wheeler, and other prisoners, convoyed by the
United States ship
Tuscarora, arrived in
Hampton Roads on the 19th of May, 1865, from
Port Royal, S. C.
The arrival was immediately wired to
Washington, and that afternoon
Secretary of War E. M. Stanton ordered
Major-General H. W. Halleck to proceed to
Fortress Monroe, take charge of the prisoners, and to imprison
Messrs. Davis and
Clay securely in that fortress; to send
Messrs. Stephens and
Regan to
Fort Warren by sea in a gunboat;
General Wheeler and staff,
Colonels Lubbock and
Johnston, aids to
President Davis, to
Fort Delaware, also in a gunboat;
Colonel Harrison, secretary to
Mr. Davis, to
Washington, and the remainder of the prisoners to
Fort McHenry, in the
Clyde, under convoy.
He was also instructed to allow the ladies and children of the party to go to such places in the
South as they might prefer, but forbid their going North or remaining at
Fortress Monroe or
Norfolk.
He was also directed to prevent any one from visiting or holding communication with
President Davis or
Mr. Clay, either verbally or in writing.
This was to deny them any communication either with their wives or children.
