Miles' reward.
On the 29th of August, 1866, the War Department issued an order relieving Miles of duty at
Fortress Monroe, which he seemed to think was a reflection upon his conduct.
He had been there during fifteen months of
Mr. Davis' imprisonment, and desired to remain until the prisoner should be removed, so he requested to be allowed to remain a month longer, or until the 5th of October.
He desired this slight consideration in justice to his reputation.
The request was not granted, but he was made a colonel in the regular
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army, which, we presume, was balm enough for his wounded feelings from the public attacks on his conduct in cruelties to a helpless prisoner.
On Miles' retirement,
General H. W. Burton assumed command of
Fortress Monroe, and he seems to have been more considerate and humane to his State prisoner, for he was called to account by the War Department for permitting persons to visit
Mr. Davis not specially authorized by it.
The writ of
habeas corpus for
Mr. Davis was issued by the United States Circuit Court for the District of Virginia on the 1st day of May, 1867, and under instructions from the War Department,
General H. W. Burton, on the 13th day of May, obeyed the writ and was released from the further custody of the
ex-President of the
Confederate States.
Thus ended the imprisonment of the great and good man.
