Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/85

 The Trials and Tr'ml ,,f J.if'.rsn,, Davis. U!i

ordered to make. We hear nothing, for example, from Surgeon Cooper of the stories which have been repeated over and over again, in all varieties of tone, but with a singular consistency in the main details, by correspondence of all shades of opinion in regard to the petty insults heaped upon Jefferson Davis in the routine of his daily life. The refusal, by express military orders, of the common cour- tesies and simplest decencies of life to a man who for four years wielded the resources of eleven belligerant States against the whole power of the Union. * * * The American people, should these stories prove to be true, will have a serious account to settle with the functionaries who could thus misrepresent and belittle them in the eyes of Christendom and of history."

Similar articles appeared in other papers, both North and South. These articles were keenly felt by General Miles, and on the 26th of May, 1866, he wrote to Adjutant-General Townsend, enclosing him a number of extracts from the papers, of which he complained very bitterly. He averred he had done nothing but obey orders, and that the press was doing him great injustice. (/</., 914.) The news- paper extracts are all published in the official correspondence along with General Miles' letter.

One who will read the correspondence published in the one hun- dred and twenty-first volume of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion by the government can judge of this, as well as Gen- eral Miles.

Having written his complaint of and protest against the press, General Miles turned his attention to his subordinate, Surgeon Cooper, whose report had come to the public eye. He wrote (221 War of the Rebellion, 919):

"(Confidential.^

"FoRT MONROE, VA., May 28, 1866.

4 'General E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant- General :

" GENERAL, I regret to say that I think Surgeon Cooper is en- tirely under the influence.of Mr. and Mrs. Davis, the former of whom has the happy faculty that a strong mind has over a weaker to mould it to agree with its views and opinions. Surgeon Cooper's wife is a secessionist and one of the F. F. V.'s of this State. He is exceed- ingly attentive to Mrs. Davis, escorting her to Norfolk and back, and yesterday he had a private interview with Davis and Messrs. O' Conor and Shea. To-day the four were together at the Doctor's