Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/358

This page needs to be proofread.

346 Southern Historical Society Papers.

army, which, we presume, was balm enough for his wounded feel- ings 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 ist day of May, 1867, and under instructions from the War Department, Gen- eral H. W. Burton, on the i3th 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.