Davis Was Jefferson Davis Poisoned!

[Rebforever]

HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF FORT MONROE,

Fort Monroe, Va., July 20, 1866.

Bvt. Major General E. D. TOWNSEND,

Asst. Adjt. General, War Department, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to report Surgeon Cooper informs me this morning that no material change has occurred in the health of state prisoner Jefferson Davis since his report of the 18th instant, except that his febrile symptoms appear to yield more readily to the remedies prescribed.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. S. BURTON,

Brevet Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/121/0948
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HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF FORT MONROE, VA.,

July 23, 1866.

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

GENERAL: I have the honor to report the health of state prisoner Jefferson Davis about the same as usual. He complains of indigestion but thinks he has more strength than he had four days ago.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

NELSON A. MILES,

Major-General, U. S. Volunteers.
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HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF FORT MONROE,

Fort Monroe, Va., July 24, 1866.

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

GENERAL: I have the honor to report the health of state prisoner Jefferson Davis the same as yesterday's report. During the warm weather he takes but little exercise; usually remains at his wife's quarters in the casemates during the day.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

NELSON A. MILES,

Major-General, U. S. Volunteers.

 

[Rebforever]

FORT MONROE, VA., July 25, 1866.

Commanding OFFICER MIL. DIST OF FORT MONROE,

Fort Monroe, Va.:

SIR: I report the health of state prisoner Jefferson Davis to be somewhat better than on the 18th instant. The febrile symptoms then showing themselves have yielded to medical treatment. This with the moderation of temperature has caused the improvement. He is still very feeble, has scarcely any appetite, and is in low condition.

Your obedient servant,

GEO. E. COOPER,

Surgeon, U. S. Army.

HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF FORT MONROE,

 

[Jimklag]

HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF FORT MONROE,

Fort Monroe, Va., July 20, 1866.

Bvt. Major General E. D. TOWNSEND,

Asst. Adjt. General, War Department, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to report Surgeon Cooper informs me this morning that no material change has occurred in the health of state prisoner Jefferson Davis since his report of the 18th instant, except that his febrile symptoms appear to yield more readily to the remedies prescribed.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. S. BURTON,

Brevet Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/121/0948
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF FORT MONROE, VA.,

July 23, 1866.

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

GENERAL: I have the honor to report the health of state prisoner Jefferson Davis about the same as usual. He complains of indigestion but thinks he has more strength than he had four days ago.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

NELSON A. MILES,

Major-General, U. S. Volunteers.
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HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF FORT MONROE,

Fort Monroe, Va., July 24, 1866.

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

GENERAL: I have the honor to report the health of state prisoner Jefferson Davis the same as yesterday's report. During the warm weather he takes but little exercise; usually remains at his wife's quarters in the casemates during the day.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

NELSON A. MILES,

Major-General, U. S. Volunteers.

What evidence was there that he was poisoned? If so, who did it? Davis was never a robust man.

 

[Rebforever]

HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF FORT MONROE,

Fort Monroe, Va., July 30, 1866.

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

GENERAL: I have the honor to report the health of state prisoner Jefferson Davis about the same as in last week's reports. There has been but little change in his condition for several weeks. I do not think he improves either in appearance or strength, although he has every attention, both of the post surgeon and his wife, and the best of fare.

I am, general, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

NELSON A. MILES,

Major-General, U. S. Volunteers.

 

[Rebforever]

What evidence was there that he was poisoned? If so, who did it? Davis was never a robust man.

What prison is he in??

 

[jgoodguy]

What prison is he in??

Durn incompetent Yankees, he lived to be over 81.

 

[WJC]

Where is the evidence to suggest that Davis was "poisoned"? These rather routine medical reports?
Yet another alleged 'Yankee plot'?

 

[amweiner]

I suspect Colonel Mustard, in the drawing room, with the wrench. I never did trust him - he looked shifty.

 

[Jimklag]

What prison is he in??

Fort Monroe inside a casemate.

 

[Jimklag]

I suspect Colonel Mustard, in the drawing room, with the wrench. I never did trust him - he looked shifty.

Nope. Professor Plum.

 

[diane]

I very vaguely remember hearing the water pipes at Fortress Monroe were of lead, and people staying there a long time would get sick. Don't even know if that's true but if it were and Davis got sick because of that, it wasn't deliberate. (Although with Nelson Miles one can never be sure...!) Could also have been plain old H Pylori - stomach bacteria from not so clean water. A lot of people had the symptoms Davis displayed for that exact reason.

 

[WJC]

Nope. Professor Plum.

No, either Boris or Natasha....

 

[matthew mckeon]

Have we entirely ruled out the influence of UFOs? Think about it.

 

[Jimklag]

I very vaguely remember hearing the water pipes at Fortress Monroe were of lead, and people staying there a long time would get sick. Don't even know if that's true but if it were and Davis got sick because of that, it wasn't deliberate. (Although with Nelson Miles one can never be sure...!) Could also have been plain old H Pylori - stomach bacteria from not so clean water. A lot of people had the symptoms Davis displayed for that exact reason.

Great answer, @diane . You even got in a zing at Nelson Miles.

 

[WJC]

I very vaguely remember hearing the water pipes at Fortress Monroe were of lead, and people staying there a long time would get sick. Don't even know if that's true but if it were and Davis got sick because of that, it wasn't deliberate. (Although with Nelson Miles one can never be sure...!) Could also have been plain old H Pylori - stomach bacteria from not so clean water. A lot of people had the symptoms Davis displayed for that exact reason.

Whatever it was, it would have been exceedingly stupid for anyone to attempt to harm Davis and make him a martyr.
Meanwhile, why the criticism of Miles?

 

[AndyHall]

@diane is correct. Those are such vague symptoms (fever, indigestion) that they could be almost literally anything. He had had malaria many years before, and had recurrences of that in addition to other ailments. There's nothing in the dispatches offered that is even unusual, let alone hinting at something nefarious.

 

[AndyHall]

You even got in a zing at Nelson Miles.

Naturally.

 

[WJC]

Have we entirely ruled out the influence of UFOs? Think about it.

Enough guessing! I'll wait for the National Enquirer expose!

 

[jgoodguy]

Have we entirely ruled out the influence of UFOs? Think about it.

Not in the ORs, must be UFOs

 

[Jimklag]

What prison is he in??

Davis' cell inside Fortress Monroe. I took this in 2012, I think.