Confederate Veteran June 1893. ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS' PRISON LIFE. The thrilling events as narrated by Alexander H. Stephens in a diary of his capture and imprisonment was commenced in the issue of the CONFEDERATE VETERAN for May. These introductory notes are made for the benefit of those who have not seen that number. This report was furnished me by his nephew, Hon. Jno. A. Stephens, who is now dead. Mr. Stephens was arrested at his own Liberty Hall, Crawfordville, whither he had gone, and was quietly awaiting the action of the victors until his arrest. His imprisonment and subsequent street parole at Atlanta, then the removal to Augusta, where he, Mr. Davis, Greneral Wheeler and others became fellow passengers, are also given in that number. FROM HIS DIARY VERBATIM COPY. General Wheeler and four of his men were on the boat. They had been captured near Albany some days previous, and had been sent down to the boat some hours before our arrival. The whole party were Mr. Davis and those captured with him, Mr. and Mrs. Clay, myself, General Wheeler and his men, numbering over twenty. I don't know exactly how many were in Mr. Davis' party. I recognized General and Col. Wm. Preston Johnston, of his staff, Mr. Harrison, his private Secretary, and Postmaster Gen. J. H. Reagan. Mr. Davis had with him a man and woman, also colored servants and little boy. His children, Jeff, Maggie and Varina also Mrs. Davis, Miss Howell and her brother J. D. Howell. A young man, a grandson of Judge of Kentucky, was also with him. I did not see him after we got on the boat. Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Clay came on the deck where we were. Our meeting was the first Mrs. Davis and party knew of my arrest. General Wheeler had not heard of the arrest of any of us. Mr. Clay told me he had been on parole all the way, and that he did not come on in the procession with the rest of us that he had been permitted to drive his carriage out in the city (Augusta) and visit some lady acquaintances of his wife. He gave me all the particulars of his surrender. On taking leave of me General Upton turned me over to Colonel Pritchard, of the 4th Michigan Cavalry, who had captured Mr. Davis, and who then took charge of all of the prisoners. The General told Colonel Pritchard that I and Mr. Clay were on parole, and he allowed us the run of the boat. I asked him to grant me permission to write to my brother: and he said he supposed this permission would not be denied whenever I got to a place where I could write. On the cars from Barnet to Augusta I traveled with General Elzy (C. S. A.), who had been paroled. I requested him. to write to John A. Stephens at Crawfordville, and say to him I wished him to remain with his mother until he heard from me. I greatly and deeply regretted that I did not meet John at home today, as I passed there. My feelings this night on this boat pass all description. We were all crowded together in a small space on the boat's deck, covering over us, but both sides open. The night was cool and the air on the water damp, and I was suffering from a severe headache. No mention was made of supper, but I cared not for supper. I had taken breakfast at 12 and did not feel as if I should ever want to eat again. Clay and I united our cloaks, coats and shawls. General Wheeler sent us a blanket. Mrs. Davis sent us a mattress, and we made a joint bed in the open air on deck. I put the carpet bags under our heads, and strange to say, I slept sweetly and soundly and arose much refreshed the next morning. The boat raised steam and left the bluff not wharf about nine o'clock at night. Reagan, Wheeler and the rest, including the servants, stretched themselves about on the open space the best way they could. All had covering of some sort but one little boy. Just before I fell asleep I witnessed this scene: A little black boy about 14 years old, ragged and woe begone in appearance, was stretched on deck right in the passage way. Whose he was, or where he was going, I knew not. An officer came along, gave him a shove, and told him in harsh language to get away from there. The boy raised up, waked from his sleep, and replied in a plantation mood, "I have no lodging, sir." That scene and that reply were visibly on my mind when all my present cares were most opportunely and graciously, if not mercifully, drowned in slumber as I was being borne away from home, and all that was most dear to me, on the broad and smooth bosom of the Savannah. 15th May: Waked much refreshed, morning beautiful, got a rough soldier breakfast. Mr. Davis came out on our deck soon after I got up. It was our first meeting since we parted the night after my return from the Hampton Roads Conference to Richmond. Talked today a good deal with Clay, Reagan and Wheeler, but spent most of my time in silent, lonely meditation on the side of the boat, looking out upon willows on the margin of the sluggish, muddy, crooked stream. Most of my thoughts were filled with home scenes and their kindred associations. Colonel Pritchard introduced to me Captain Hudson, of his regiment, and a Mr. Stribling (?), who was a correspondent of the New York Herald. We talked a good deal on the state of the country, etc. The entire day was clear, mild and beautiful. 16th May: Went to sleep last night as the night before. I omitted to note yesterday that we got dinner and tea at the usual hours, potatoes (Irish) and beef stewed together for dinner, at tea a good cup of black tea that suited me well. There was hard tack on the table, some prefer that, but I chose the soft, or what is known as light bread or " bakers' " bread. The table was small , only four could be seated at once. It took some time for all to eat. We reached Savannah this morning at four o'clock, did not land, but were transferred from the tug to a coast steamer, bound to Hilton Head a much more commodious boat. On it we got a good breakfast beefsteak, hot rolls and coffee. On the passage to Hilton Head I took a berth and slept most of the way, reached Hilton Head about 11 o'clock A. M. The day was clear and rather warm, though not hot or sultry, anchored in the harbor and were transferred to another steamer bound for Fortress Monroe. This was the Clyde, a new boat, a propeller of about 500 tons, there were several good berths in the cabin below, and quite a number of state rooms on deck above. The ladies and most of the gentlemen selected state rooms. I preferred a berth below, and chose my place there, which I found on the voyage was a most excellent choice. After we were transferred to the Clyde, quite a number of officers and other persons came aboard. They brought New York papers, Harper's Weekly, Frank Leslie's Illustrated News. It had been a long time since I had seen these prints. Here for the first time I heard of the military commission trying the assassins of Mr. Lincoln. The officers came down into the cabin where I was, and talked some time of the state of the country. They were all courteous and agreeable. Captain Kelly, formerly of Washington City, who knew me there, told me he was now in the Quartermaster Department at Hilton Head. He was pleased to speak kindly of his former recollections of me, 'alluded to my Milledgeville speech in November, 1860, spoke highly of it and expressed regret that I had not adhered to it. I told him I had. In that speech I had with all my ability urged our people not to secede. The present consequences I then seriously apprehended, but in the same speech. I told them that if in solemn convention the people of the State should determine to resume their delegated powers and assert her sovereign and independent rights, that I should be bound to go with the State. To her I owed ultimate allegiance. In that event her cause would be my cause, and her destiny my destiny. I thought this step a wrong one, perhaps fatal, and exerted my utmost power to prevent it, but when it had been taken, even though against my judgment, I, as a good citizen, could but share the common fate, whatever it might be. I did as a patriot what I thought best before secession. I did the same after. He did not seem to have recollected that part of the speech, which acknowledged my ultimate allegiance to be due to the State of Georgia. The whole conversation was quite friendly. He manifested a good deal of personal regard toward me. At about three or four o'clock the Clyde put out to sea. Before leaving, Mrs. Davis addressed a note to General Saxon (?), who had charge of colonization, in confiding to him the little orphan mulatto boy she had with her. The parting of the boy with the family was quite a scene. He was about seven or eight years old, I should think. He was little Jeff's playfellow, they were very intimate and nearly always together, it was Jeff and Jimmy between them. When Jeff' knew that Jimmy was to be left, he wailed, and so did Jimmy. Maggie cried, Varina cried, and the colored woman cried. Mrs, Davis said the boy's mother had been dead a number of years, and this woman had been as a mother to him. As the boat left our side, that was to take Jimmy away, he screamed and had to be held to be kept from jumping overboard. He tried his best to get away from those who held him. At this, Jeff and Maggie and Varina screamed almost as loud as he did. Mrs. Davis also shed tears. Mrs. Clay threw Jimmy some money, but it had no effect. Some one on deck of his boat picked it up and handed it to him, but he paid no attention to it, and kept scuffling to get loose, and wailing as long as he could be heard by us. After all, what is life but a succession of pains, sorrows, griefs and woes! Poor Jimmy! He has just entered upon its threshold. This will hardly be his worst or heaviest affliction, if his days be many upon this earth. The Clyde is long and narrow, and rolls very much at sea. The Purser on the Clyde is named Moore, a son of the Captain of the boat. He expressed some kind personal regard for me this evening, said he was from Philadelphia, gave me a copy of Harper's Weekly, and requested anything I could spare as a little memento. I chanced to have in my pocket a chess piece of a set that was very prettily made it was a Bishop. I took it out and asked him how that would do, he seemed highly pleased with it. May 19: We enter Hampton Roads this morning, a pilot boat meets us, we are asked where we wish to be piloted to. To Washington was the reply. The Tuscarora leads the way, and we arrive at Hampton Roads. Colonel Pritchard goes to Fortress Monroe, returns and says we must await orders from Washington. Before going ashore I asked him to inquire if I would be permitted to telegraph or write home. He could, on returning, give no information on that point. We anchor in the harbor, and the Tuscarora anchors close by. We see near us the iron steamer Atlanta, captured at Savannah. Dinner at usual hour, and all hands at table except Miss Howell, all with good appetite except myself. My throat is still sore from continued hoarseness, but much better than it was when I left Hilton Head. I have, however, no relish for food. 20th May: Still at anchor in the Roads. Colonel Pritchard informs us he got a telegram last night informing him that General Halleck would be at the Fort at noon to day and give him further orders. The day is dull, nothing to enliven it but the passing of steamboats and small sails in the harbor. A Brittish man of war and a French lie near us. Called Henry in the cabin, told him he would go from there to Richmond, gave him $10, and told him to be a good, industrious, upright boy, and never to gamble. Colonel Pritchard came to the cabin at 8 o'clock at night and told Judge Reagan and myself that some officers in the Captain's room wished to see us there. We went immediately and found Captain Fraley, of the Tuscarora, and Captain Parker, of the war steamer, in the cabin. Captain Fraley received us courteously, and told us that he had orders to take Reagan and myself aboard the Tuscarora next day at 10 o'clock. He had come over that night to give us notice that we might be ready. In reply to the question of our destination, he told us Boston. I knew then that Fort Warren was my place of confinement and imprisonment. I told him I feared the climate would be too cool and damp for me, I should have greatly preferred to go to Washington, if the authorities had so decided. Before we left the Captain's office, General Wheeler and party came in. His conference was with Captain Parker: we learned from what passed that Captain Parker was to take them in his steamer in the morning to Fort Donaldson. Reagan and I left General Wheeler in the office. I sent for Captain Moody, who was a fellow prisoner with us, taken with Mr. Davis, and who had been a prisoner of war at Fort Warren, to learn from him sonic of the prison regulations there. He spoke in very favorable terms of them, said he had been in several prisons, and he had been better treated at Fort Warren than anywhere else. Being relieved of the suspense we had been in for several days, Reagan and I went to our berths at an early hour. I slept but little, thought of home, sweet home, saw plainly that I was not to be permitted to see anyone there. This was the most crushing thought that filled my mind. Death I felt I could meet with resignation, if such should be my fate, if I could be permitted to communicate with Linton and other dear ones while life should last. May 21st: Anthony was not permitted to go with me, gave him $5 and same advice I gave Henry, I gave him my leather trunk he had brought his clothes in. Saw Mrs. Clay and requested her to write to Linton and Mrs. D. M. DuBose the same thing my destination and present condition. We do not know what is to be done with Mr. Clay, or where he is to be sent. After that shall be made known it is Mrs. Clay's intention to go North, if allowed, that is, if her husband shall be confined. Yesterday evening we got New York papers, saw the progress of the trial of the assassins. Mr. Clay expressed to me the fullest confidence that nothing could be brought against him in such a crime. He spoke in the strongest terms of deepest regret at it, said how deeply he deplored it, and his explanation to that effect, when he first heard of President Lincoln's assassination. We had a long talk this morning. General Wheeler and those who went with him left at 6 A. M. I was up and took my leave of them, the parting all around was sad. At 10 o'clock Captain Fraley came up in a tug, came aboard the Clyde. Reagan and I were ready, we took leave of all. Anthony and Henry looked very sad, Anthony stood by me to the last. Mrs. Davis asked Captain Fraley if he could not go, he said that he had inquired of the officer commanding the fleet, and he had informed him that his orders related to only two persons. This closed the matter just as I had looked for. I bade Anthony good bye, the last one. I had before taken leave of Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Clay, and Colonel Harrison. Upon taking leave of Mr. Davis he seemed to be more affected than I had ever seen him. He said nothing but good bye, and gave my hand a cordial squeeze. The tone of the voice in uttering good bye evinced deep feeling and emotion. With assistance I descended the rope ladder to the deck of the tug. All the baggage being aboard, off we steamed to the Tuscarora.