The full content of this document is only available to subscribing institutions. More information can be found via www.amdigital.co.uk
If you believe you should have access to this document, click here to Login.
| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02590 |
| From Archive Folder | Documents Relating to the 1860s |
| Title | Clement Claiborne Clay to Virginia Clay-Clopton regarding his imprisonment at Fort Monroe |
| Date | 21 August 1865 |
| Author | Clay, Clement Claiborne (1816-1882) |
| Recipient | Clay-Clopton, Virginia |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Clay, a former U.S. and Confederate Senator, writes to his wife while imprisoned at Fort Monroe. Informs her that, "The hardest part of my trial here has been my solicitude about you, my parents and other kindred, who, I feared, would be tortured by newspaper accounts of my condition, or bold assertations of my guilt, or possibly, reports of evidence establishing it." States that he is relieved to hear that she gives little faith to newspaper accounts. Comments on his health, which is fair. He has not had to use any of the medicinal remedies that frighten his wife, such as "prussic acid, strychnine or any other dangerous medicines, ... nor yr. especial dread, chloroform." Mentions that he is fairly comfortable and has a diet that suits his sick stomach, and an airy, large room. Reports that he cannot sleep well because the lights are on continuously and a guard is in the room with him 24 hours a day. Remarks on the kindness of his keepers, " ... the gentle hands I have fallen into; all the officers and soldiers, with scarcely any exception, have treated me with as much tenderness as their orders permitted ... So you see there is something to soothe sorrow even sometimes from the hands that cause it; and my unpleasant situation is not without its alleviating circumstances." |
| Subjects | Diet and Nutrition Civil War Government and Civics Military History Military Law Children and Family Journalism Law Marriage Women's History Prisoner Prisoner of War Health and Medical Drugs Diet and Nutrition Prison Camp Canada Lincoln Assassination Assassination Confederate General or Leader Confederate States of America Confederate Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter |
| People | Clay, Clement Claiborne (1816-1882) Clay-Clopton, Virginia (1825-1915) |
| Place written | Fortress Monroe, Virginia |
| Theme | Health & Medicine; Government & Politics |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1860-1945 |
| Additional Information | After the assassination of President Lincoln, Clay was accused of having taken part in a plot in Canada against Lincoln's life and also of having planned raids into the north from Canada. He was held at Fortress Monroe for almost a year without trial, and then freed. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
| Civil War: Recipient Relationship | Wife |