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A Long and Eventful Career in
Business, War and Politics.
FQt’R SCOEK TEAKS AND MORE. |
The Two K*ntn<;k]r Both, Lincoln and {
Pot la —Oa the Northern frontier - A
( nlUa Planter —Kilters Cimgreu - Th« ,
Me*loan War—Preaidit of the Southern
Confederacy —Impriaonment, Release and
Old ip.
More than eighty y«ar» ago two Kentucky
bnya, born In widely different social spheres,
! entered upon still more widely diverse careers:
Abraham Lincoln, In Hardin (now Larue)
county, and Jefferson Davis, in Christian !
' mow Todd) county; Lincoln Iwirn February '
12. 1809, and Davis on the 3d ot June pre
ceding.
JKTFERHOS DAVIS,
[From a war time portrait.)
Ifo dark sibyl hailed them nt then' birth a
the coming exponents of an awful struggle
’No prophet would have dared predict in the
days of their prominence that the rugged
4 Lincoln was soon to fall, while tiie debated,
an invalid during a third of his life, would
survive his great antagonist, for a quarter of
a century, outliving ail the actors of his age
in the great struggle, yet such wav ro lie ihe
irony of fate. History presents many para
doxes, hut none greater than this: Unit tiie
1 victor should fall in the \ ry' hour of victory
anil the defeated live till almost every tr ice
of the conflict had vanished, to die of mere
old age.
The nneesfors of .Jefferson Davis were of
pure English stock, but do long resident in
: America that the type hud become thorough
ly southern American. On ' w>th sides t ey
served in the war for American independ
ence, his father, Samuel Davis winning
some distinction in the mounted troops of
Georgia. Of his two sons. Jefferson early be
came a soldier, while Jo> >ph, a man of talent.
Scarcely, i? a: all, infei .or. gained a local
' success as lawyer and planter in Mississippi.
Tiie brothers were notably affectionate in
childhood, and remained through life devoted
bo each other.
Soon after the birth of Jeffeison. Samuel
Davis' removed to Mississippi, locating nenT
Woodville.dn Wilkinson county: The sons
there- acquired an unusually gcad* English
‘educatin’! for the time, and at at:' • arK ‘age
• Jefferftivn efiterv l Transylvania ebllejie,' Ken
• tucky. 'ln 1824, however. President Monroe
appointed hint a cadet at West Point, whence
: he was graduated in 1328, at flje early age oT
>2b. >He had stood high iu his class, and at
once entered on active duty, though for some
‘ time commissioned only as a brevet second
'lieutenant. Promotion was very slow in those
'peaceful times, but he soon won his full cohi
tmission, and itvthe next three years demon
strated Ids* di'gaiilxfng capacity, both as in
>fantrv and staff' otHoer oi. the northwestern
fromier.
Tne year 1831 brought a surprise mid many
promotions Black Hawk tint red on his fa
! tubuscampaign, and Jeff, son Davis was at
once giv.-u an active and r -sponsible po-iti >n
•to mutter in and organize the new recruits.
| ! There has loug been a tra lition that in this
capacity he mini creel in the company of llii
•nois volunteers from New Salem and vicinity
(commanded bv ( apt. Abranam Lincoln, but
• there is no record of it.
f CAMPAIGNS AGAINST Tint INDIANS.
Early in 18.1:1 Lieut. Davis was transferred
from his place in Company B. First Unit • 1
States infantry, and in recognii ion of iiis
service# in the Black Hawk war was promo
ted to a first lieutenancy in the First Unit i
Htntes dragoons, of which command hew.vs
soon made adjutant In this position he
made a very brilliant record, not only as an
•organizer und elHcient administrator m g:i:
rison life, imt in several a<-rive ca.upai ns
agu ost the Coninnches, Pn w ees and oth -
(Indians. And it is at iV-sm no."!o- ■*»
’hat active, one might sa;. c*Tid. crili- ::
first concerns itself with Jefferson
tTh<*awriters who p-rsisr in attributing i
downfall of the Southern Coni' c >
‘President Davis allege tuar tuns early > •
hibired the same faults and virtues w.., u
’marked his administration ii greu: r an ■ *
(pe-iter degree with e ic.i successive me:
of rank and |»>wer The greatest fault a
•legist, perhaps, is unreason-vile attae in- i'i
To a few friends and curresp >udmg preju in- -
against otlter fiersons.
it was while In this service that Licit. 1) i
vis wis-ed und won n daughter of tiie e ui
general and president, Zacll.ii*>' T »'. i
fath-T was in oomitrmd- of Fort ('raw:
near Prairie Du Ciiiea, und ais dan .In r,
b uutiful na>l refined you lsd\, w is
center of attraction am*>;i;; ~ie s. Ivirdn
•off!*--rs Innumerable aro the roman:
~ riesof tla irrivniries, theltn-it success of L: ..
•Davis, tiie hitter opposition of me "s'
parent ' and old Indian fi n r, an 1 the’•”■*.
f. pi.ruiie by niglit of ii • oung eoupl" t-
De married uy a priest on Mie western nans <
JF.ffKHS >N DAVIS* BIRTHPLACE,
the Missur-ippi |/>t The youug und romantic
con:ti,n. *to i*eail and te*li »ve Sutii -e it that
tiie father remain 1 obdurate for seine time
and was not completely r -conciled to his sou
in-law till The latter lav wounded in his t' o
after the battle of Bnena Vista. There are
as many accounts of what was said there as
of the battle of Shiloh Gm. Taylor s words
appear to have been these, or very n°ar them
“Colonel, you have saved the day—God
bless vou! Whan Dolly would have you, she
wa» a better jud?. * of a man than I was
EIGHT \ EARS A FLANTKR
Jem 80. 1835, Lieut. Davis resign V
ho lived tor eight years the quiet Iff© of a
cotton planter Then came a “crisis;” the
oi' nexation of Texas mnv be taken as the
aiwt issue ove- w hich distinctively, northern
bf’i'i southern parlies confronted ttich other,
in 1443 Lieut Davis too;, an active and most
effective in i m tho state campaign and in
lii44 he »a# one of the Democratic elector#
for Mississippi. In 1843 he was elected a
representative iu congress, and in December
of that year took his seat in the house, it
wa# called then a “stormy session,” but in
retrospect after the long session of 1849-'SO, it
was thought mild.
Mr. Davis took an active part in the dis
cussions on the tariff, the Oregon boundary
issue, the Mexican imbroglio, and the slavery
question so far as it came up, but his speeches
at that time indicate a position far more
moderate than was afterwards attributed to
him. It is of uu great consequence now, but
worth noting as curious matter of history,
that in the heated discussions regarding
Texas the threats of disunion came largely
from the extreme northern men, while the
most eloquent eulogies upon the union came
from the south in a speech on the Oregon
question. Feb <5, 1849, Mr Davis said:
“From sire to son has descended the love
of union in our hearts, as in our history are
mingled the names of Concord and Camden,
of Yorktowu and Saratoga, of Moultrie and
Plattsburg, of Chippewa and Erie, of New
Orleans and Bunker Hill. Grouped together
they form a monument to4he common glory
of our common country, and where is the
southern man who would wish that that
iiioiiuuiojit were less by one of the uorthurn
names that constitute the mass*” '
COL. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
tils Heroic and Successful Action at
Bnena Vista.
While Mr Davis wns active in congress in
July, the First regiment of Mississippi volun-
U-crs enrolled for the Mexican war elected
. iin their colonel He resigned at once, over
rook his regiment at New Orleans, organized
and drilled it to a high state of efficiency,
nnd early in September was ou the Hio
Grande, in the army of his father-in-law,
(fen Zachary Taylor A few days later he
bore a conspicuous part in the siege and
•tonningof Monterey, and, as commissioner,
iried in drawing up the terms of capitula
ion.
Five months of oompn native quiet followed,
lid then crime the crowning glory of his
mlitary career, the achievement of which,
■io:-e than till else, fixed him firmly iu the
'••clious of the southern people, aided hiiu
(•lively at each turning point in his subse
. nt career, made him secretary of war aud
ily president of the Southern Confeder
\ iiis was his gallantry, coolness in dan
•r «i * soldierly skill at the battlo of Buena
i.-ta, :'eh 23, 1847
!n J; ly, 184(1 Mr. Davis was in congress, in
•m pteniber he was leading liis regiment
gainst Monterey, in February, 1847, be was
t Buena Vista,-and July of tiie same year
• omul him again a peaceful planter, the regi
ment’s term of service having expired. In
August, 1847, the governor of Mississippi ap
pointed him u United States senator to fill
a vacancy: the legislature iti 1848 re-elected
him to complete the term, and in 1850 re
ek .ted him for a full term. The ever mem
orable congress of 1849-’sl, at its long session,
had adopted the noted "compromise meas
ure,” but fully sal istied neither party.
Jgj fl\
'(EMMINGER WALKER,
MALLORY ftTKPHENs It RAGAN.
BRN.IAIIN, TOOMBS.
CONI Et'ERATE CABINET AND VICE PRESIDENT.
Tfie result was tiie famous Fo*ite-Davis
gubernatorial campaign of 1851. The “Union”
party, as it was called, carried tiie state by
7.500 majority on the convention question,
but Mr Foote's majority for governor was
but 999—a remarkable proof of the popular
ity o? Col. Davis. He had resigned Ids seat
in tin* senate, und now remained in retire
ment till 1852, when he canvassed several
states for the Democratic candidates.
WAR SECRETARY DAVIS.
His Able Administration «r the XVar De
pai t ment.
March 4, 18153. President Franklin Pierce
named (’oL Jefferson Davis as secretary of
war That of Pierce was a strong cabinet,
and secretary Davis was certainly among the
strongest tnc:i in i . Men of all parti -s agree
that iiis 'ut’m. inis tra. Lion of the war depart
ment was marked by ability and energy, and
many of 1 officers testify tiiat of all secre
taries in the’r time 001. Davis was (save for
liis quarrel «ith Gen. Scott) most popular
with the army. He reorganized almost the
entire service, drafted a new code of armv
regulations, introduced the light infantry
rifle system < t t lelics.Aried the experiment
of camels for trail portation on the south
western deserts, added four regiments to the
regular army, and i nprnved tiie entire svs
teni of sea coast defenses, lie also had the
boundaries bet ween M-xico and the Unite*!
States fixed accural* ly, ami secured the com
plete survey ami almost, the adoption of the
>iiu ti rii route for a Pacific railroad. He
-ul Gap! George B McClellan and two
other officers to the Crimea to study the inili
!;irv tactics of the armies thero fln 1854-’si
uni pleased with their report that In
.•pteiiied- warm (tors ial feelings for them
even t’trough the civil war
With tne events of President Pierce’s ad
ministration congress and the country ma.
be sai l to have entered ui full course upon
the proceedings which led to the civil war
It is not to lie expected that any American
could at this time taka a dispassionate ami
philosophical \ iew of that part of history
\ii i hat remains then is to recite the pri ici
pni events and quote briefly tiie matured
judgment of friends aud foes
At ins retirement from the cabinet In
March. 1v57,l v 57, ttie legislature of Mississippi huo
emoted Mr. Davis B*-* United States seimto:
f**r the term to close Marcu 4. 189.5 H*
plunged a* once ititotue uee.ed deliaiesof tin
time. ui:i ui* aining the miner extreme southern
view, and witiiHit ability ami courtesy which
e»icite<i warm praise even from his foes The
editor of Harper’s Weekly lia> this sketch oi
him in 1858:
"In the north. Col Davis is regarded—
somewhat unjustly, jie.r . ips—a-a type of the
southei n lire eater. Many |iersoiis who liave
never seen him fancy him quarrelsome, petn
lant, hot liead.sl, turbulent. His appearance ia
the does not justify these views. A prim,
smooth looking man, with a precise manner,
stiff soldierly carriage, ami cold expression,
his head full-r. seemingly, of statistics and
hard, dry print-inles than anything else, his
voice cool and firm, without tremor or ex
citetaent. be is the last person a spectator
would pick oht as ‘Uie fire eater.' Iu hisowu
country he is intensely Imioved, chiefly from
his kind and gentle disposition. He is a man
of whom Mississippi may well be proud."
He also took an active nart iu opposing the
French spoliation bill, and advocating the
southern route for the Pacific railroad, He
led the so-cailed “Lecompton party" in con
grass in opposition to Senator Douglas, and
iu debate with the latter pro|Htunded the once
celebrated queries and propositions which
drew from the Illinois senator his famous
theory as to the right of a territorial legisla
ture to adopt “unfriendly legislation’’against
slavery, and Ins article in Harper’s Magazine,
which set forth the creed of the "Douglas
Democrats.” The breach was now complete.
Meantime, in the summer of 1858, he made
a tour tor health and pleasure through the
eastern states, delivt dug several addresses,
in which the warmest attachment to the
union was avowed—always, however, with a
proviso, expressed or implied, that aggres
sions upon the south would certainly be met
with resistance. Some of these addresses
have a strange sound now in a letter ac
knowledging an invitation u> join ma Boston
celebration of the birthday ot bumel U'eb ;
ster, in January. 1859, be wrote:
“1 send you my cordial greetings to the !
friends of the constitution, and ask to be en
rolled among those whose mission is, by fra
ternity and good faith to every constitu
tionaJ obligation, to insure tiiat, from the
Aroostook to Ban Diego, from Ivey West to
Puget sound, the grand arch of our political
temple shall stand unshaken."
did war bkgin in 1859?
Ap event w as at Hand, however, which was
to precipitate the conflict— naijely. the en
terprise of J >bn Brown A million southern
men and women, who pad laughed at the idea
of danger from “northern aggression.” were
suddenly converted, saying, as one of them
expressed it "We can no longer live in peace
with the north, our allies have become our
enemies, and v mu-t seek release from the
connection while we can do so with safety."
The feelings of Jefferson Davis for the next
fifteen months may be gathered from the fol
lowing letter, written at the close of the dis
cussiou to his long time friend, ex-President
Pierce
Washington, D C., Jan 20, 1861.
My Dear Friend 1 have often and sadly turned
my thoughts to you during the troublous times
through which we have been passing, and now I
come to the hard task of announcing to you that
the hour is at hand w hich closes my connec-tiotf
with the United States, for the independence and
union of which my father toiled mid in the service
of which 1 have sought to emulate the example
he set for my guidance. Mississippi, not as a
matter of choice, hut of necessity, has resolved to ]
enter on the trial of secession Those who have
driven her to this alternative threaten to deprive
her of tiie right to require that her government
shall rest on l.ie consent of the governed, to sub
stftute foreign force for domestic support, to re
duce a state to the condition from w hich the cot
oily rose In the attempt to avoid tiie issue which
find been Joined Gy the country, the present ad
ministration has complicated and precipitated
the question Even now, if the duty “to preserve
the public property’’ was rath am!' v regarded, the
prooablecollision at Charleston would be avoided.
Security far better than any widen the Federal
tr ips can give might he obtained in considera
tion of tho little garrison of Fort Sumter If the
disavowal of any purpose to cocrco South Caro
lina be sincere, the possession of a work to com
mand tiie hurl tor it worse than us -less.
When Lincoln comes in he will have but to con
tinue in the path of his predecessor to inaugurate
a civil war, and leave a soi-disant Democratic ad
ministration responsible for tne fact Ueu Cush
ing was here last week, and w en he parted it
seemed like taking a last leave of a brother.
I leave immediately for Mississippi, anil know
not what may devolve upon me after my return,
Civil war has only horror for me, but whatever
circumstances muy demand shall bo met as a
duty, and 1 trust lie so discharged that you will
not be ashamed of our former uouuectkm or cease
to be my friend.
Mrs. Davis joins kind remembrance m
Mis. uieive, iimi me expression or tho hope.taar
we may yet have you bqth at ou* country home.
Do me the favor to write to me often. Address
Hurricane I’. <)., Warren county, Miss.
May God bless you. is ever the prayer of your
friend. Jeff’s Davis.
President F Pierce. £
In fifteen months events had moved
rn j fid ly®'wards tiie dread culmination. In
the first Democratic convention of 18(50, Mr.
Davis received some votes, Benjamin F.
Butler voting for him 57 times. In the
subsequent election the "two northern candi
dates,” as Mr. i .lame styles them, received all
the votes of the northern states save a mere
handful, less than 109,090, while Breckin
ridge and Bel) received tiie almost solid vote
of the southern states. “In truth as well us
in appearance,” adds Mr. Biaiiie, "it was a
sectional contest, in which the north support
ed northern candidates and the south south
ern candidates.” “Disunion was already
completed in tiie hearts of the people,” says
Tourgee, “the sections simply fell apart be
cause there wa- no cohesion.” Tnese opinions,
of philosophic observers long after the strug
gle. have their value.
THE CONFEDERACY FORMEa
Jefferson Oatis Sees Wash i list ton for the
Last Time.
South Carolina led off in ser »ssion. Mis
sissippi soon follow ed. and five more states.
It is idle to recount the futile attempts at
compromise. Senator Davis wa> named one
of the committee of thirteen, in the senate,
blit asked to be excused on the ground that
propositions for compromise at -nich a tune
ought to come from northern men, ami
men whose pany standing was a guar
antee of good faith —a position highly praised
in the tiorth at the time. A lutie laier he
consented to assist, saying:
THE WHITE HOUSE Off THE CONKEDKRAOT.
"if. hi me opinion of others, it t** |s-;siliie
for tne to do nnytliing for the public good,
the moment while i stand hero is ut the
command of the senate if I could si e nay
means by which I could avert the cat tst.ro
pile of a -druggie lietween the sections of the
union, ni' past life, i hope, gives evidence
of the readiness v ith which 1 would make
the effort. If mere 1)0 any sacrifice wl ich I
could offer ou the altar of my country to
heal all the evils, present or prospective, no
man has the ri„ht to doubt my readiness to
*l*> it."
With only two nr th-ee exceptions the de
parture of southern statesmen as their states
seceded was singularly calm and digniff d.
On the 21st of January. Dstll, the senators
from Florida, Alabama and Mi-sissippi wuh
drew Mr Blame praises rite manner of Ben
ator Davis, adding: “No man gave up more
than Mr. Davis in jolting the revolt against
the Union, in his farewell address to the
senate there was a tone of moderation and
iignity not unmixed with regretful and ten
der emotions."
Before Senator Davit could reach home
Mississippi bail app tinted him commander in
chief of all her fortus, w ith the rank of major
general. On the 4th of February, I3tu, dele
gates from several states convened in Mont
gomery, Ala., aud soon adopted a constitu
tion for the Confederate states. On the 9lb
the convention unanimously elected Jefferson
Davis president. Alexander li. Stephens was
named for vice president and inaugurated at
om:e. On the 115th Mr. Davis arrived; on
the 18th he was inaugurated.
THE CONFEDERATE OABINTT.
He named for his cabinet: Robert Toombs,
of Georgia, secretary of state; Leroy Pope
Walker, of Alabama, secretary of war;
Charles G. Menuninger, of South Carolina,
secretary of the treasury, Stephen R. Mal
lory, of Florida, secretary of the tia vy. J udah
P. Benjamin, attorney general, and John H.
Reagan, of Texas, postmaster general. In
the divisions which soon arose, Messrs.
Toombs, Walker and Memminger retired,
the others remained in the cabinet to the last
Mr. Benjamin was popularly credited with
being the “ruling spirit.” He was among
tiie last to leave Richmond and to pan. with
President Davis, he escaped arrest and im
prisonment by Plight to Guidon, where he
became a British stibji-ct, and soon entered on
a career at the bar so brilliant und successful
that it caused his American failures lo be ul :
most forgotten,
A.
ry_ jifil *V'>- I
DAVIS IN PRISON.
The inaugural address of President Davis
was read with breathless interest iu every
part of the country, as, in the prevalent
Ignorance and confusion, men sought in it the
indications of peace or war. But it was uot
in the power of any man, however wise, nt
that time to give assurances. The most sip.
niiieant passage in it, perhaps, was this:
“We have entered upon a career of indc*
peudence, aud it must lie inflexibly pursued
Through many years of controversy with
our late associates of the northern slates we
have vainly endeavored to secure tranquil
lity, and obtain respect for the rights to which
we are entitled. As a necessity, not of choice
we have resorted to the remedy of separai ion
md henceforth our energies must be dirpeteo
to the conduct of our own and tic
•erpetuity of the Confederacy which we Ini',
ornied.
Commissioners were sent to Washingtr
id fruitless negotiations conducted B
vijn the inauguration and tiie Ist of .V •
iblie opinion in hot i notions turned to ’
itemplation of war In vain did Presi I,
icoln proclaim that he “certainly had i
ire and be.ieved tie had no authority t.
; ter fere with slavery ’’ In vaiu did Presi
-•it Davis reiterate that he longed to avoid
la effusion of blood. On (he 12th of April,
1, the war began with the attack ou Fort
; an ter.
“The uprising of the north”—that most
larvelous of all recent popular phenomena—
...lowed at once. Tiie uprising of the south
us scarcely, if at all, less prompt and unatii
•orts, save iu the northern tier of states.
Tginia seceded April 17. Tennessee and
jr.ansas followed May (5, and on May 20
orth Carolina completed the list of eleven
,‘oufederate states. May 20 the Confederate
overnment was transferred to Richmond,
.:i l President Davis followed in a few days.
- journey was a co dinned ovation, his
inches were chief! v exnortacions to unity
id courage, with brief arguments which
ere merely variations of the clause in
_,s first message to congress April ’29
iz., “All we ask is-to tie let alone—that
lose who never held power over u
,all not attempt our subjugation by arms
’his we will, we must, resist to the direst
ctremity ’’
At Montgomery the congress ha 1 alrea
irovided for "a vigorous pros““ution of t
var”—that is, for a loan of $5 ).<:,)•.»,<i;h) a.
)«r cent., in addition io a previous loan .
415,0UU.000. and tiie or ui >•? of an arn:-.
which “might, m tbedt civtion of tiie . re.-.i
dent, be increased to Ibd.Oik) men 1 ’ Pri -a
leering was also organized The people re
gponded with such alacrity that Prom Jen
Davis, on arriving at itici mond, had only P
officially confirm their action In u siii-pris
ingly short time <»> '.“.m icn were orgaa.se>.
in Virginia, and fifteen vessels conuni sionel
as privateers. Tne Federal government wr.
also moving with a celerity that nq-.v see
wonderful, hut to the impatient |>e<>p! it! !
time seemed criminal slackness Ab! c:>
of all Confederate ports was proem:.,u
April 19, ami nearly 100 vessels mi ,
anneil to enforce it By the Ist of ,Jn i
Federal army of over 290.000 men was o.
gautzed.
A PERSONAL DIGRESSION
Faults of Administration Urge*! (gains'
President Davis.
And here the biographer of Jefferson 1).
vis is compelled to take notice of a <»•> iti
versv which went on in a quiet wav *i i
the war and more openly afterwards. *
reached a furious climax, ami is still e, . •
with much bitterness Witii iit md ir-m;
the harsh philippics of Edwin Bollard in i
Gen. Thomas Jordan, or even tut- milder
criticisms of Gens. Johnston and Beanre.-.ruri
Federal ami Confederate mnv now !'!•••
that President Davis made two sen i •
should one say fatal? —mt-staxei tfli-o ,
common to hi n ami nearlv ail the it,
both sides, the other pecuii iry his o-,v.i
was a manifestation of that spirit win
often praised as the quality ot “a!
sticking to one’s friends”—a very j u
quality indeed in a private man. Ini
which in a commander-in-chief in :i •
war may be a criminal folly A most u
happy instance As thus set forth by u ,
Thomas Jordan, cfc ef of stuff to Gen B'*av
regard:
“Mr Davis had been at West Point, and
subse(]uenti v served for severe.! veal’s in ih
dragoons at a frontier post witn a Lieut. Nor
throp. to whom ho became attached Tn
latter was disabled by an accident, wen! m
bis home and turned parish doctor Mr
Davis hecamp m time a politician Lieiu
Northrop grew so eccentric aud full of mentai
crotchets as to be generally regarded ill
Charleston as of unsoti iff intellect and unfit
for the management of his own small affairs
He had not served long enou-n m th° ar tiv
to ncjhire familiarity with military ndminis
tration. "either had his avocation in Charles
ton brought him in relation with men enga ’-ed
in large coniine-cia! affairs This man. w ith
whom Davis hail no personal association since
they were cavalry lieutenants together on the
Indian frontier he dm not hesitate to make
his chief of subsistence, nor scruple to intrust
with tiie organization aud aamum,tration of
s oureau u|s»ii whicu the very' exi-tenet- ui
U't Confederate arum < 'mst depend aud foi
Ur* laoors of which if L apparent tlii**zound
esl practical order of intellect was essential
It would bo easy to find Confederates of
fugli rank and approved judgment in mill j
tary affairs who still look upon this appoint j
ment and two utktr a- th** main causes of
the downfall of the Confederacy
WHO FORESAW A LONG WAR?
As to the other charges*) persistently urged,
that Mr Davis was “not able to £Oiiq re
head the proportions of the struggle impend
ing,” the obvious answer is, it ho was? A
few. a very few, thoughtful men in tiie north,
who drew their conclusions largely from his
tory, predicted a long and tatter struggle, in
the south it is exceedingly doubtful if there
were fifty men who believed the contest
would outlast a year If there was one who,
from the beginning, anticqjated a four years’
war, he succeeded admirably in concealing
his views. T hat President Davis, his cabinet
and all his advisers shared ttie current delu
sion tlmi, the war would be short and its thea
tre confined principally to the coast anil (lie
border between the two sections. Is certain. ,
Such belief was the parent ot many errors.
lit Ihe first place, it was estimated that I tie
south had almost arms enough, ami the first or
der sent lo Eurojx* was for but 19.999 Enfi*!d
rifles Itelore the blockade could Itc uiicie
effective it was urged llial the CoiiJ[ederaCe
govei'umeiil should take the cotton and io
liacco. of which a large •stock was still on
hand, issue Is links to pay the owners, ex isn't
the stuff to Eiiri)[*e. and make It the base of
u fund to liraw H|a>u The owners generally
Wi re w illing, amt ihe effect would haxr lieen
tremeuiipus Al rile same tune a cdßsidera
l)k* amount of foreign cxi-h inge in in# tmuks
whs offertsj to tne government on favorable
terms. Both propositions were rejected *>r
ignored, and the golden opportunity soon
passed, never to return it should t>e noted
also that the legislation of the provisional
congress, and of the first session of tiie regu
lar congress at Richmond, shows the same
lack of perception as to the greatness of th«
Impending struggle.
Oil the Federal side of the line much of the
froth ami nonsense about “a short war” was
swept away by the battle of Bull Run, tiie
rest was done for at Shiloh. After the latter
thoughtful men both north and soqtb made
up their minds tiiat the issue was to be tena
ciously fought Ui u close The north erred
often In expecting great aud decisive victo
ries, the south quite as often iu expecting
foreign interference or a division iu the north.
True, Mr. Benjamin at Richmond continued
to promise “pacification iu ninety days" long
after Mr. Seward ut Washington hqd ceased
to do so. but he found few echoes.
an appalling pifficlltv.
The victory of Bull Uin produced great
exultation in the south, but appears to ha v«
Imd a decidedly soliering effect upon Presi
dent Davis ami cabinet. It may now be con
sidered proved that he was in for aggressive
action immediately after that battle, but
yielded to the adverse opinions of Johnston
and Beauregard, and thereafter, with rare
exceptions, insisted upon a defensive policy.
During tlie long jieriod of inaction which fol
io we* i he embraced every opi>ortunity to de
clare his earnest desire f**r peace. lie even
excited criticism l»y suggesting conciliatory
measures, for many mouths all iiis utter
ances were amplifications of that passage in
his first regular message. "The moment that
tiiis pretense of our subjugation is abandoned,
the sword w ill drop from our grasp and we
shall be ready to enter mlo treaties of amity
ami friendship.”
— , m -w'-> •* *•»
- **>. "
MIL DAVIS’ HOUSE, BBAUVOIK.
in November, 1 Sti!, a general election was
held, and President Davis and Vice President
Stephens were re-elected for the full term of
six years. Feb. 18, 18(52, the fir.->t congress
under the permanent constitution assembled
in Richmond, on the 22d, Presi lent Davis
was inaugurated, und delivered a carefully
prepared message. Disasters had already set
in, to continue with scarcely an intermission
for three months. Before President Davis
was tiiis ominous situation in all the Con
federate states there were not quite (5,090,00
white people, among whom the per cent, of
men capable of liearing arms wua sin-pria
itigly small. In the Federal or “adhering
states,” excluding all the doubtful and dis
puted strip, were at least 18,090,900 white
people, among whom the |ier cent, of adult
man s was phono.neualiy, one might say un
naturally, large
By the census of 18(10 the south contained
about ’100,00) more women than men, the
north about 400.000 more men than women;
so ihe north could send into the field J 100,090
men and still nave at home a percentage of
inen equal to that of the south in peace Of
tiie enormous immigration of 184.V61, con
sisting largely of young and strong men, only
3 per cent, had located in the south This
explains the paradox that such states as Kan
sas and Nevada sent a larger per cent of
their total population into tho field than anv
state of the south, aud yet had many more
men left at home than older states ever have
during the longest peace The disparity in
wealth was far greater—by some estimates
four times ius gre it. Without accepting so
strong a statement it may vet t>e admitted
that the Fedej-als were turej times us numer
oils and eigtit times as rich as the Uoilfeder
at os.
“the lost cause.”
The Confederacy Overthrown—T venty-flye
Years In I’eitce.
Nevertheless hope and confidence were
strong. President Davis’ first sttila papers
showed grout ability, an I lie assented, some
what reluctantly, to a conscription law.
which was among the first nets passed by the
congress. It excited much opposition, of
course, aud a little 15.ter (lie haix-as corpus
was suspended in a district ten md.w around
Richmond, an ! n military police organized
under Gen Winder, whicii continued during
the remainder of the war The summer
closed favorably to the Confederates though
they regained little or none of the ground
lost m (he spring, and in Lecend>er Presi
(lent Davis m?i ie a tour of the we.-tern
camps, from which he returned greatly en
(^ou raged In April, iS*>; h- issued a rather
exulting address to the people, but tn -
claims in it were just The Confederacy was
then at its maximum as a military power
The disasters of that summer from Gettys
burg to Vicksburg ntas 1 uot tie detailed
The year closed under the black shadow...'
coming doom
The reui greatness of Jefferson Davis about
conspicuously as disasters thickened He
resolutely defended tiis appointees, and as
sur led tiie respoiiMibility wli“iwer it was not
clearly tli. irs tie regained :he hearts of
ihe people and almost nuiliiled the opposition
i the congress Acm mnttee ..f investi-’ft
>*'■' ‘ tin m i;.. w»ri: in a hostile spirit
nri«« i idorsi:,; u I most -very one oi
(he president s acts, an i even exonerated
him from serious blame in the ma&.y.'
of Com i nissary Northrop He siciie?
oiinsclf ht-roioally in preparing fot tie
campaign of isfti ami i> o|«cned *vi n
some alighi successes All tiie rest of the
year presents a painful record of desperate
struggle against the inevitable eve,ry “ic
tory was barren every defeat irremediable
As the ship of state sank deeper in the vortex,
mutual recriminations naturally multiplied
The removal of Joe Johnston, the enterprise
of Hoisl und the restoration of Johnston the
‘slielving ’ of Beauregard and the tireax «itti
Governor Brown, of Georgia there is not
space to discuss them. Are they not argued
and reargued nt length in tiie magazines?
(Jen Hood came nobly to the rescue tsv as
suming full responsibility and Governor
Brown was so far reconciled as to cease -eri
•ms opposition.
FLIGHT AND CAPTURE.
The wild projects m the t’s»ii*c.(er(9te (-.'>n
rrcss in the winter of 1894-’5 were tint the
ficn/aes of dissolution nnd despair Military
movements really decided everything aud iu
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
[From a recent |x>rtrait |
them fhis fact was ev.*r prominent: A man
ist tiy Grant could be replaced if desired by
ice, a limn lost by was a final loss.
i the 2d of April. 1395, seated in his pew
.* i it. F'aul’s church, Richmond, President
jvis received the dispatch from Gen I-ee
inouncuig iiis complete discomfiture. At 3
m. the president, cabinet and other ofii
-,ls lefi for Danville, at which point Presi
ent Davis issued his last proclamation, his
■st -.tate paper. Ten days later he was at
reeusboro, N C., a week later he haltcl at
narlotle, where he first lenrneil that 4>199.-
iXXJ reward bail lieen offered for his capture
as uu instigator of tiie assassination of Presi
dent Lincoln. All men now admit that the
charge was false.
Another week found him almost alone, a
fugitive in the forests of Georgia, with liis
wife ami a few devoted adherents. On the
10th of May no was raptured neur Irwins
ville, Gu., by a bo.v >f cavalry under l.ieut.
• Cot. Pritchard. “Mr. Davis,” suys one of his
•aptors, “had on when arrested an ordinary
suit, with a very long raglan overcoat and i
shawl on his shoulders.” In the dim light <>f
morning ho was at first taken for u woman,
hence the story so widely published. He was
conveyed at once to Fortress Monroe, which
he entered on Uie l'Jth of May, to remain a
captive for nearly two years.
And so all was over. The Southern Con
federacy bad dropped to pieces like a house
of cards, and its president, once the beloved
colouel, the honored senator, (he Federal sec
retary of war, the successful statesman and
aspiring politician, was u prisoner—in irons!
Vas, all that was bright and hopeful was
gone; nothing now remumed but to hang tiie
prisoner, as nad been so often promised; to
write his history so ns to fix his name in in
famy, ami iu no long lime his own people
would disown him as the cause of their woes.
All this, in tne opinion of many sanguine
ones, was soon lo tie. Only it did not prove so.
Tiie-world was now to witness another of
those revulsions in popular feeling which so
often delight tiie cmol i mal und puzzle ii.o
philosophic. At sight, of this sorely stricken
man uii southern c: iticism was instantly
hushed, and in due time thougius of some
thing i,*r uobler than vengeance pervaded
tiie uoriu. Mr Davis bore his sufferings
with such Roman fortitude that southern
Uearts were knitted to him as never before.
His critics apologized, eveu wlieu ti um »; s
on their side. His w ife shared Ins captivity
nnd excited the world’s interest in bis ease.
His first wife, daughter of Gen. Tuyior, hud
died many years t-iefore.but tbeone w liomliuh i
his fortunes as official and us captive aas
a lady of rtfinement and intellect worthv of
any station. His oldest and most iuvetei tie
oiiidineiits were first to soften, tiie Atiolitioii
ists asked clemency, and in May, 1897 i re
the United States circuit court al lUclnn d,
Horace Greeley ami Gcrritt Snnili joi. ed
with many southern men in signing his ill
bond. He had been formally indicted 'or
Ucuson, but, m December, lsti», by tbesjime
court, a nolle jirosequi was entered, and the
case of “The United States y.s Jcli'ei "ii
Davis” was cndi d forever and to the sal iso. o*
lion of almost every American.
RETIREMENT A.Nb A qt lEF LIFE.
After a brief four in Europe he loomed at
Memphis as president of a lde iusu.amecni
pany. but soon re- —. (Mjv
l li-ej to private life,
to emerge only nt
long intervals, each %
time to receive re- . '7
lie wed expi'cs.-ioiis J
of affection aud g x X
sympathy A tsv "TL,
quest by a southern jßp£g7
lady gave him a
Beauvoir, Miss..on
'■'u If "The loss' of
ms son. a manly N -
geutl an. bv vel W,NN,K ~AV,S'
low fever at Mem Tl ”' ni,M ,h "
I »nis, was h severe
blow, but his wife and two *iaiigh-.t>rs re
mained to It mi Of tlase the younger,
Varum Davis, affection ilely known as R m
uie. is styled “ I’he ( 'hii*i of tii(*l 'oiifisierni-v '*
having been tsiru iu the pre.Mdeii:ial umnsioii
in Richmond during the war She h.-is in;* -
shown jliterury übiiiry o a tngli order, and
may vet rank among the noted authore-si*- of
America J li Blague.
Annie Ptishkiti. the grainidtiugliter of Uie
cclelirated Russian poet, is now confined ill
t-lie dreaded prison of St Peter and St. Paul
at St. Petersburg on u charge of complicity
m a Nihilistic cuiispiracy