Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1861-03-13
SKETCH OF THE HON. JEFF. DA.
Wis, PRESIDENT or THE tsSOUTH-
ERN REPUBLIC.n

IL
ed with stirring and cventful incident.
than Jefferson Davis. A native o.
Kentucky, born about 1906, he went
in early youth with his father to Mis-
sissippi, then u territory and was ap
pointed by President Monroe in 1885,
to be cadet at West Point. HI
graduated with the first honors ir
1928 as Brcvct Second Lieutenant
and at his own request was placed il
active service, being assigned to the
command of General (thcn Colonel
Zachary Taylor, who was stationed
in the west. In the frontier wars Of
the time young Davis distinguished
himself in such manner that when 3
new regiment of dragons was formed
he at once obtained commission as
first Lieutenant. During this time :
romantic attachment sprang up be-
tween him and his prisoner, the ia
nous chief Black Hawk, in which tho
latter forgot his animosity to the peo
|ple Of the United States in his admir-
alton for Lieutenant Davis, and moi
until his death was the bond Of amity
severed between these two great men
In 1886 he settled quietly down
upon a cotton plantation, deyotine
himself to a thorough and scientific
course of political and scientific cdu.
cation. He was married to a daugh,
er of Gen. Taylor.
In 1843 he took the stump for Polk
and in ls45, having attracted no little
attention In his state by his yigor and
ability, lie was elected to Congress.
Ten days after he made his maiden
speech. Soon the Mexican war broke
out, and a regiment OF volunteers
having been formed in Mississippi
and himself chosen Colonel, he resign
ed his post in Congress, and instantl,
repaired with his command to joi1
the corps d'ar,aie under Gen. Taylor
AT Monterey and Buena Vista he and
his noble regiment achieved the sol
dier's highest fame. Twice by hi:
GOODNESS he saved the day at Buens
Vista. Wherever fire was hottest
or danger to be encountered, there
Col. Davis and the Mississippi rifles
were to be found. He was badly
wounded in the early part of the &C
ton, but sat on his horse steadily til
the day was won, and refused to dele
gate even a portion of his duties tc
his subordinate officers.
In 184s he was appointed to fill the
vacancy in the Senate of the U. S
occasioned by the death Of Genera
|Spcight, and in 1850 was elected te
that body almost unanimously for 8
term Of eight years.
In 1851 he resigned his seat in tho
Senate to become the State right,
candidate for Governor, but was de.
feated by Governor Foote.
In 1858 he was called to scat in
the Cabinet Of President Pierce, and
was Secretary of War during his ad
ministration. In. 1857 he was elected
United States Senator from Missisir.
pi for the term Of six years, which
Office he held until his resignation OF
the secession of Mississippi from the
Union.
Personally, he is the last man who
would be selected as a <s6re-eater.'
He is prim, smooth looking man
with precise manner, a stiff soldier
y carriage, and an austerity that is al
first forbidding. He has naturally
however, a genial temper, companion
able qualities, and disposition thai
endears him to all by whom he ma,
be surrounded. AS speaker, he :.
clear, torcible and augmentative; hi.
voice is clear and firm, without trcm
or, and he is one in every way ftte6
or the distinguished post to which he
has been called.-Yerdld