Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1865-06-08
Sketch Of the Captive Rebel Lead
ers JEFF. Davis.


Jeff Davis was born in Kentucky,
June 8, 1903. He was the son of James
Davis, noted horse trader, Of Hopkins
Vile, Kentucky. The father fell under
suspicion as horse thief, and was
forced to fly from Kentucky, and settled,
| when Jeff. was very young, near Vicks-
burg Miss He was able, few years
after his removal, to send his gen JEFF
to Kentucky to complete his education
at the Transylvania University, Lexing-
ton, and subsequently through the in
huence of his money, secured for him an
appointment to West Point, which young
JEFF. entered at sixteen, forming part Of
the graduating class Of 1928. He grad
uated near the foot of the class, and
was commissioned in the First infantry
as brevet second lieutenant. the lowest
rank that could be given him. He was
sent to Florida, and served very credit
ably with Zack. Taylor, in the Black
Hawk War, for which he got commits
sion as first lieutenant in the First dra~
goons. In 1882 he offended Gen. Tay-
lor by running away with and marrying
his daughter. and the old General never
recognized Davis until they happened to
meet on the battle field of Buena Vista,
Mexico. In 1885, Davis, having resign
ed his commission, settled near Vicks-
burg, and entered upon the arena of
politics, in which he was SO successful as
to be elected to the lower house of Com
gress.
When the Mexican war broke out
Davis raised and commanded the First
regiment of Mississippi rifles. The only
significant feature in his career was tho
fact that he declined commission as
brigadier general of volunteers, on the
ground that such an appointment by the
Federal Executive was a violation Of
State rights,
He re-entered political life in 1s47.
having been appointed by the Governor
Of Mississippi to Eli vacancy in the Uni
ted States Senate by the death of Mr..
Speigbt. At the ensuing election, in
1848, be was elected to eli the term ex-
piring in 1851 On his return to Mis-
sissippi he became the State rights cal
didate for Governor, but was defeated by
Little Fidget Footo," his life time en-
emy, who is now lying in Ludlow street
jail in n Y. City. About the same
time he stumped the State for the pur-
pose of advocating the repudiation of tho
State debt and was subsequently hon
ored as the originator and prime mover
of the great swindle. In 1853 he was
called by Pierce to seat in his Cabinet
as Secretary of War. In 1857 he was
reelected United States Senator from
Mississippi, which he held until his res
ignation (January, 1861 on the seces-
sion of his State, During the Congress
sional vacation of 1860, Davis made
visit to the North, and examined into
the feeling which prevailed here at that
time. He became satisfied that strong
party at the North were willing to en-
trust the control of the government again
into the hands of Southern President,
and being ambitious for that position he
made several speeches here announcing
his intention to 60 home to Mississippi
and labor for the preservation Of the
Union. On his return he found that
other leaders had drawn the people into
the meshes Of secession, and with the
selfshness which has always characterize
ed him, he gave in his adherence to se-
cession and became the leader in the re-
bellion. He was chosen Provisional
President of the rebel confederation Of
States, February 4, 1861; was inaugu-
rated February 22, 1861, and reelected
in 1862 for the term Of six years, for
only half of which time he will be per-
mitted to act. His administration of
the affairs Of the rebellious States has
been marked by no great brilliancy or
judgement. He has been the Marplot
of almost every one of the rebel cam
paigns, and has done more by his OBJ
g stinacy, envy, jealousy and malice to de-
stroy the unity and effectivness of his
government and it's armies than any 9TH
or of It's leaders. Ifthe confederacy had
possessed leader less obstinate in the
pursuit of bad plans, less envious Of the
fame of his subordinates, and less quar-
relsome generally, it might have existed
few months longer.
There will be no difficulty whatever
, in conveying Davis and his party to
Washington. No armed bands of tho
enemy remain in force to aid him, and
there exists among his own people no
such love for the obstinate and selfish
old despot as will induce them to rise
en- auasse to his rescue He will be for
warded in hot haste to Washington. and
, be entered with the other criminals now
before the military court to be tried Tor
, the murder Of President Lincoln.