The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-05-26
MARRIAGE OF JEFFERSON
DAVIS. a.i

MARRIAGE OF JEFFERSON
DAVIS.
BIZ HUMANITY, JR.
Ttlmayn not be generally known that
JEFF: Davis, of Mississippi, late Presi-
dent of the Confederate States OF
America, was first married to a
daughter of the lamented Zachary
Taylor, who was elected President of
the United States in 1S4S. Much less
are the peculiar incidents and roman
tic circumstances attending Mr..
Davis's marriage to Miss Sarah Knox
Taylor known to the world. I pro-
lpose to make up this chapter of his
tory.
| During the "Black Hawk War"
more than third of a century ago,
| Col. Taylor commanded Fort Craw-
ford, at Prairie Du Chen, Wisconsin,
(then Michigan), and his family was
with him. Jefferson Davis, then a
young graduate of West Point, bear
ing leutenant's commission in the
regular army, was under orders at the
same fort. Handsome, brave, and
chivalous by nature, and possessing
all the suavity, ease, and grace which
through intellectual culture and the
most refined society confers, it was
not strange that his heart became the
target for very many of Cupid's sell
dom erring arrows. One of those ar
rows, being directed by glance of
Miss Knox Taylor's flashing eyes, shit
the mark" and it so happened that
Miss Knox Taylor's heart went with
it, and that the two hearts became in
dissolubly connected. Col Taylor,
looking with disfavor upon the situa-
ton, resolved to break the alliance,
and accordingly directed his servant
to say to Knox, as he always called
his daughter, that he wished to see
her in the parlor. She came, and
the following conversation ensued:
"Knox, what can possibly be the
object of Lieutenant Davis in visiting
this house so frequently%
81 cannot imagine, father, unless it
is to see and talk with me-"
"You surely do not encourage his
"Why not? Lieutenant Davis is
handsome, generous, refined, and cour-
ageous. Young ladies usually feel
themselves complimented by the at
tentions of such gentlemen"
'This will never do-neper do,
Knox. I must forbid him the house"
"Why, father what possible OBJ
lection have you to Lieutenant
Davis ?"
"He is all that you claim for him,
my daughter, but he is too headlong
and headstrong. Should you become
his wife, you will be left widow after
his first battle. In truth, there is no
telling to what sad fate that young
mans rash impetuosity will lead HIM.
1t will not do it will neuer do"
Without awaiting an answer or
word, Col Taylor strobe rapidly away
in his military boots, with the imperi-
Gus air of one whose word was law,
leaving Miss Knox to her tears, and a
,Uoman's resolves.
Lieut.. Davis received an intimation
sufficiently pointed to enable him to
understand that his presence at Col.
Taylor's could be dispensed with.
Nothing of unusual interest occurred
during the succeeding month, except
that the health of the ColonePs beau
tiful and accomplished daughtar de-
clined rapidly, and it came to be SER
iously feared that the fell destroyer,
consumption, had marked her as an
other victim, while the young Lieu
tenant became so quick tempered and
irritable that if any one dared even to
regret that Miss Taylor was not look
ing so well as usual, coffee and pistols
for two were likely to be called for. A
denoueMent came, however, as usual
in all strategic movements either in
love or war.
One bright morning, ere the early
bee had gone forth to gather his sweets
from flower and field. Colonel Taylor
was aroused from his slumbers. By
a strange coincidence he had been
dreaming of "Wild JEFF upon his no
BILE steed, with Knox so gracefully
sitting on her blooded pony, running
the gauntlet of scalpiDg knives, toma-
hawks, and poisoned arrows. Being
awakened, he demanded to know why
he had been disturbed at so unreaona-
Bile an hour.
"Aye, aye, sir-it's only Patrick
after coming to tell yer honor that
Miss Knex's darlint pony has gone
out through the kay (key) of the sta
BILE, bridled and saddled himself, and
set out on race with the wild winds,
if we judge by the wide apart prints of
his hoofs that he was after LAWN be
hind him, sir, and Miss Knox herself,
sir, must have fastened herself in the
bonnet box in her SOON, for sure Bid
dy, the girl, and Sally, the nagur,
watched time about, both at once, af-
ter seeing her to retire, and she didn't
get out, and she's not in there, sir,
and"
"Silence !" roared the Colonel.
"Yis,>yis, your sarvent," cried Pat,
placing his ear to the key-hole.
''Can you tell me, Patrick" said the
Colonel, <whether Lieutenant Davis
horse is in his stall ?" the Colonel at
the same time stepping to the door.
ssHe is not, sir, and his sarvent pro-
lists it's a red-skin has rode him away.
Sure there's not another rider this side
of the dart would get such jump