The Republican journal., 1869-06-03
MARRIAGE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.

| 'AN' ~
son Davis Of Mississippi late President of
the Confederate States Of America, was first
married to a daughter Of the lamcnted Zach
airy Taylor. who was elected President of the
United States in 1913. Much less are the pc
cuar incidents and romantic circumstances
attending Mr.. Davis marriage to Miss Sarah
Knox Taylor known to the world propose
to make up this chapter of history.
During the ''Black Hawk War more
than a third Of century ago, Col. Taylor
commanded Fort Crawford, at Prairie Du
Chen, Wis, (then Mchigan), and his family
were with him. Jefferson Davis, then a
Young graduate of West Point, bearing q
lieutenant's commission in the regular army
was also under orders at the same fort. Hand
some, brave and chivalous by nature, and
possessing all the suayity, ease, and grace
which thorough intellectual culture and the
most refined society confers it is not strange
that his heart became the target for very
many of Cupids seldom crrin9 arrows. One
of those arrows, being directed by a glance
Of Miss Tay lors flashing eyes. hit the mark, =
and it so happened that Miss KnoN's heart
went with the missile, and that the two hearts
became indissolubly connected. Col. Taylor,
looking with distavor upon the situation, re
solved to break the alliance, and accordingly
directed his servant to say to Knox, as he al
ways called his daughter, that he wished to
see her in the parlor. She came and the fol-
lowing conversation ensued:
"knoN, what can possibly be the object of
Lieutenant Davis in visiting this house so
trequently?'
Il cannot imagine, father, unless it is to
see and talk with me-"
''You surely do not encourage his visits. =
"Why not? Lieutenant Davis is handsome,
Il generous. refined, and courageous Young
ladies usually feel themselves cOmplimented
by the attentions Of such gentlemen"
''This will never do-nerer TO, Knox. |
must forbid him the house,
"Why, Father! what possible objections
have you to Lieutenant Davis"
HE is all that you claim for him, head
strong. Should you become his wife, YOU
will be left q widow after his first battle In
truth, there is no telling to what sad fate that
young mans rash impetuosity will lead him.
II will not dot will ncrer do"
Without awaiting an answer or word, Col.
Taylor stode rapidly away in his military
boots, with the imperious air of one whose
word was law, leaving Miss Knox to her
tears, md Il ecom01's resolres.
Lieut.. Davis received an intimation suffi-
ciently pointed to enable him to understand
that his presence at Colonel Taylor's could
be dispensed with. Nothing of unusual in
terest occurred during the succeeding month,
full and accomplished daughter declined rap
idly, the fell destroyer. consumption, had
marked her as another victim, whilst the
young lieutenant became so quick-tempered
and irritable that if any one dared even to
regret that Miss Taylor was not looking so
well as usual. coffee and pistols for two We're
likely to be called for. A denouement came.
however, rs 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 slrmbcrs. BY q strange coincidence he
had been dreaming of wild Jen''' upon his
noble steed with Knox so gracefully sitting
on her bloodcd pony, running the gauntlet
Of scalpng knives, tomallawks, and poisoned
arrows. Being awakened, he demanded to
know why he had been disturbed at 50 unrea-
sonabe an hour.
aye, aye, sir-it's only Patrick after com
ing to till yer honor that Miss Knoxs darlint
Of The 1stable, brttdIsd ant st t. 2a'd;lled HihEs6l E6l
and set out on a race with the wild winds, if
sc Judge by the wide apart prints of his
hoots that he was afther LAWN hchint him.
sir, and Miss Knox hcrsilt, sir must have fash
tened hersllf in the b0nnet-hoN in her room
for sure Biddy, the girl, and Sally, the nagur
watched time about, both at once, after see
she's not in there, sir, and"
>'Silence,' roarcd the colonel
I "Iis, yis, your sarvant," cried Pat, placing
his ear to the key-holc.
'Can you tell me, Patrick" said the colo
mel, whether Lieutenant Davis horse is in
the stall? ?" said the colonel, at the same time
stepping to the door
He is not. sir, and his sarvant protists its
q red skin as rode him away. Sure there
not another rider this side the ould dart would
get such jumps from a horse as the lieuten-
ants made when he was LAWN, and that ye
can know be measuring the space 'twiXt his
tracks"
'Well, well, Patrick, 90 now
Away went the anxious Hibernian in eager
search for further light touching the mysteri-
Gus occurrences of the night. The faithful
Patrick, wild with excitement, and trembling
with apprehension regarding the safety of the
''darlint Miss Knox" as well as for the we'll
being Of his favorite lieutenant, passed hur-
riedly from place to place. and by his highly
agitated manner spreading serious alarm. as
a contagion in the tropics so that when the co
lionel, little later, reached his front door, cit
liens We're approaching from every direction,
and his practiced eye discovered that the
whole garrison was in commotion, as if mo-
mentarily expecting to be led fo,th by him to
the rescue of his beloved daughter and the
young lieutenant who were supposed to have
been captured by the hated ''red-skns." The
general excitement was greatly augmented
half an hour afterwards, by the discovery that
Lieut.. George Wilson (brother of Hon. Thos.
l.. Wilson, of Dubuque, Iowa), and Miss
Street, daughter of General Street, We're also
among the missing The opinion prevails
generally that the four young friends had been
captured and scalped, as it was not to be sup
posed that even the courage ofthosc galantand
chivalrous young officers could permit them
to pass, especially with ladies, beyond the
picket line. Hence at an early hour, the good
French pioneers Of the prairie came from eve
~ direction mounted on their flectest ponies,
and armed with guns, pistols, butcher knives,
etc, while the women wept in anguish over
the loss of their favorites of the fort. In the
midst of all this confusion. and before Colo
mel Taylor had quite decided upon the precise
course proper to be pursued, an old pioneer,
more calm and seh-possessed than the great
mass about him. described, far overthe prairie
two gentlemen and two ladies on horseback
approaching the fort with, apparently, posi-
Bile speed Attention being called to the joy
Gus sight, and all divining that they were the
missing lieutenants and ladies who, by special
interposition of Providence. must have escap-