The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-14


iscences OF the Youth OF Mrs. Dorsey, his
step-Daughter.
The Netc York San.
Mrs. Sarah A. Dorsey, OF Bcauvoir,
Mississippi, has bequeathed her large es.
tate to Jefferson Davis. The will is as
follows:
BEAUvoIR, HARRISON Co., Miss,
January 4, 1878.
I, Sarah Anne Dorsey. of Tensas Par
risll, La, being aware of the uncertain
ty Of life, and being now in sound health
of mind and body, do make this my last
will and testament which l write, sign
and seal with my own hand, in the pres
ence of three competent witnesses, rs
possess property in the States of Lou
isiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. owe no
obligation of any sort whatever to any
relative of my own; have done all l
could for them during my life. I, there
fore, give and bequeath all my property
real, personal and mixed, wherever loca.
ted and situated, wholly and entirely
without hindrance or qualification, to my
most honored and esteemed friend, JEFF
ferson Davis, ex-President of the Con-
federate States, for his own sole use and
benefit, in fee simple, forever; and l
hereby constitute him my sole heir, ex-
ecutor and administrator. If Jefferson
Davis should not survive me, I give all
that l have bequeathed him to his young
est daughter, Varina. / do not intend
to share in the ingratitude of my coun-
try toward the man who is, in my eyes,
the highest and noblest in existence.
In testimony whereof sign this will,
written With my own hand, in the pres
ence Of w. l.. Walthall, f. S. Hewes,
and John G. Craig, subscribing witnesses,
residents in Harrison County, Miss
SARAH ANNE DORSEY.
The will was probated in the Second
District Court of New Orleans, on July
18th, and that act is deemed to be no.
tce that he intends to accept the be-
quest, to the exclusion Of the natural
heirs. Mr.. Davis lad accordingly enter
ed into possession of Beauvoir, Mrs. Dor
sey's beautiful home OH the shore OF the
Gulf of Mexico, of the plantations at
Elk Ridge and Elliston, in Louisiana
and of her other property, the whole rep
rescnting fortune of quarter of mil
lion of dollars. Under the laws of the
State Of Louisiana, land the laws of Mie-
sissippi are similar the beneficiaries un-
der will enter upon the property be-
queathed as soon as the viii is proved to
he the last will of the e. ID person. If a
contest follows, the eau 9 must be tried at q
Circuit Court before q jury, and if the
will is set aside in favor Of other heirs
those who have had the benefit of the
property in the meantime must account
for its rents and profits.
Col. s. Percy Ellis, Of Brooklyn, the
brother of Mrs. Sarah A. Dorsey, has
received copy of the above will, sent to
him by Jefferson Davis, with an accom-
panying letter, which does not contain
any intimation that Mr.. Davis does not
intend to fully enjoy all of the property
which the various neglected relatives oi
b1rs. Dorsey confidently expected would
be divided among them. Col. Ellis has
fully determined upon a contest of the
will, which will be begun so as to gel
the case before the fall Circuit of the
Louisiana Supreme Court if possible
hlr. Ellis, his sister. Mrs. Inez Peckhani
his sister-in-law, Mrs. Appaline Ellis, Of
Philadelphia, and his half brother, who
will all appear as contestants, are unable
to meet the expenses of contest, as they
have all suffered a reverse of fortune be.
cause of the war; but it is expected that
they will be able to secure some lawyer
who will take the case on contingent
fee. SO that the contest will not be DELAY.
ed. MIR. Ellis is engaged in the prelimi-
nary work of the contest. He is deter.
mined to prevent Jefferson Davis from
entering upon the peaceful possession OF
the inheritance, to share of which he
believes his children are entitled, rs they
had been selected by DIR. Dorsey before
his death to receive some Of the prop.
erty from Mrs. Dorscy's hands.
Mrs. Dorsey's stepiather YVES the well
known rebel Gen. Charles G.. Dahlgren
to whom she was indebted for her excel.
lent education, rs Gen. Dahlgren took au
intense pride in her career up to the time
of her marriage, and bestowed money
freely upon her. Gen. Charles G. Dahl.
gren, who is the brother of the late Rear
Admiral Dahlgren, the inventor of the
Dahlgren gun, is also resident ol
Brooklyn. He was q General in com.
| mand of the Confederate army in Missis.
| sippi and had charge of the Notifications ol
Vicksburg, but as he differed with JeGer.
son Davis about the conduct of the war
| he was removed from that command and
afterward lie joined the army of the Ten.
| nessee under Gen. Bragg. Gen Dahlgren
was -four yesterday in his Office at III
Broadway, where he is now q lawyer
having in his time been sailor, soldier
banker, planter, civil engineer, and rail
road builder. He is tall and gray, ant
although now nearly 20 years Of ;ge
possesses powerful frame, steady step
and n clear eye. Perhaps no man ir
New York Ia moro rich in reminiscence
and can at the pane time make the story
of what he has seen and experienced
more interesting. Gen. Dahlgren has &
deep, long scar on both sides of his left
hand, where in fighting n duel will
bowie knives he clasped the keen edge
of his antagonists weapon to prevent 6
thrust into his bowels, and held il sc
hard that the blade cut through his hant
! and 5oTeTea h;s i;ttttio finger. I.s carrie;
two pistol balls, received in Gr.ls. in hi:
body, one lodging against his ribs. Two
other balls, fired to kill him, have been
removed by surgeons. On top of hi.
head, toward the left side, is scar made
by bowie knife, and on the left side
beneath the scalp is the broken tip of Q
bowie knife, which is fastened into the
skull bone, and was left here in desper
ate duel. When the memories of the
girlhood Of Mrs. Sarah Dorsey crowded
upon him, as he told of her life, Gen
Dahlgren's eyes filled with tears, and he
stopped at times in his story to stay his
emotion.
''The Ellis family" said Gen. Dahl.
gren, comes down from Capt. Percy
an English captain, who came over tt
Quebec early in the history of this coun,
try, and while here took advantage of the
grants Of land his country was making