The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-06

A ISLANDER REFrTEp--TuE Ex-FREsIDENTs
OWN ACCOUNT or HIS MARRIAGE.
An extract from letter In the ST. Louis
Globe Democrat containing n chapter OF
gossip about the early lie OF Mr.. Jefferson
Davis has been going the rounds OF the
northern and western press. II not only
makes him out brawler and gambler,
but states that his marriage was a runaway
match, and that his father-in-law, General
Taylor, was his bitter enemy until after
the "gallant charge OF the son-in-law at
Monterey, How utterly untrue all this
Is will appear from the following, which
has lust been published over the signature
"R.' in the same paper:
The attention OF Mr.. Davis having been
called TO that gossip, he thought proper to
send 10 an old personal friend private
letter, from which the writer OF this CON-
munication takes the liberty, without con-
sultation with him, TO give some extracts,
as furnishing the most authentic dIsproof
of The incidents to which the letters OF
johannes Faciotum relate in the early
life OF the chief Of the late Southern Con-
federaey.
Mr.. Davis says OF the letter OF Decem-
Der ?, 1882, that "cvery incident 1t relates
TO is totally destitute OF the least founda-
ton in truth" Tint letter placed him at
Prairie du Chen In 1894. and he continues !:
Il was then serving in the First dra-
yoons, United States Army, west OF Ar
kansas. The letter describes Inc as en-
gagged In playing game OF draw
Doker-a game which, so far as / know,
did not then exist, and OF which i have
never learned even the first rules. No oili-
GERS OF the names given belonged to the
First infantry when | served in II, and l
never knew the John Lorraine 1t describes.
There was 10 officer OF the name OF Harrl-
son who ever served'with Inc at Prairie du
Chen, and / had no such difficulties as
those the letter details with any one. While
was on duty at Dubuque my orders re-
quired he frequently to 90 to Galena. The
son OF the hotel-keeper, Reading Bennet,
was well known TO me, and II he were
living would promptly brand the statement
OF the letter, so fur as he and are concern
ed. as n falsellOod. The truth il, never
drank nor gambled. and any one who ever
served with me would probably say that In
my youth was oyernilling to fight.
"Tbe story OF the elopemcnt with Gene
raj Taylor's daughter Is as unfounded rs
the rest. / was one Of the two officers Sc
lected from the First infantry for promo
ton in the new regiment OF dragons or
ganized in March, 1888, which separated
me from Colonel Taylor's regiment. In
1895 l went TO Kentucky, where Miss Tay-
lor was with her fathers sister, near Louis
vile, and there married her in the presence
of General Taylor's brother, sister, his SON.
in-law and daughter Or. and Mrs. Wood,
with many other members Of the Taylor
family. 1 served under General formerly
Colonel Zachary Taylor in the siege Of
Monterey, and was one OF his commissions
ers to arrange for its capitulation. This
fact sufficiently explodes the scene de-
scribed as occurring at Buena Vista"
This statement OF Mr.. Davis does efiec-
tuaIly dispose OF the oft-repeated tale OF
General Taylor's il-feeling toward him and
their reconciliation on the battlefield OF
Buena Vista; that brilliant victory, toward
which the then Colonel Jefferson Davis 30
ably and galIantly contributed, was gained
several months after the capituation Of
Monterey, and what is thus lost to the
quasi 'romance of history" will be gain
to the accuracy OF biography which will
always be OF interest to all students OF the
true history OF the great American civil
WGr