The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1883-01-13
JET. DayiS's Early Life.
THE STORY OF HIS MARRIAGE AS
TOLD BY HIMSELF.
Editor GlObe.Democrat: :

Editor GlObe.DemOcrat:
Galena, December 26, 1882. On
the 2nd inst. your correspondent
sent to the Globe-DemOcrat a let.
ter in which were recOunted some
"reminiscences relating to the early
life of Jefferson Davis, President
of the late Southern Confederacy.
The incidents detailed related to
an alleged game of cards at the
military post of Prairie du Chen
in 1884, during which Davis was
slapped in the face by one Lieuten-
ant Harris, a member of the party,
who had discovered the former in
the act of cheating, and that Da-
Wis had failnd to resent the insult
also, that Mr.. Davis had eloped
with Gen. Taylor's daughter, and
that the couple were married in
Galena by b. Mccormick, at that
time magistrate of this city and
duly ordained Methodist minis
ter. The statements set forth in
said letter to the Glohe-Democrat
were made upon the authority of
John Lorain, Esq, an old settler
ofthis city and, early in the '30s,
Assistant Paymaster of the Hud.
son Bay Company, with headquar-
ters at Prarie du Chine. They
were written substantially as rela-
ted, without however the slightest
change in detail. Since the publ.
cation of my letter Capt. w. A,
Warren, of Bellevue, Ia, who was
alleged to have been one of the
card party alluded to, has in card
to the Bellevue Leader the editor
OF which wrote and published in
his paper almost simultaneously
with its appearance in the Globe
Democrat, the story of the IIar.
ris insultl, denies the assertion
that Mr. Davis was the person in.
suited by Harris, stating that ii
was one Gwin, an officer of the
army and a gentleman of high
character, who did not challenge
Harris because of the fact that
he (Harris) was much his in
ferior in point of social standing
and he therefore did not wish tC
put himself on an equality with
him by so doing. Capt. Warren
also in his letter to the Bellevue
leader, takes occasion to express
1t as his opinion that the story oi
Davis's elopement with Miss Tay
lor and subsequent marriage al
Galena is unfounded in fact.
My letter to the Globe-Democrat
has also raised up q champion OF
Jefferson Davis honor in the per
son of Gen. George w, Jones, Of
Dubuque, who in a letter to DR.
g. w. Hampstead, a former Gale
nian, Indignantly denies the state
ment made in my letter, and indul
gesin no little yituperation Of your
correspondent for having SANDER
ed the once good name of Mr.. Da
Wis, with whom he (Jones has
"been on the most intimate term;
of confidence and friendship fol-
upwards of sixty years."
In view, therefore, of the denials
Of Capt. Warren and Gen. Jones
and the further fact that Mr.. Lor
rain claims to have received th,
stories about Mr.. Davis from Sc
cond hands, and having failed to
substantiate either by researches,
am of the opinion that the Incl
dents related by me were not based
upon fact, and that my letter did
Mr.. Davis great injustice. This
no one deprecates more than my
self. Not only because of the in.
jury done Mr.. Davis, but for the
further reason that the Globe.
Democrat was made the avenue
through which the statements In
my letter were disseminated. That
my informant, Mr.. Lorrain freely
believed them, | do not entertain
the slightest doubt. He is a gen.
tleman of the highers integrity of
character. and an old aud highly
honored citizen of Galena. whose
word in matters of early history
in the Northwest has long been
regarded as law.
Later.-Since writing the above
the followingcorrespondence re
lating to the Davis card party and
marriage "reminiscences have been
placed in my hands:
Prairie Du Chen, December 2S
1S32.-My Dear Capt. Girdou
have had your favor of the 14ti
inst. several days, but could moi
reply, as | was laid up with neural
gia.
Judge Ira. b. Bronson had til,
kindness to giyethe inclosed abou
Lieut.. Harris, which is no doubf
correct as TO his leaving here il
1880, under the circumstance
named as to his death.
| do not believe the charges
Il IL