The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-12-12

No dark sibyl hailed them at their birth a.
the coming exponents of an awful struggle.
No prophet would have dared predict In the
days of their prominence that the rugged
Lincoln was soon to fall, while the defeated,
an invalid during a third of his life, would
survive his great antagonist for a quarter OF
a century, OUTLYING all the actors Of his age
in the great struggle, yet such was to be the
irony of fate. History presents many para
doxes, but none greater than this: that the
victor should fall in the very hour of victory
and the defeated live till almost every trace
of the conflict had vanished, to die OF mere
old age.
The ancestors of jefferson Davis were Of
pure English stock, but so long resident in
America that the type had become thorough
ly southern American. On both sides they
served in the war for American independ.
ence, his father, Samuel Davis winning
some distinction in the mounted troops Of
Georgia OF his two sons, Jefferson early be-
came soldier, while Joseph, a man Of talent,
scarcely, if at all, inferior, gained a local
success as lawyer and planter in Mississippi
The brothers were notably affectionate In
childhood, and remained through life devoted
to each other.
Soon after the birth of Jefferson, Samuel
Davis removed to Mississippi, locating near
Woodville, in Wilkinson county. The sons
there acquired an unusually good English
education for the time, and at an early age
Jefferson entered Transylvania college, Ken
lucky. In 1924, however, President Monroe
appointed him cadet at West Point, whence
be was graduated in 1928, at the early age Of
20. He had stood high in his class, and at
once entered on active duty, though for some
time commissioned only as brevet second
lieutenant. Promotion was very slow In those
peaceful times, but he soon won his full COM
~, <lov
strated his organizing capacity, both as In
fantry and staff officer on the northwestern
frontier.
The year 1881 brought surprise and many
promotions Black Hawk entered ON his ia
nous campaign, and Jefferson Davis was at
once given an active and responsible position
to muster in and organize the new recruits.
There has long been tradition that In this
capacity he mustered in the company Of ILL
nois volunteers from New Salem and vicinity
commanded by Capt. Abraham Lincoln, but
| there Is no record of it.
| CAMPAIGNS AGAINST THE INDIANS.
Early in 1888 Lieut.. Davis was transferred
| from his place in Company B, First United
| States infantry, and in recognition Of his
| services in the Black Hawk war was promo
ted to first lieutenancy in the First United
States dragons, of which command he wa
soon made adjutant. In this position hs
1
| organizer and efficient administrator In gar
| rison life, but in several active campaign
against the Comanches, Pawnees and othes
| Indians. And it is at this stage Of his career
that active, one might say acrid, criticism
first concerns itself with Jefferson Davis
Those writers who persist In attributing the
| downfall of the Southern Confederacy te
| President Davis allege that thus early he ex
hibited the same faults and virtues which
marked his administration In greater and
greater degree with each successive increasl
Of rank and power. The greatest fault al
| legged, perhaps, is unreasonable attachment
to few friends and corresponding prejudic>
against other persons.
It was while in this service that Lieut. Da
| Wis wooed and won daughter Of the eminent
! general and president, Zachary Taylor. He.
| father was in command Of Fort Crawford
near Prairie Du Chen, and his daughter, I
beautiful and refined young lady, was th.
center of attraction among the subordinate
officers Innumerable are the romantic seo
ries Of their rivalries the final success Of Lieut.
Davis, the bitter opposition Of the ''ster1
parent, and old Indian fighter. and the fina
departure by night of the young couple t,
be married by priest on the western bank o