The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1889-12-13

winning some distinction in the mounted
troops of Georgia. OF his two sons, Jeffer-
son early became a soldier, while Joseph,
a man of talent, scarcely, If at all, inferior,
gained a local success as a lawyer and
planter in Mississippi. The brothers were
notably affectionate in childhood, aud re-
mained 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 TransyIvania College,
Kentucky. In 1924, however, President
Monroe appointed him a cadet at West
Point, where he was graduated in 1928, at
the early age of twenty. He had stood
high in his class, and at once entered On
active duty, though for some time COM
missioned only as a brevet second heuten-
ant Promotion was very slow in those
peaceful times, but he soon won his full
commission, and in the next three years
demonstrated his organizing capacity, both
as infantry and staff officer on the North
western frontier.
The year 1881 brought a surprise and
many promotions. Black Hawk entered on
his famous campaign, and Jefferson Davis
was at once given an active and response
BILE position to muster in and organize the
new recruits. There has long been ira
dition that in this capacity he mustered in
the company of Illinois volunteers from
New Salem and vicinity commanded by
Capt. Abraham Lincoln, but there is ne
record of it.
Early in 1888 Lieut.. Davis was trans
ferred from his place in Company B, First
United States Infantry, and in recognition
of his services in the Black Hawk war was
promoted to a first lieutenancy in the First
United States Dragons, of which COM
mand he was soon made adjutant. In this
position he made a very brilliant record,
not only as an organizer and efficient ad-
ministrator in garrison life, but in several
active campaigns against the Comanches,
Pawnees and other Indians.
1t was while in the services that Lieut..
Davis woed and won a daughter of the
eminent General and President, Zachary
Taylor. Her father was in command of
Fort Crawford, near Prairie Du Chen, and
his daughter, beautiful and refined young
lady, was the center of attraction among
the subordinate officers. Innumerab1e are
the romantic stories of their rivalries, the
final success of Lieut. Davis, the bitter
opposition of the "stern parent" and old
Indian fighter, and the final departure by
night of the young couple to be married
by priest on the western bank of the
Mississippi. Let the young and romantic
continue to read and believe. Suffice it
that the father remained obdurate for some
time and was not completely reconciled tC
his son-in-law till the latter lay woundea
in his tent after the battle of BUena Vista.
There are as many accounts of what was
said there as of the battle of Shiloh. Gen.
TayIor's words appear to have been these,
or very near them:
Colonel, you have saved the day-God
bless you! When Dolly would have you,
she was a better judge of a man than 1
was"
June so, 1885, Lieut.. Davis resigned his
commission and located in Mississippi,
where he lived for eight years the quiet
life of a cotton planter. Then came a
"crisis;" the annexation of Texas may be
taken as the first issue over which dis
tinctively Northern and Southern parties
confronted each other. In 1S43 Lieut..
Davis took an active and most effective
part in the State campaign, and in 1914 he
was one of the Democratic electors for
Mississippi. In 1S45 he was elected Rep
resentative in Congress, and in December
of that year took his set in the House. 1t
was called then "stormy session." but in
retrospect after the long session of 1880,
it was thought mild.
g Mr.. Davis took an active part in the dis
cussions on the tariff, the Oregon boundary
issue, the Mexican imbroglio and tine
slavery question so for as it came up, but
his speeches at that time indicate a
position far more moderate than was after
ward attributed to him. 1t is of no Igraes
consequence now, but worth noting as
curious matter of history, that IN the heated
discussions regarding Texas the threats Of
disunion came largely from the extreme
Northern men, while the most eloquent
eulogies upOl the Union came from the
South. In speech on the Oregon ques-
tion, February 6, 1916, Mr. Davis said:
"From sire to son has descended the love
of union in our hearts, as in our history are
mingled the names of Concord and Cam
den, of Y Yorktown and Saratoga, of Moul-
trie and Plattsburg, of Chippewa and Erie,
of New Orleans and Bunker Hill. Grouped
together they form a monument to the
common glory of our common country;
and where is the Southern man who would
wish that that monument were less by one
of the Northern names that constitute the
mass?"
While Mr.. Davis was active in Congress
in July, the First Regiment of Mississippi
volunteers enrolled for the Mexican war
once, overlook his regiment at New Or
leans, organized and drilled it to high
state of efficiency, and early in September
was on the Rio Grande, in the army of his
father-in law, Gen. Zachary Taylor. a
few days later he bore a conspicuous part
in the siege and storming of Monterey,
and, as commissioner, aided in drawing up
the terms of capitulation.
Five months of comparative quiet fol-
lowed, and then came the crowning glory of
his military career, the achievement Of
which, more than all else, fixed him firmly
in the affections of the Southern people,
aided him effectively at each turning point
in his subsequent career, made him Secre-
tary of War, and finally President of the
Southern Confederacy. This was his gall
lantry, GOODNESS in danger and soldierly
skill at the battle OF Buena Vista, Febru-
airy %, 1s47.
In July, 1916, Mr.. Davis was in Congress;
ia September he was leading his regiment
against Monterey; in February, 1s47, he
at Buena Vista, and July Of the same
year found him again a peaceful planter,
the regiments term of service having ex-
pired. In August, Is47, the Governor OF
Mississippi appointed him United States
Senator to ill a vacancy; the Legislature
f. II, -, H..fF A.