Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-03
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
birth and Early acknowledgements IN the
Mexican was--senstor and Secretary
Of war--A oiarsc a. the History
of tie Ceafedsrncy.
lrrom B.,ford's Mas4slas for January.l

lfrom f,e,ford's Magazine for January.l
was born June 8. 1903, IN Christian
county. Ky.. in that part OF il which, by q
subsequent division. il now in Todd coun-
~. Al this place has since arisen the viii
lage OF Fairy,ew, and on the exact spot
who're was born has been. constructed
the Baptist church Of the place. Ny ia
cher. Samuel Davis, was native Of Geor-
TIA and served in the War OF the Revolu-
fion, first in the mounted gunner" and
afterwards as captain OF infantry az the
siege of Savannah. During my infancy my
father removed to Wilkinson county. Miss.
After passing through the county AGA
deny I entered T'ransvaal College, Ken
fnekv. at tho age OF sixteen, and was ad-
vanced as far as the scntor class, whom was
appointed 10 the United States Military
Academy AZ West Point, which entered IN
September, 1894. graduated in 1873, and
then. in accordance with the custom OF ca
diets, entered active service with the rank
Of lieutenant. serving as an officer OF m
fantry on tho Northwest frontier until
1898, when. a regiment Of dragons having
been created. was tranferTed TO H.. After
y successful campaign against the Indians
4 resigned from the army IN 1885, being
anxious 10 fulfill long-eristing engage
fncnt with daughter OF Colonel Zachary
Taylor, whom / married. not latter a ro-
mantle olopemeDf." as has so often been
stated. but at the house of her aunt
and in tl0 presence Of many OF her rela-
fives. st place near louisville, KY.
Then j became a cottOn-panter IA War
scn county, Miss. II was my misfortune
early in my married life 10 lose my wife
and for many years thereafter ! lived IN
great seclnsion on the plaatation ia the
swomps OF the Mississippi. Ia 1913 !. Tor
she FIRST time, took part in the political life
of the country Next year was chosen
one OF the presidential eIcctOrs-at-large OF
the State, and IN the succeeding wear was
elected 70 Congress, taking my scat IN the
House OF Representatives IN December,
ls40- The proposition 20 terminate the
Joint occupancy Of Oregon and the re-
formation of The tariff wero the two ques-
tlons arousing most public attcTiion at
that time, and took M active part IN their
discussion, especially in that OF the first.
During this period hOstilities with Mexico
commented aud in the legislation which
the contest rendered necessary my military
education enabled me 10 take somewhat
prominent part.
In June. 1876. a regiment OF Mississippi
volunteers was organized ut Vicksburg. Oh
which | was elected colonel On receiving
notice Of the election proceeded TO over
take the regiment which was already on
80 way 10 Mexico, and joined IL at New
Orleans. Reporting 70 General Taylor,
chen commanding ut Camargo, my regI-
been detained for sOme time on duty at
The mouth OF the Rio GTande-was selected
60 move with the advance upon one city
of Monterey. The want of transport
tntiOn prevented General Taylor from
taking the whole body Of volunteers who
had reported there for duty. The Missls-
Hippi regiment was armed entirely with
~ al
eating TO state that General Scott, IN Wash
'ngton. underworld 10 persuade me not 20
take more rifles than enough tor four COM
panics. aud objected particularly 10 per-
cnSsion arms. as not having been sufficient
" tested for the use Of troops IN the held.
knowing that the Missssippinns would
have no confidence in the old tint-lOclS
muskets, insisted on their being armed
with the kind Of rifo then recently made
az New Haven. Conn.-the Whitney rife.
From having been first used by the Mlssis-
eiupians, these rifles have always been
known as the Mississippi rifles.
In the attack on Monterey General Tay-
Tor divided his force. sending one part of
il by circuitous road TO attack tho CITY
from the west, while he decided 70 lead IN
person the attack on the cast. The Missis-
eippi regiment advanced 10 the relief OF a
force which had attacked Fort Lenarla,
but had been repulseG before the MIssis-
sippians arrived They carried the re-
doubt and the fort which was Ia the rear
OF II surrendered. The next day our force
on the west side carried successfully. tho
height on which stood the bishops palace,
which commanded the city.
On the third day the Mississippians adj
Vanced from the fort which they held
through lanes and gardens, sklTmishlng
and driving the enemy before them until
they reached a two-story house at the cor
ner OF the Grand Plaza. Here they were
joined by a regiment of Texans. and from
the windows of this house they opened
fire on the artillery and such other troops
rs were in view. But 10 get a better posi-
ton for firing on the principal building Of
the Grand Plaza 1t was necessary TO cross
the street, which was swept by canister
and grape rafting on the pavement like
hail and as the street was very narrow It
WAS determined to construct flying barri-
cade. Some long timbers were found. and
with pack -saddles and boxes. which served
the purpose, a baTricade was constructed.
Here occurred nh incident to which |
have since frequently referred with pride.
In breaking open a quartcrmaster's store
house 20 get supplies for this barricade the
men found bundles Of tho much-lrized
Mexican blankets and also of very servicea-
bile shoes and pack saddles. The pack-sad-
dies were freely taken as good material for
the proposed barricade and one of my
men, as his shoes were broken and stones
had hurt his feet. asked my permission to
take pair from one of the boxes. This, of
course, was freely accorded. hut not one of
the very valuable and muCh-priZed MeXi-
can blankets was taken.
About the time that tho flying barricade
was completed arrangements were made by
the Texans and MissIsslppians to occupy
houses on both sides OF the street for the
purpose Of more effective fire into the
Grand Plaza. II having been deemed ne
cyssary 10 increase our force the MISSISSIPPI
81 experimentation was sent back for some
companies Of the First Mississippi. which
had remained behind. lie returned with
She statement that the enemy was behind
rs, that all our troops had been
withdrawn, and that orders had been
three times sent to me 10 return. Cover
nOr henderson of Texas, had accompanied
the Texan troops. and on submitting TO
him the question what we should do under
tho message, he realized. as was very plain.
tnAt u Was safer 10 remain whero we We're
than-our supports having been with
drawn to return across streets where we
We're liable 20 be fired on 10y artillery, and
ncross open grounds. where cavalry might
% expected 70 attack Us. But. he added,
hO supposed the orders came from the
gcueral-n-chicf, and we were bound TO
obey them. SO We made dispositions tore
tire quietly, but IN passing the first square
we found that cur movement had been
anticipated and that a battery OF ar
fillery was posted 10 command the street.
The arrangement made by me for crossing
u was that should 90 first if only one
gun was fired az mo then another man
should follow, aud so on, another and an
other, until volloy should be fred. and
fheu all of them should rush rapidly across
before the guns could be reloaded. In this
manner the men got across with little loss.
We then made our way 20 the suburb,
whore We found that an officer Of infantry,
NTH two companies aud section of artil- !
cry, had been posted 10 wait for us. and !
70 case Of emergency TO aid our retreat.
Lafiy next morning General Ampudia, |
commanding The Mexican force. sent in !
Tag ard asked for a conference with "A view |
20 capitu alton. General Taylor acceded TO !
lhe proposition aud appointed General |
worth, Governor Henderson. and myself I
commissioners 20 arrange the terms Of /
'.p,uiatlon. General Taylor received the |
CIV q Monterey, with supplies, much !
n"eue1 by his army, and shelter for the |
"oon1ed' Tho enemy gained only the |
privilege Of retiring peacefully, privilege |
Tnc4' Il 1t had not been accorded, they /
D.