The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1890-02-15

No dark sibyl hailed them at their birth as
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 third of his life, would
survive his great antagonist for quarter of
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 tile
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 ndepend-
ence, his father, Samuel Davis, winning
some distinction in the mounted troops Of
Georgia. OF his two sons, jefferson eary be-
came soldier, while Joseph man of talent.
scarcely, if at all, inferior, gained a local
success as lawyer and planter in Mississippi
The brothers were notably affectonate in
childhood, and remained through life devoted
to each other.
Davis removed to Mississippi, locating near
Woodvlie, in Wilkinson county The sons
there acquired an unusually good English
education for the time, and at an early age
jefferson entered PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE. Ken
tucl1y. In 1924, however, President Monroe
appointed him a cadet at Vest Point. whence
he was graduated in lS2s. at the early age of
20 He had stood high in his class, ard at
onto al, I,,t,- 8,
time commissioned only as a brevet second
lieutenant. Promotion was very slow in those
peaceful times, but he soon won his full com
mission, and in the next three years demon
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 tie new recruits.
There has long been IA tradition that in this
capacity he mustered in the company of Hi
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
IIOil HIS I3!ice III company IS, FIRST I nitsd
States infantry, and III recognition of his
services in the Black Hawk war was promo
ted to a first lieutenancy in the First United
States dragons, of which command he was
soon made adjutant. In this position he
made Il very brilliant record, not only as an
organizer and efficient administrator IN gar
rison life, but in severa! active campaigns
against the Comanches, Pawnees aud other
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 Confederacv to
President Davis allege that thus early he ex-
h!bited the same faults and virtues which
marked his administration in greater and
greater degree with each successive increase
of rank and power. The greatest fault al
eyed, perhaps, is unreasonable attachment
10 4 few friends and corresponding prejudice
against other persons.
Il was while in this service that Lieut. Da-
VS. wooed and Won a daughter of the eminent
general and president, Zachary TAYLOR. Her
father was i'll 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. Innumerable are the romantic sto-