Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-01-02
LIES STORY TOLD.
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF fHB CONPBDBR-
ACY'S CHIBP.
Jefferson Davis Life as Written BY Himself
his Early Services in the Army and
in MsxlO-E Events Of
the War.
B.Iford's Maoa-ms.

ty. At this place has since arisen the vii
lsge OF Fairview, and on the exact spot
where l was born has been constructed the
Baptist Church Of the place. My father,
Samuel Davis, was native Of Georgia,
and served in the var of the Revolution,
first in the mounted gunner" and after
ward as captain Of infantry at the siege Of
Savannah. During my infancy my father
removed to Wilkinson county, Miss.
After passing through the County Acade'
my 1 entered Transvaal College, Ken
lucky. at the age o. 16. and was advanced
as far as the senior class when / WOE
appointed to ths United States Mill
tary Academy at West Point, which
I entered iu September. 1924. l gradu
sted in 1928, aud then, in accordance with
the custom of cadets, entered active ser.
vice with the rank Of Lieutenant, serving
as an officer of infantry on the Northwest
frontier until 1888, when, a regiment Of
dragons having been created, was trans
ierred to ii. After successful campaign
against the Indians J resigned from the
army, in 1885, beiDg anxious TO fulfil 9
loug-existing engagement with daughter
of Col. Zachary Tay lor, whom l married,
not latter q romantic elopement," as hst
go often been stated, but at the house Of
her aunt in the presence of many Of her
relatives, at place near Louisville, KY.
Then became cotton planter in Warren
county, Mississippi. Is waI my mis-
fortune, early in my married life
to lose MP wife; aud for many
years thereafter l lived in great
seclusion on the plantation in the swamp
of the Mississippi. Ia 1843 for the first
time took part in the political life OF the
country. Next year / was chosen one o.
the Presidential electors at large Of the
State, and in the succeeding year wal
elected to Congress, taking my seat in The
House of Representatives in December
1845. The proposition to terminate the
Joint occupancy of Oregon and tbs
reformation Of the tariff were the twC
questions arOusing most public attention
at that time, and / took an active part in
their discussion, especially in that of the
first.
Daring this period hostilities with
Mexico commenced, and in the legisla.
ton which the cor lest rendered necessary
my military education enabled me 10 take
Il somewhat prominent part.
In June, 1916, q regiment Of Mississippi
volunteers was organized at Vicks5uIg, Of
which Was elected Colonel. Ga receiving
notice of the election, proceeded to over
take the regiment, which was already on
its way TO Mexico, and joined il at New
Orleans Reporting to Gen. Taylor, then
commanding at Cansrgc, my regiment, al
though the last to irrive-haying been de-
tained for time OF duty at the mouth ol
the Rio Grande--Wss selected TO move
with the advance. upon the city of Mon
terry. The want Of transportation prevented
Gen. Taylor from taking the whole body oi
volunteers who had reported there fol
duty. The Mississippi regiment was armed
entirely with percu sion rifles. And here
il may be interesting to state that General
Scott, 10 Washington, endeayored TO per-
suade me not to take more rifles than
enough for four companies, and objected
particularly to percussion arms, ss moi
having been sufficiently tested for the use
of troops in the field. Knowing that the
Mississippians would have no confidence
in tha old hint-lock muskets, insisted on
their being armed with the kind of riffs
then recently made at New Haven, Conn.
the Whitney rifle. From having been
first used by the Mississippians, these rifles
have always been known as the Mistis-
sippi rifles.
In the attack on Monterey Gen. Taylor
divided his force, sending one part Of it by
circuitous road to attack the city from
the west, while he decided to lead in per-
son the attack ON the east. The Missis.
sippi regiment advanced to the relief of a
force which had attacked Fort Lenaria,
but had been repulsed before the Missis
sipians arrived. They carried the re-
doubt, and the fort which was in the rear
of it surrendered. The next day our force
on the west side carried successfully the
height on which stood the Bishops palace,
which commanded the city.
On the third day the Mississippians sd-
ysnced from the fort which they held,
through lanes and gardens, skirmishing
and driving the enemy before them until
they reached two-story house at the cor
ner Of the Grand Plaza. Here they were
Joined by regiment Of Texans, and from
the windows of this house they opened
fire on the artillery and such other troops
as were in view. But, to get better po-
sition for firing ON the principal building
of the Grand Plazs, it was necessary to
cross the street, which was swept by can
lister and grape, rsttling on the pavement
like hail; and, as the street was very mar
row, it was determined to construct tiy-
ing barricade. Some long timbers were
found, and, with pack-saddles and boxes,
which served the purpose, barricade was
constructed.
Here occurred sn incident to which
have since frequently referred to with
pride. In breaking open quartermasier's
storehouse to get supplies for this barri-
cade, the men found bundles of the much
priced Mexican blankets, aud also Of very
serviceable shoes and pack saddles. The
pack saddles vera freely taken as good ma
terisl for the proposed barricsde; and one
of nv men, as his shoes were broken and
stones had hurt his feet, asked my permis-
sion to take ptic from one Of the boxes.
This, Of course, was freely accorded; but
not one Of the very valuable and much
prizsd Mexican blankets was taken.
About the time that the flying barricsde
was completed, arrangements were made
by the Texans and Mississippians to oc-
cupy houses on both sides of the street for
the purpose of more effective fire into the
Grand Plaza 1t having been deemed
necessary 10 increase our force, the Miss
issippi sergesnt-msjor was sent back for
some companies OF the First Mississippi
which had remained behind. He returned
with the statement that the enemy was
behind us, that all our troops had been
withdrawn, and that orders had been three
times sent to ne to return. Gov. Hender-
SON of Texas had accompanied the Texan
troops, and on submitting to him the ques-
tion what we should do under the message
he realized-ss was very plsin-that it
was safer to remain where We were
than-our supports having been with
drawn-io return across the streets
where we were liable to be fred on
by artillery, and across open grounds
where cavalry might be expected to attack
us. But, he added, he supposed the or
ders came from the Geperal-inChitf, and
we were bound to obey them. So we
made dispositions to retire quietly; bat, in
passing the first square, we found that our
movement had been anticipated, and that
a battery OF artillery was posted to COM
msnd the street. The arrangement made
by me for crossing it was that ] should go
first; if only one gnn was fired at me,
then another man should follow; and so