Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-08
BEN MONTGOMERY.
The TRUE STORY or PRESIDENT
pAvis's PLANTATIONS.
Montgonsry Was meyer the si'vo OF "e'
fsrson Davis. or Ever His Private
secretary.

RILOxI. MISS, September 30. 1895.
To the Editor Of the New orleans Times
Democrat
VIII YOU please allow me space In your
columns to correct what Is stated in an
article headed Ben Montgomery" in
your last Sundays issue. which see was
printed originally In the New York Times?
There are few truths and large
number OF falsehoods.
Ben Montgomery was a negro slave,
and never was the slave Of Jefferson Da-
Wis. nor was he I'm any sense his private
secretary or business manager. Mr.. JEFF
ferson Davis did not emancipate him or
make deed to Ben Montgomery of his
plantation. nor was any such deed made
by anybody. before or during the war.
The fancifu story is constructed on the
most slender foundation Ben Montgom-
cry was n slave OF Mr.. Joseph Il. Davis,
self-educated and n man 81 sound sense,
good judgment and great integrity.
Mr. Joseph l.. Davis was an elder
brother Of jefferson Davis and the owner
Of Hurricane plantation. adjoining Brier-
field plantation. the property of the ex-
President. When Jefferson Davis was
elected president OF the Confederate
States he left his plantation in charge OF
an overseer who was under the general
superintendent OF Mr.. Joseph f. Davis.
who was never a Brigadier in the Confcd-
crate army. nor was he in the service OF
the Confederacy. That Ben Montgomery
ever went to Richmond to buy plantations
from Mr.. jefferson or Mr.. Joseph +. Da-
Wis. or paid Mr.. Joseph T.. Davis one doll
lar of money to visit Europe or for any
other purpose is pure fiction. The
whole storv IS one Of the writer's imagt-
nation and could only bring smile 10
the older residents OF Warren county
Miss. as some old friends Of Mr. Davis
I'm New Orleans-Mr. }. L. Payne, Tor eX-
ample.
A REMARKABLE NEGRO.
Zen Montgomery was n remarkable ne
gro He was, as I have said, slave OF
Joseph f. Davis, and for some years be-
fore the war was charged with looking
after the mechanical work % the Hurri-
cane plantation and the warehouse on
the river for storing and shipping cot
| ton to New Orleans and receiving freight.
The Federal forces had possession or
| Hurricane and Briertleld plantations when
the war closed, under the direction OF
the Freedmans bureau.
Brerfield plantation was the properly
| of Jefferson Davis, but 1t 80 happeneu tne
| title deeds were IN tIe name VI "'H'PH
| Davis. 1t was, therefore, not connscateu'
| Mr.. Joseph f.. Davis. In 1856 or 1884,
sent an agent to Washington, Or. Bow
man. of Vicksburg. who succeeded IN get
| ting an order for the restoration OF the
| two plantations 10 him, Mr.. Joseph r..
| Davis. who at the time was feeble old
man eighty-two years of age. Mr.. Jelter-
son Davis was a prisoner at Fortress
Monroe. Mr. Joseph f.. Davis knowing
| his unitnes for the management OF ms
own and his brothers plantations ana
| thinking Ben. Montgomery coulu coh'Ioi
| the large number of laborerS negroeD
| then on the plantation, sold the TWO plan
| tations. Brlerfield and the Hurricane 10
| MONTGOMERY for 100000 and took notes
| bearing per cent interest. Montgomery
made n disastrous failure. and the maj
result was that the two plantations were
| restored to the two brothers.
Mr.. jefferson Davis never received one
dollar from the sale, and lost all rents
| and interest on the purchase money
| Never did he receive anything until MS
plantation, Brierheld, was restored to him'
These are the simple facts, ana now
| any sane man could have tortured tnen
| into the wonderful story related IN the
| New York Times correspondence III your
columns surpasses the ordinary under-
! standing. JOSEPH H. D-N' -"