Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-10-20


Entered at the Postoffice Alexandria. Virgin,
ia, as second-class matter.
TRIBUTE TO AN OLD SERVANT
Mrs. Jefferson Davis, in a letter tc
friend in Baltimore, pays touching
tribute to Frederick McGinnis, who
died from injuries sustained on the
Western Maryland Railroad on Octo
Der II. Frederick was Mr.. Duvis's
faithful servant and friend during his
Imprisonment at Fortress Monroe. Mrs
Davis writes:
"He was an honor to his race. A
man of sterling integrity, high intelli
sence, keen sense Of justice, warm
and grateful heart, he had the fine in-
stincts of a gentleman. Whatever be
Undertook he performed faithfully and
we'll, for his menial faculties were not
inferior to his moral qualities.
"He was born slave and brought
up by his mistress with affe ctionate
care, which he repaid with devotion
uncommon with men OF any race. AT
ter the war had impoverished her and
she was too old to support herself, he
took place elsewb, re- in order to
maintain her. Thou n he had a wife
and child, every month he sent his old
mistress part, and sometimes the
whole, OF mis- wages. He once told the
writer that he had 10 fad out through
frien Is in Charleston what she needed,
thing from him.
"While Frederick was in the service
of Mr.. George Schley, his hospitable
home in Georgia was opened to Mrs.
Jefferson Davis while she Was detained
oy the federal authorities and limited
to the State OF Georgia. Frederick was
much moved by her SORROWS and oiier-
ed to serve ber gratuitously until the
end Of Mr.. Davis's Imprisonment. For
obvious reasons this could not be &C.
cepted, but after he had left Mr..
Schley's house and she had received
permission to live at Fortress Monroe,
he Joined her and remained with the
family three years. Every attention
that reverence and affection could offer
Frederick rendered in the most intelli
gent, delicate and sensible manner
"Appreciating how necessary he had
become to the prisoner of State, Mrs,
Davis offered MIN considerable in
crease OF his wages which were already
somewhat larger than those OF other
men in his capacity. He answered with
tears in his eyes: You surely do ret
hiuk | would take more money frcm
you. | would have served you for
nothing if you had let me do So
about this time there were many
gross and petty insults offered to Mr..
Davis and his family by visitors VINO
were impelled by hate and curiosity.
His services were invaluable, for he
seemed to know by instinct when these
persons were about to intrude, and met
and repelled them with the manner OF
we'll. bred gentleman. Thus he shield
ed the family from insults which would
have otherwise rendered life iutolerable
to them, without subjecting himself to
the reproofs of the officer in command.
Zone evidence of his refinement OF
feeling is worth repeating.
"He had fallen in love with Mrs.
Davis's faithful maid after the death
his ficst wife, and WAS to be married IT
Carroll by Rev. Mr.. Mr.. Barton, #
Norfolk. Several OF the officer (,
among whom was the kind aud gentl, :
manly Gen. Henry Burton, command
ant of Fortress Monroe, desired to 9
present as an EXPRESSION of their It :
gard and respect for the groom, but
when he was told of the compliment
they desired to pay him he declined
with respectful thanks, saying that he
thought Mr.. Davis required quiet, an /
though he felt grateful for their inter
est the ceremony must be entirely
private. To the writer he said: Il
cannot invite the men who are
keeping Mr.. Davis prisoner TO
he NV guests When some friend
~ Young officers offered him five
dollars to make one OF his exquisl e
salads for one of their little suppers ne
made the salad, but declined the
money. 4 am Mr.. Davis's servant,
said he, 'and am fully paid by him.
.'The family kept no account CT the
money entrusted 10 his care, but AT
the end of each month his books were
correct to cent, and the only time
he became fretful was when one OF
the u family refused to look over the
items of his accounts. After MIR. Davis
was liberated he felt tnnt his broken
fortunes did not justify his keeping ser
wants for purely personal needs ana
year af,erward he very reluctantly
looked out for II place ioi
the friend from whom neceS
sily forced hin To part. FrsdericS
offered to remain wi him for a smai
sun. but he was al cnua;ely refused
and the then presld-Gt OF the Baitl
more aud o RHiroa3, Mr.. John W
Garrett, took hlm iuro dis service. h'
remained there ior several years.
after he ief Mr. Garrett, for whom
he always entertained sincere respec'
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