The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
JEFF DAVIS IN WISCONSIN.
PERKS AND TRIAL THAT BESET
HIS EARLY ARMY LIFE.
old Zach Taylsr was His Superior OmceF ana
Liked Him Until ne Made Love to HIS
DAUGHTER. but Sen won Her. Notwith-
sthndInE-Naado Chief or an Indian Tribe.

Old Zach TayIer was ITS Superior On1ceF and
Liked Him Until nc Made Love to Hia
Daughter. but 5eT won Iler. Notvith-
standlnE-Saado chief or an Indian Tribe.
From the chicago Record.
MADISON, Wis, June 15.-Jofferson Davis,
President Of the Confederate States, was in his
young manhood ono OF tho principal figures In
the early days OF the American occupation OF
Wisconsin. As an officer of the regular srmy 1t
was a chance detail Of the War Department that
led him to the State. Tho carly American
pioneers were largely virginians, Rentuckians,
and Tennesseans. who followed the courses OF
the great rivers, and even had no not been an
army officer he might have been part OF the
orthwa bound wave of emigration proceeding
from his section.
An old French post had existed at Prairie du
Chen when it was an important link In the
chain of posts guarding the waterways between
Quebec and New Orleans, but there was no fort
there when the two companies arrived under
the command of Zachary Taylor, afterward
President Of the United States. and, accordingly,
Lieut.. Davis was despatched up the Mississippi
to reach the nearest pine forest and cut some
logs and raft them down to Prairie du Chen, to
be used for building a fort. The first American
to operate in Wisconsin pineries. the first man
TO drive logs In the Northwest, In 1881 he put
up the first Wisconsin sawmill. located on the
Yellow River.
1t is singular to what an extent Davis was as
sociatod with future Confederate officers there
in the Wisconsin Wilderness. Gen. Gustave
Rousseau, who had much to do with saving Ken
lucky for the Union, was the only officer OF the
Fort Crawford garrison surviving at tho time Of
the war who did not enter the Confederate ser
vice, three becoming Generals, one n Colonel,
and Davis himself President. notwithstanding
that he yyaa tbn NM ra,,allv .a1o,ted for aco,ttiny
and exploring expeditions. he found time to fall
in love with the daughter Of his commanding
officer. Miss Mary Knox Taylor. Although
"Old Rough and Ready" liked Davis per-
sonally, he was much opposed TO having his
daughter, marry an army officer. The army
women of that period either had to endure long
separations from their husbands or live with
them in spots far removed from civilization. and
sometimes the latter alternative could, not be
chosen because many of the posts provided no
accommodations for women. However. Tay or
showed some signs of relenting until Davis had
with Taylor's enemy on a ~court-martfal case.
Taylor swore that no man who voted with Tom
ship shnl' dra sRsta @ on fGi some %H g ysaFs 1niil Miss hSs f f0yES;
finally, ended the whole matter by boarding a
snStt by bavi G"a and a eo it'll, II; Il %tes t Teere m she r %es
took place. Gen. TAYLOR was aware that his
dnueh,er was to depart, and she was escorted
made no attempt to stop her.
Many strange and perilous adventures fell to
LAVE 5 U III w lSCOn5ln. onCe ne was puTbueu
by a feet of hostiles in canoes on the Wisconsin
River and escaped by hosting a blanket. for a
sail. While Mt Yellow River he was admitted to
membership in an Indian tribe. and by the ex-
change of blood. according to the worldwide
custom. OF barbaric peoples, was admitted to the
sacred band of brotherhood and later created a
chief. His explorations took him all over Wis
Cousins principal water courses: he command
ed Fort Winncbago at Portage and served
through the Black Hawk war. taking part In
the, pursuit that ended. with the battle OF the
experience in that war. as seen in the light of
after history, was one which at the time pos
sesscd no significance. In company with a fellow
Lieutenant he was sent from Fort Smelling to
Dixon. H.. to muster in u company of Illinois
volunteers. The Lieutenant who went with him
was Robert Anderson, a~fterwnrd Major in com
mand Of Fort Sumter when the first shot Of the
war was fired. and the Captain of the company
they mustered in was Abraham Lincoln.