The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-03
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHIEF
. TIAN OF THE SOUTH.
Incidents in the Life of the President
of the Confederacy - His
Mexican War Record

born June 5, 1903, in Christian County
KY. His father, Samuel Davis, was q
native Of Georgia and served in the
Revolution. The family moved to Vii
kinson County, Miss, when Mr. Davis
was an infant. From Transylvania
College, KY, at the age of I6, he went
Ito West Point, whence he graduated in
1928.
He served on the Northwestern from
tier until 1888, was then transferred to
the dragons, participated gallantly in
a campaign against the Indians and
then resigned to marry Miss Taylor,
daughter of President Zachary Taylor.
The ceremony occurred near Louisville
and the couple went to Warren County,
Miss, where Mr.. Davis purchased a
plantation, to live. Early in his life here
he lost his wife, and thereafter lived in
seclusion in the Mississippi swamps.
He took his seat in the National
House of Representatives in I845, at
once taking prominent part in the
debates.
In June, 1876, he was elected colonel
of regiment organized at Vieksburg
for the Mexican war. He resigned his
seat at once and overlook the regiment
at New Orleans The share of the
regiment in the campaign against the
Mexicans is historical. The war made
Taylor president and gave Mr.. Davis
great renown as soldier. - " .
In the battle with Santa Anna Mr..
Davis was shot through the foot and
was severely wounded. He persisted in
remaining in the saddle until the battle
was over, when it was found impossible
to extract the foreign matter that had
been forced into the wound. He had
therefore to resort to ~crutches and in
that condition returned home
He declined the commission of briga-
dier general, offered by the president in
recognition of his services, on the
ground that under the Constitution vol
ilnteers are militia and that the appoint
ment of their officers devolves necessar-
lily upon the governors of the states.
In I847 he was appointed senator to
fill an unexpired term and, unanimously
elected by the legislature and reelected
at the expiration of the term, taking a
prominent part in ali the debates of the
period.
In 1851 he resigned and retired to
private life, but on the nomination of
Franklin Pierce he. entered the cam
paign as a speaker, owing to his warm
friendship for Mr.. Pierce, and on the
election of the latter was invited to be-
come the secretary of war. He made
one of the best secretaries the country
has ever had
Mr.. Davis entered the Senate again
and became the leader of the South,
erners in that body and the chief pro-
penent of the principle Of states rights
upon which the war was fought.
When Mississippi seeded early IN
January, 1861, Mr.. Davis in an eloquent
and touching speech took a farewell OF
the Senate and fastened home, where
he found that he had been appointed
omn1ander-in-chief of the Mississippi
troops, a position which he desired. Al
most Immediately after, however, he
was notified Of his election as proyis-
ional president of the Confederacy, a
position which he did not desire and
sought to evade.
On February I8. 1861. he. was iTau-
gurated at Montgomery and subse-
quentiy moved with the government to
Richmond, remaining there until Lees
surrender to Grant and Johnson's cap
itulation to Sherman.
In seeking to make his way to the
Transmississippi department, accom-
panied BY small escort, he. was cap
raFFed. rrspFed.
with every species of petty pillage
and offensive exhibition said Mr.. Da-
Wis, Il was taken from point 10 point
until incarcerated at Fortress Monroe.
While at Fortress Monroe Mr.. Davis
was placed in irons by General Nelson
"a. Miles, an uncalled-for act of brutal
ity for which the Southern people will
never forgive the present commanding
general OF the Federal army
In May, 1867. Mr.. Davis, on being re
leased from Fortress Monroe, went to
Canada and subsequently, to England,
where he was received with the most
distinguished honors.
When he returned he became presi-
dent Of an insurance company at Jack
SON and thence went TO Beauvoir, where
he became engaged ii the writing Of his
elaborate work on The Rise and Fall o1
the Confederate Government He de-
clsr1ed So re-enter politics though fhs