The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-05
WASHINGTON OBSERVES CEN
TENNlAL OF NOTED coNFEpE
SOUTH TO WAR
Veterans and Sons and
Daughters IN National Capital Com
memorate Hundredth Birthday An
niversary Of Leader Of the Gray.

Washington, June 3.-Confederate
veterans and sons and daughters Of
confederates in the national capital
are today celebrating the centennial
anniversary the birth Of the south's
great leader, Jefferson Davis. It was
just 100 years ago today, on June 3,
1908, that the first and last president
OF the southern co%nfederacy was born
in Christian county, Kentucky, and
his admirers throughout the reunited
nation are today paying homage to
his memory. In Washington the xer
cises were simple but impressive, and.
were participated in by many men
who wore the blue in the warfare be-
tween the north and the south.
Many statesmen of the old school
remember Davis as a United States
senator and recall his career in the
national capital prior to the war-a
career that ended on January 81, 1861,
when Davis announced the secession.
Of his state, Mississippi, from the
union and his consequent withdrawal
from the senate. The speech is de-
clared, by those who heard 1t, n OF
the most noteworthy ever delivered in
the senate chamber, and at its close
every member gathered about the
Mississippi senator and bade him an
affecting and affectionate farewell.
The leader of the Lost Cause was a
son Of Samuel Davis, a Welshman by
descent, a Baptist in religion and a
democrat in politics. As most of the
first families of Kentucky were Epis-
copalians and f%ederalists this shows
that Sam Davis, like Abraham Lin
coins father, Tom Lincoln, was not
bound by any rules Of caste, and was
not to be reckoned an a%ristocrat. The
year after %Jefferson's birth-June 8,
18O8-Samuel Davis emigrated to Mis-.
sissippi territory, where he settled on
a plantation in Wilkinson county,
about a mile from Woodville, where
the boyhood of Jefferson Davis was
passed.
His schooling appears to have been
carefully looked after. When but sew.
en- he was sent to the academy Of
the Dominican Friars in Kentucky
and remained there three years. Then
returning to Mississippi he matriculat
ed at Jefferson college. which he ap
pears to have left at the close of the
year for the purpose Of going to the
new Wilkinson County academy
!. where he had for a teacher John "A
Shaw, of Boston, under whose tutel
age he made much progress. In 1921
when entering on his fourteenth year
he went to Transylvania university Al
Lexington, KY then considered the
best institution Of learning west O
the Alleghanies. In July, 1924, Sam
uel Davis died; and the following
September Jefferson vas appointed
a cadet at West Point. Here he cam.
into intimate relationship with Rob
ert =. Lee, Albert Sidney Johnston
!. and Joseph 3. Johnston-three lead
ers OF the Lost Cause whom he di.
much to recognize and promote Will,
serving as president Of the confeder
acy.
Was Faithful Friend.
We are told that the president wa,
faithful to personal friends. Some
times the devotion was to the injur,
OF the public service; but it was there
I always; and 1t was not the least Low
: able trait of his character. AT tn
: end Of his four years at West Point
Z In which he displayed no remarkable
aptitude for his studies, he was grad
uated No. 20 in a class Of 23-whicl
= shows that as a cadet he ranked jus
one point above Gen. Grant. But tn,
effect Of his schooling at the militar,
: academy was visible in the man dow
: to the last day Of his life. He was al
ways precise In his attitude, some
thing Of q martinez, and decided,
military in his bearing. Moreover, il
very many ways he evidenced hi
great love for his alma mater.
In 1853 he resigned his commission
in the United States army and elope
with q daughter Of Col. (atterward