The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-09-17
PRESIDENT JEFF DAVIS

uSnereQ INTO the WOFLu many ll'es
destined to be remarkable later on
as statesmen, soldiers and men OF
letters. Among these was one VINO
was ordained to write his name high
in the temple of fame as one of the
most illustrious statesmen. bravest
soldiers and purest patriots-Jeffer-
son Davis-born June 3, 1908, at
Fairfield, in the commonwealth of
Kentucky.
Jefferson Davis came of good revo-
lutionary stock, who had helped with
their swords to carve out this grand
nation. His childhood days were spent
in Mississippi. where his parents had
moved. His early schooling was in
a log school house. Like most Amerl-
can boys he was fond Of outdoor eX-
ercise, such as hunting. fishing and
horseback riding At the age OF I
he was sent to Kentucky by his pa
rents and entered as pupil in
Roman Catholic institute, known as
st. Thomas, presided over by the
Dominican fathers, who taught the
best schools in that part of the coun-
try.
In these early days there were no
railroads nor steamboats,, the travel
being made by stage coach or on
horeback, and the boy made the long
trip, passing through the ChoctaW
and Chickasaw Indians, to reach
Kentucky 1t was on this trip OF
1915 that Jefferson Davis. met and
formed a lasting friendship with
Gen. Andrew Jackson and his wife,
who treated him with so much kind
ness that he afterwards treasured a
love and reverence for the hero of
New Orleans.
Military Training.
After being graduated from the
University of Lexington, Kentucky,
in 1924, he was appointed a cadet to
the military school at West Point
when about II years of age. Among
his classmates were Albert Sydney
Johnson, Leonidas Polk and others,
who became famous, writing their
names upon the scroll OF fame as
heroes in the war with Mexico and
the war of 1S61-65.
While at West Point he was distin-
guished for his devotion to duty, for
his lofty, manly and high-toned char
acter, and his love for truth and JUS
tice. In 1928 Cadet Davis was grad
uated from West Point, becoming
second lieutenant of infantry in the
regular army, his first duty being at
Fort Crawford, now in the State OF
Wisconsin. The same Characters
tics that distinguished him as a ca
det made him prominent as an offlcer
and attached his superior officers to
him.
When the Black Hawk Indian war
began Gen. Winfield Scott sent two
young lieutenants to Dixon, ILL.,, to
accept and muster into the United
States service such troops as might
present themselves. One OF these
lieutenants was a young man of gen.
tie, affable and fascinating manners.
pleasant and courteous to all, draw
ing to him all with whom he came
in contact. The other lieutenant
was pleasant but very shy in. his
manners. The first was Jefferson
Davis, the second Robert Anderson.
On the morning of the arrival OF the
first troops for muster tall, homely
youth presented himself to Lieut.. Da-
Wis as captain of the company. This
slender young man was Abraham
Lincoln, and the lieutenant was JEFF
ferson Davis--the man who admin
istered to Abraham Lincoln the first
oath of allegiance to the United
States government. Lieut.. Davis be-
came president of the Confederate
government, Abraham Lincoln the
president Of the United States, while
Lieut.. Anderson, afterwards major,
became noted for his surrender of
Fort Sumter to the Confederate gov
ernment April 13, 1861.
Beginning of Political Career.
In 1885 Mr.. Davis resigned from
the army, entered into private life.
In 1S43 he began his political career,
while in 1S45 he was elected to
congress from Mississippi. The first
speech was made February 6, 1S46,
the Oregon question being before the
house. 1t was fortunate for the
country that. congress had one man
who dared to do right and defend
from aspersion and slander Of the
Northern fanatics the people of the
South. Mr.. Davis loved the Union
with a patriotic devotion, he loved
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