Soon came the Black Hawk war in which he served with conspicuous gallantry. At Fort Snelling it became necessary to swear in a number of recruits, and one day a company came whose captain was a tall, ungainly looking young man, with a sad but rugged face. Jefferson Davis had him swear allegiance to the United States, and this ungainly looking captain with the sad and rugged face was no other than Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln in after years often remarked that he took his first oath of allegiance to the United States under the direction of Jefferson Davis.

At the conclusion of the Black Hawk war it fell to the lot of Jefferson Davis to escort the captured chief to Jefferson Barracks. Black Hawk, in writing of that fact, said that "the big war chief" would not allow any one to see him, showing that he had a good heart and respected the feelings of a prisoner, who rather than anything else desired to be free from the curiosity of the gaping crowd.

In 1843 he took his first dip into politics, running for the Mississippi Legislature against Sargent S. Prentiss, at that time the greatest orator of the country. He was defeated by Mr. Prentiss, but the next year came forward and waged a successful contest as elector on the Polk and Dallas ticket. In 1845 he was sent to Congress as a member from the State of Mississippi. In that year he was married to Miss Varina Howell, at "The Briers," her home, near Natchez, Mississippi. While going to the wedding he took passage on a steamboat on the Mississippi, and there met again with General Taylor, to whom he became reconciled, and ever afterward the very kindest of feelings existed between them.

In 1846 Mr. Davis joined the army of the United States to fight against Mexico. He had the rank of colonel in this struggle, and distinguished himself for bravery and qualities of

leadership at Monterey and Buena Vista. In the latter battle he introduced for the first time the wedge movement in the deploying of troops, and saved the American army under General Taylor from rout.

In 1847 he was sent from Mississippi to the United States Senate. At this time the celebrated Lopez expedition was fitted up and embarked for Cuba to set that country free. Mr. Davis was interviewed by a leader in that expedition and asked to go. He declined, saying that he did not deem it his duty to do so. General Lee was also asked to go and he also declined. A few months later the expedition ended in failure and its leader was executed.

Mr. Davis was made Secretary of War in 1853 in the Cabinet of Franklin Pierce, where he served with eminent ability and greatly strengthened the army that was soon to be arrayed against the government over which he was to preside. In October, 1858, he delivered a famous address at Faneuil Hall, Boston, on the subject of the South and Slavery. That it had its effect is proved by the fact that in the Charleston convention of the Democratic party in 1860 he received many of the votes of Massachusetts for the presidential nomination.

Then came the secession of South Carolina, of Mississippi and other States, and when it became evident that the struggle could no longer be averted, Jefferson Davis made up his mind to go with his State. It became known that he was to deliver his farewell address to the Senate on a certain day. Long before the appointed hour the Senate gallery was filled to overflowing and the greater number of the members of the House of Representatives came over to the Senate Chamber to hear the memorable speech. It was the greatest effort of Mr. Davis's life. It was a solemn moment, but the great man from Mississippi measured fully up to the requirements of the occa

sion, and the address will go down in history as one of the greatest oratorical efforts of the age.

He was elected President of the seceding States for six years. The Provisional Congress met at Montgomery, Alabania, and Howell Cobb, of Georgia, presided over the assembly. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, was chosen President of the Confederate States of America; Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, Vice-President; Robert Toombs, of Georgia, Secretary of State; Leroy P. Walker, of Alabama, Secretary of War; Stephen B. Mallory, of Florida, Secretary of Navy; Charles G. Memminger, of South Carolina, Secretary and Treasurer; Judah P. Benjamin, of Louisiana, Attorney-General; and J. H. Reagan, of Texas, Postmaster-General. When the surrender took place in 1865 President Davis was captured with his wife and child near Irwinville, Georgia, and confined as a prisoner of State in Fortress Monroe. His life in prison is too sad to be dwelt upon, and even his enemies admit now that he was harshly treated at times. Subsequent history has proven that he headed no rebellion, but only defended the Constitution of the United States; therefore it was impossible to try or condemn him. One hundred thousand dollars was offered in gold for his capture and delivery to the military authorities of the United States. An old body servant gives the following account of this capture:

I

"Yes, I was with old marster when they overtook him. was close by him all the way from Richmond to Irwinville.

We struck camp at Abbeville. I never will forget that night. I laid awake a long time, and every time a horse would stamp I would think it was the bluecoat cavalry. All of us was so tired out that it wasn't long before we were all asleep, as sound and hearty as if there hadn't been no war. Suddenly a rattlerattle-rattle, like reeds popping in a canebrake roused me up,

and before I could get my eyes good open I heard a yell and the tramping of what appeared to me a regular regiment of horses, and right straight I knowed that all was gone up the spout. Them Yankee soldiers came tearing right into camp, and in a mighty little while it was all over. Old Mars Jeff was as solid as a cannon ball, and I never saw a man do as gentlemanly as he did. My Lord! I was scared to death, but he was as straight as any sapling round there, and he looked like he was giving orders instead of carrying out somebody else's instructions. I looked after Missis Davis and little Win-nie, and I tell you I kept close to that child the balance of the time. Of course the Yankees was mighty glorified when they found out who it was they had, but they were a great sight better behaved than we expected them to be, and they didn't do anything to hurt the feelings of the women and children all enduring that long trip to Macon.

"As for the old boss, nobody could tell anything of his sufferings except one who had stayed around him a long time like I had. He kept the same gleam in his eye, and the same bold look in his face, although, to me he looked twenty years older, and he walked just as straight as if he was walking the streets of Richmond with Lee and Jackson, driving the Yankees across the Potomac at every crossing. I've seen lots of big generals and brave men in my time, but that man was the bravest looking man I ever saw. I was scared they would hang him, for you know them were troublesome times, but if ever he flinched nobody ever saw it. He just seemed to look older. It wasn't for himself that he cared, but for the people that had looked up to him, and the cause that he loved.

"Folks may say what they please, but Jefferson Davis was a brave man. He might have been strong-headed, but he was all right in his inside."

In 1866 he was indicted for high treason, but was allowed to go out on bail a year later, his first bondsman being Horace Greeley. He was never brought to trial, being included in the general amnesty of 1868.

Mrs. Sarah Anne Dorsey bequeathed to him her estate at Beauvoir, Mississippi, where he spent the remainder of his life. During his last years he devoted himself to writing The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government, which makes clear many points not fully understood before; this makes the book, aside from its literary merits, of great value.

He died in New Orleans, Louisiana, 1889, and was buried there, as his wife desired, but two years afterwards his body was removed to Richmond, Virginia, the fitting burial place of the chieftain of the Confederacy, and the highest respect and honors were shown as the body passed through the Southern States on the way to its final resting place. There will be unveiled at Richmond in 1907 a very handsome monument which has been erected to his memory by Confederate Sons and Daughters.

MRS. VARINA HOWELL DAVIS, of Natchez, Mississippi, his widow, wrote a memoir of him. She was well qualified to do this work. By loving ministrations and intellectual companionship she was her husband's confidante through the memorable years of his life, and greatly aided him to achieve the career which has made him so prominent. The war record given is historical. There were four children-two sons, who died in youth, and two daughters, Mrs. Addison Hays, who lives with her family in Mississippi, and Annie Varina, who died in 1898. She was affectionately called "Winnie," and introduced by General Gordon, of Atlanta, as the "Daughter of the Confederacy." She was born in 1864, at Richmond, Virginia, and had literary talent of very high order, and contributed to a number of peri