Jefferson Davis served most famously as President of the Confederate States of America from 1861-1865 but he also held offices in Congress, the Senate, and in Pierce’s Presidential Cabinet, Secretary of War before he became the political face of the Stars and Bars. The defacto Forefather was born in a Kentucky log cabin in 1808, the 10th and last child. He was raised in Mississippi and took his talents to West Point Military Academy where our top 10 list begins for a man without a country.
10. The eggnog fueled Christmas riot of West Point 1826
Cadet Davis was a known offender of alcohol. He was suspended for boozing off school property earlier that year at the infamous Benny Haven’s Tavern, where cadets could barter blankets, shoes, and other goods. Edgar Allen Poe was said to be a regular patron at Benny’s during his stay at the academy instilling its legacy. Jefferson had also taken a drunken fall down a 60ft ravine nearly escaping serious injury to add to his shenanigans. That Christmas, he decided to extend the gift of inebriation to all in attendance with 3 to 4 gallons of whiskey he bribed a fellow cadet standing watch 35 cents to look the other way on a cold winter’s day river crossing, greasing the wheels.
Eggnog, a staple of West Point Christmas parties was spiked with Jefferson’s contraband from Benny Haven’s Tavern, blowback from the ban on alcohol. Ensued was a full on drunken eggnog rampage of young men exploding with hooting, hollering, fighting, breaking up the barracks, swords drawn, and one shot fired with no reason of consequence, to their character, honor, and future at West Point. Cadet Davis was famously busted as he blurted out, “Put away the grog boys! Captain Hitchcock’s coming!” Hitchcock, “The Father of West Point” was known for his strict rules and sent Jefferson back to his room. Cadet Davis was not one of the nineteen expelled and narrowly escaped a court martial, adding further embracement to the academy.
9. Jeff Davis becomes an American hero
In July 1846 Mr. Davis left his seat in Congress to lead the 1st Mississippi regiment as Colonel in New Orleans. His good friend, father in law, and future President, Zack Taylor, head of the army, praised his efforts in training the rifle men and his victory in Bueno Vista. The Americans had taken 679 losses of their almost 5,000 soldiers but that was impressive as they inflicted 3,500 causalities on the Santa Anna forces numbering 15,000, in large part to the Davis’s counterattack with the Mississippi rifles. Although Colonel Davis suffered a non-life threating gunshot wound, he would not leave the battle field before victory was achieved.
The war between the two neighbors broke out after Texas was annexed in 1845 and the country had a thirst for “Manifest Destiny” until they reached the Pacific. The Polk administration offered $35 million for California and other territories, a hell of deal for the US, but No Bueno, for the Mexicans. Taylor was sent out west with his forces to ensure pressure was applied. It just goes to show you, when a country commits troops there are going to deploy them; we can look at Iraq and Ukraine as recent examples. Davis returned a hero, many state legislatures passed resolutions, “thanking him for his service” and his home state governor Brown appointed him to represent the state of Mississippi in the Senate.
Before the war Mr. Davis made a moving speech on the house floor questioning those conducting military operations with little or no education on the matter. It was a rebuttal to Rep. Sawyer from Ohio on West Point. It was told John Quincy Adams said soundly through the ear trumpet of one Joshua Giddings, “Mark my words, sir; we shall hear more of that young man!”
8. His citizenship was not restored until October 17, 1978
After the Civil War Davis was charged with treason but never convicted due to Andrew Johnson’s full pardon on Christmas Day 1868 to all who fought for the Confederacy. In 1876 the former “ex-president” was excluded from an amnesty bill to restore Confederates citizenship and it took over a 100 years and the Carter administration to welcome back a patriot of the South and traitor to the Stars and Stripes.
7. The Secretary of War buys camels for proslavery expansion out west
In 1856 Jefferson Davis had brought 34 camels to Texas and from regions far away like Tunis and Cairo. They could haul 1200lbs of hay over a trek of 30miles. Although it may seem prudent to import camels into the American southwest one has to ask about other objections in terms of slavery. It could be argued that in-addition to camels; slaves could also be snuck on ships as cargo. His funding ran out and was denied 3 years in row by Congress, 1858-60.
As Secretary of War Davis had no political ties to Whigs or Democrats, it was about the best person for the public service, for example, he sent Colonel Sumner to command Federal troops in a Kansas, a known abolitionist. He accomplished much for the War department in the Pierce administration during his time as Secretary. Jefferson Davis looked out for his men pushing Congress in the direction of pension for those who serve; he expanded railways, and reorganized the medical corps. Mr. Davis, in-addition to being an advocate and founder of the Smithsonian Institute also finished the lagging aqueduct project supplying D.C. with fresh water. He increased the size of US forces and modernized weapons arguing to be one of the most efficient men to hold the office.
6. Davis left the Senate in Peace and wished no ill will towards his peers
He stated in 1861, “we are about to be deprived in the Union of the rights which our fathers bequeathed to us,” and “having made the announcement which the occasion seemed to me to require, it only remains for me to bid you a final adieu.” The Senate in an unprecedented situation considered Davis and his colleagues, seats vacant as they excited the chambers peacefully as tears flowed from the hallowed halls.
On Feb. 18, 1861 President Davis of the Confederate States of America, made his inaugural address on the steps of the State Capital in Montgomery, AL with some peaceful rhetoric. Asking Southerners not to engage in price gauging saying, “An agricultural people, whose chief interest is the export of a commodity required in every manufacturing country, our true policy is peace, and the freest trade which our necessities will permit. It is alike our interest, and that of all those to whom we would sell and from whom we would buy, that there should be the fewest practicable restrictions upon the interchange of commodities.” Mr. Davis continues his pitch for peace, “There can be but little rivalry between ours and any manufacturing or navigating community, such as the Northeastern States of the American Union. It must follow, therefore, that a mutual interest would invite good will and kind offices.” The Confederate President highlights States rights expressing no ill will again towards his brethren in Union stating, “Actuated solely by the desire to preserve our own rights and promote our own welfare, the separation of the Confederate States has been marked by no aggression upon others and followed by no domestic convulsion.”
5. The Traitor was bailed out of jail by Northerners
Imprisoned for 2 years after the war and to the opinions of Gerrit Smith, funder of John Brown, and member of the secret 6 wrote a letter on his reasoning for signing his name to the bail of the former Confederate. Mr. Smith felt 2 years imprisoned wasn’t adding up to speedy trial and said Jefferson Davis was, “entitled either to his trial or to his liberty.” His second reason simply was that Mr. Greely advised him too. Horace Greely was editor of the New York Tribune, a Whig, and although not a clear cut abolitionist he helped to found the Republican Party.
4. His “Presidential” library is in Biloxi, Miss.
Beauvoir, Davis’s former mansion, became a home for Confederate veterans, the legacy left by his wife when she sold it to the Sons’ Mississippi Division for a mere $10,000, instead of the $90,000 she was offered by a developer. In 1998 it became a library and museum across the street from the crystal clear gulf waters. The state legislature donated $4.5 million and Senator Trent Lott made an appearance along with 3,000 supporters. When I toured the property in 2015 I was told his favorite meal was that of peacock. Many animals roam the lush property and are colorful, engaging, and welcoming.
3. The Davis regime administered the 1st American draft or conscription.
Controversial but necessary the President needed his constituents to defend the constitution as he read it and even applied to enlisted men. More so, he took much land from Southerners for military purposes which hurt far greater than the one tenth taxes imposed on farmers to feed their brother fighting for Dixie.
2. The former Senator’s desk was attacked by Union Troops
A union outfit from Massachusetts camped out in the Senate Chambers in 1861 and located Davis’s old desk with bayonets willing on annihilation. “We are cutting that damned traitor’s desk to pieces,” the soldiers screamed. Although minimal scratches remain the company was reminded the desk was property of the United States government and to halt their aggression.
1. He became a President on February 22, 1861 with a 6 year term
Others may deny him a seat at the table but he was a Commander and Chief for half of the country, 160 years ago, only he failed at a full term. And yes, slavery was outdated but the constitution, the law of the land, granted sovereign state rights that over the federal government, his central argument. And although the North contested the barbarism of slavery they desired a “white” workforce in the new territories. Propaganda ran back in those days as it was said Davis was captured wearing women’s clothes, that’s how you dress an American traitor up North. Worse than this embarrassment Jefferson lost his young son in 1864 when he fell to his death from the balcony of the Confederate Capital in Richmond. Papers in the Capital had turned against him and The Richmond Examiner editor printed about the President, “has alienated the hearts of the people by his stubborn follies” and “chronic hallucinations that he is a great military genius.” In 1865 as hunger riots and inflation plagued Richmond, Davis escaped by train as Union forces took the city. He was captured a month later in Georgia, the bounty on his head and unrest left him without a country. After his release, he did become a President, for a life insurance company, but it went bust up much faster than the Confederacy. The statue erected in 1911 in New Orleans was torn down in spring 2017.
