The Papers of Jefferson Davis

June 1865–December 1870

Jefferson Davis

• Publisher: LSU Press
• Year: 2008
• ISBN:
  9780807158951
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: American Civil War History
• Index: History

"Being powerless to direct the current, I can only wait to see whither it runs, " wrote Jefferson Davis to his wife, Varina, on October 11, 1865, five months after the victorious United States Army took him prisoner. Indeed, in the tumultuous years immediately after the Civil War, Davis found himself more acted upon than active, a dramatic change from his previous twenty years of public service to the United States as a major political figure and then to the Confederacy as its president and commander in chief. Volume 12 of The Papers of Jefferson Davis follows the former president of the Confederacy as he and his family fight to find their place in the world after the Civil War. A federal prisoner, incarcerated in a "living tomb" at Fort Monroe while the government decided whether, where, and by whom he should be tried for treason, Davis was initially allowed to correspond only with his wife and counsel. Released from prison after two hard years, he was not free from legal proceedings until 1869. Stateless, homeless, and without means to support himself and his young family, Davis lived in Canada and then Europe, searching for a new career in a congenial atmosphere. Finally, in November 1869, he settled in Memphis as president of a life insurance company and, for the first time in four years, had the means to build a new life.Throughout this difficult period, Varina Howell Davis demonstrated strength and courage, especially when her husband was in prison. She fought tirelessly for his release and to ensure their children's education and safety. Their letters clearly demonstrate the Davises' love and their dependence on each other. They both worried over the fate of the South and of family members and friends who had suffered during the war. Though disfranchised, Davis remained careful but not totally silent on the subject of politics. Even while in prison, he wrote without regret of his decision to follow Mississippi out of the Union and of his unswerving belief in the constitutionality of state rights and secession. Likewise, he praised all who supported the Confederacy with their blood and who, like himself, had lost everything.

INDEX

Ab(b)erson,Jack(ident., 10:64), 436

Abbotsford, Scotland: Davis in, 367

Abinger, Baron. See Scarlett, William F.

abolitionists: Davis on (1846), 519

“accept the situation,” 356

Acoste,——(Dr.), 353, 356, 439, 490

Adams, John, 104

Adams, John Quincy (sketch, 2:397), 455

Adams, William Wirt (sketch, 8:15): business ventures, 308, 315, 317, 320;

Davis and, xlv, 281–82, 315; on Davis, 308, 320

L to, 281–82

Ls from, 317, 320; mentioned, 316, 343

African Americans. See blacks

African Church (Richmond): Davis on 1865 speeches, 473, 509

Ahern, Mary (sketch, 25): Davis and, 177, 200, 388, 389, on, 54, 274, 470

V. Davis and, 23, 25, 26, 132, 151, 204, on, 27, 43, 58

health, 254, 258

mentioned, 158, 178, 320, 346, 385, 401, 411, 421, 433, 441, 450, 464, 469

Alabama: Davis on, 168

mentioned, 136

Alabama, CSS, 85, 179, 251

Alabama troops: 9th Infantry, 524

Albert, Prince, 319

Alcorn, James L. (sketch, 8:17): as governor, 411–12, 458

mentioned, 213, 512

Alexander, Jane Stamps (niece) (sketch, 1:460), 389

Alfriend, Frank H. (sketch, 243): L to, 239–43

L from, 501

Alison, Archibald, 61, 68

Allen, William: and Davis’ bail, 198

Allison, Abraham K., 157

Alton, England: Davis in, 320

Ambler, Anna M., 290

Ambler, Benjamin M., 291

Ambler, John, 291

Ambler, John C, 199, 291

Amelia Court House, Va., 507

American Revolution: Davis on, 100, 463, 505

Ames, Adelbert, 313, 402, 414

amnesty: Davis and, 308, 340

A. Johnson and, 39, 341

Anderson, Ellen Davis (niece) (sketch, 1:282), 97, 109, 135, 140, 144, 440, 458, 461

Anderson, Fulton: Davis and, 37, 68, 351

Anderson, Jane (grandniece) (ident., 144), 135, 140

Anderson, Joseph R.: L to, 260

Anderson, Robert Davis (grandnephew), 135

Anderson, Thomas S. (nephew-in-law) (sketches, 5:142, 7:34), 144

Andersonville, Ga.: Davis and, 209, 235, 435, on, 218, 237

J. H. Winder and, 181

H. Wirz and, 66, 174–75, 511–12

writings on, 235, 470, 485, 511–12, 516. See also prisoners of war; Wirz, Henry

Arkansas: bonds (Davis), 454

conditions, 136

Davis brothers’ land in, 194, 253–54, 515

finances, 409

Arkansas troops: 2d Infantry, 403

4th Infantry, 403

Army of Tennessee: commanders, 529, (Davis), 262, 530

Davis visits, 262

“Arp, Bill,” 124

Arran, Lady, 391

Arrington, Emma L.: Davis and, xlix–1, 442

mentioned, 433, 456, 475, 480, 482

Arrington, William T: Davis and, xlix–I;

L to, 428

mentioned, 433, 475, 480, 482

Articles of Confederation: Davis on, 165–66, 242

artillery: Davis on, 176

Athenaeum Club, London, 330

Athens, Ga.: V. Davis in, 78, 235

Atkinson, John H.: L to, 414–15

mentioned, 416

Atlanta, Ga.: campaign, 471, 533, (Davis), 45, 68

Davis speaks in (1871), 356

Augusta, Ga.: Davis in (1864), 46

V. Davis and, 18, 22–23, 25, 74, 80, 90, 102, 233, 235, on, 98

Davis relatives in, 24, 25, 33, 57, 91

Austrian (steamship), 310

Ayres, G. P., Mrs., 515

“B.J.,”53

Bache, Alexander D. (sketch, 4:290): Davis and (1854), 521

L to, 521

mentioned, 524

Bache, Nancy F. (sketch, 5:43), 521

Bache, Richard, Jr. (1784–1848) (sketch, 6:372), 416

Bache, Sophia D. (sketch, 6:372), 416

Bacon, ——: Davis on, 352

Bagley, Paul: Ls from, 194, 202, 245

Baillie, Evan: Davis and, 378, 379

Baillie, Georgina M.: Davis and, 378

Baldwin, John B., 474

Ballantyne, Robert M.: Davis and, 366, 387

Balquhidder, Scotland: Davis visits, 374

Baltimore (steamship), 386

Baltimore, Md.: Carolina Life office, 359, 402, (Davis), 361, 394, 398, 399, 400

citizens described, 184

Davis and, 261, 387, 388, 392, 394, 484, 485, 500, on, 192

V. Davis and, 157, 182–184, 187, 192–194, 261, 389, 394, 489, 501

R. E. Lee in (1848–52), 507

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, 189

Bancroft, Frederick J.: on Davis, 19

Bancroft, George (sketch, 2:382): Davis on, 42, 45

V. Davis on, 51

Banks, —— (Capt.), 467

Banks, Nathaniel P. (sketch 6:268), 143

Barker, ——, 381, 382

Barksdale, Ethelbert (sketch, 4:224): Davis and, 268

L from, 480–81

mentioned, 214, 269, 317

Barnard, John G. (sketch, 5:106), 404

Barnes, Charles, 27

Barnes, Ellen. See McGinnis(s), Ellen

Barnes, Joseph K.: Davis and, 156

Barnum’s Hotel (Baltimore), 279, 392

Barrett-Lennard, Anne H., 318

Barrett-Lennard, Charles E., 318

Barry, William H., 198

Barten, Otto S.: Davis and, 152, 159

Bass Rock, Scotland: Davis describes, 364–65

Bate, William B., 265

Battery Huger, Ala., 266

Battery Tracey, Ala., 266

Baxley, Catherine V.: L from, 27

Baxley, William, 27

Bayard, James A.: Davis and, xlii, xlvi;

mentioned, 320

Bayliss, Bronson, 518

Beach, S. Ferguson, 335

Beasley, William F. (sketch, 510): L from, 508–9

mentioned, 509, 512, 516

Beauregard, Pierre G. T. (sketch, 6:249): assignment (1864), 532

criticized, 146

Drewry’s Bluff, 484, (Davis), 73, 531

T.Jordan and, 49

Manassas, 264, 265, 517, (Davis), 263

staff, 431

mentioned, 101, 109, 194, 317, 339, 348, 471

Beauvoir, 38, 374

Beck, —— (Mrs.), 158

Beckett, George, 462

Bedgebury Park, England, 316, 317, 363, 364, 404, 405, 476

Bee, Barnard E. (sketch, 7:226), 517

Belfast, Ireland: Davis travels to, 493

Belgium: CSA and (1863), 528

Belleville Factory, Ga., 25, 120

Belvidere mine, Canada, 310

Ben. See Montgomery, Benjamin

Benjamin, Joseph, 205

Benjamin, Judah P. (sketch, 6:195): and CSA archives, 445

Davis and, xlvii, xl-viii, 204–5, 316, 322, 323, 329, 336–37, 352, 353, 418, 492, on, 170

V. Davis and, 80, 81

escapes from South, 205, 207

Jaquess and Gilmore conversation (1864), 531–32

on Davis’ case, 204, his career, 205, C.J. McRae, 205, reconstruction/reunion (1864), 532, South, 205

as secretary of state (1863), 529

L to, 352

Ls from, 204–5, 316, 336–37, 492

mentioned, 56, 171, 206, 219, 231, 238, 320, 328, 334, 347, 474

Benjamin, Natalie S. (sketch, 206), 205

Benjamin, Ninette. See de Bousignac, Ninette B.

Ben Ledi, Scotland: Davis sees, 370

mentioned, 371

Bennett, James Gordon (sketch, 6:174): Davis visits, 294

Benson, Haille. See Hyde, Haille B.

Ben Tee, Scotland: Davis visits, 378

Benton, Benjamin E.: L from, 416

Benton, Thomas Hart (sketch, 2:464): Davis and, 175

mentioned, 432, 433

“Beppo,” 407

Beresford Hope, Alexander J. B. (sketch, 404): and GSA, 209, 356, 404, 476, (Davis), 498

Davises and, 317, 360, 363, 364, 384, 401, 498

on Davis, 404

Ls to, 316, 317, 363, 364, 384, 498, cited, 405

Ls from, 209, 316, 317, 357, 360, 363, 364

mentioned, 219, 451

Beresford Hope, Mildred, 316, 317, 363, 498

Berryman, L., 494

“Bessie/Bessy,” 385, 401, 411, 421

Bets(e)y (slave) (ident., 9:235): Davis on, 29

Bickersteth, Jane H.: L from, 499

Bier, G. H., 390

Bingham, John A., 175

Birge, Henry W.: V. Davis, on, 29, 39

Bishop’s College School, Canada, 25, 31, 328, 386

Bismarck, Otto von, 496.

Black, ——, 291, 301

Black, Jeremiah S. (sketch, 6:165): Buchanan and, 77

Davis and, 5, on, 95

Milligan case, 143

on Davis’ case, 96

Blackburn, Luke P., 446

Blackford, Eliza A., 291

blacks: Davis and, 122, 390, 403–4, on, 14, 29, 41, 53, 61, 71–72, 96–97, 107, 112–13, 115, 125–26, 139, 149, 167–68, 179, 180, 237–38, 280, 303, 339–40, 399, 407, 411–12, 423, 426

Davis assassination plot, 258

J. E. Davis on, 41, 153, 154, 158, 160, 180, 186, 207, 212, 311, 434, 458

V. Davis and, 109, 125, on, 40, 49, 64, 80, 81, 108–9, 111, 123, 145–46

and Davis jury, 196, 245, 249, 252, 255, 284, 289, 293, 296

in Ga., 34, 49, 64, 80, 108–9, (Davis), 71–72

as jurors, 49, 296

labor contracts, 136, 158, (Davis), 113, 167–68

in Memphis, 399, 403–4, 426

in Miss., 34, 145–16, 158, 180, 185, 207–8, 212–14, 221, 267, 311, 411–12

and South, 306, 439

suffrage, 123, 207–8, 211, 306, 313, 314, 352, 434

in Texas (Davis), 115

U.S. sentiment toward, 219

Ls from, 13, 150, 516, cited, 460. See also Davis, Jefferson—servants and ex-slaves

Blackwell, John C: L to, 307

L from, 307

Blackwell, Thomas E., 328, 330

Blackwood, John (sketch, 369): Davis and, 367, 370, 376, ...