Jefferson Davis BicentennialThis year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Jefferson Davis, who was born in Fairview, Ky., on June 3, 1808, and at the age of 2 moved with his parents to Rosemont Plantation near Woodville, Miss. In 1835, Davis moved to Warren County where he spent the most productive years of his life. This is the fourth of a series of 11 articles about Davis as a local citizen.

Though he failed in his bid for a seat in the Mississippi Legislature, Jefferson Davis was elected two years later to Congress where events cast him into national prominence and made him a national hero. When it was over, he came home to Warren County.

On Dec. 8, 1845, Jefferson Davis, 37, was sworn in as a member of the Twenty-ninth Congress of the United States. The Democratic Party’s leaders had persuaded him to run, and no one within the party opposed him.

Varina, only 19, was excited about her role as a congressman’s wife and also living in sophisticated Washington, D.C. She later wrote that she learned the bitterness of being a politician’s wife, “that it meant long absences, pecuniary depletion from ruinous absenteeism, illness from exposure, misconceptions, defamation of character – everything which darks the sunlight and contracts the happy sphere of home.”

Jefferson Davis as a young manOn their way to Washington, they stopped at Vicksburg to greet John C. Calhoun, who was a guest in the city. Davis was asked to introduce the elder statesman. It was a friendship that endured until Calhoun’s death.

Varina was in awe of life in the capital. She spent many hours each day helping her husband with research and correspondence, and she enjoyed going to the gallery and listening to the famous men of the day. The time was critical in American history. War over the Oregon Territory was threatened with Great Britain, and trouble with Mexico over Texas independence loomed.

During his time in Congress, Davis was appointed to a select committee to establish the Smithsonian Institution. Though some did not want to accept Smithson’s gift to the United States, Davis was forceful in establishing the Smithsonian and later served on the board of regents.

Another significant event in his congressional service occurred when he made a speech congratulating Gen. Zachary Taylor on successes on the field of battle. He praised his former father-in-law’s skill and daring.

Congressman Andrew Johnson of Tennessee had expressed distrust of the Army and denounced West Point graduates. Davis’ basic response was that for military matters you secured the expertise of a man trained in military tactics and asked Johnson if he thought someone else, for example “a blacksmith or a tailor” would do as well. Johnson had been a tailor, and he considered the remarks a personal affront and flew into a rage, denouncing “the illegitimate, swaggering bastard, scrub aristocracy” of the South to which he declared Davis belonged. Davis twice apologized, but Johnson, who had made a fool of himself on the House floor, felt he had been singled out for an insult. Davis had inadvertently made an enemy for life.

The United States was in a border war with Mexico, and in addition to the men in the Army, the forces who fought with Mexico were made up of volunteers from each state. The First Mississippi Regiment was organized at Vicksburg in June 1846, and members chose Jefferson Davis to be their commander. He had been in Congress only six months, but he resigned and came home – though not without more controversy. Davis insisted that his men be armed with the new Whitney Rifles, which after thorough testing he felt were superior weapons to the regular Army issue. Top-ranking Gen. Winfield Scott objected to the purchase of the new percussion arms, but Davis held firm that his men be supplied with them. He won, and on the field of battle he was proved right. The gun gained the name of the Mississippi Rifle.

By the time Davis arrived in Warren County, the First Mississippi had shipped out to New Orleans where he joined them. On July 25, they set sail for Brazos Island in south Texas where Gen. Taylor welcomed them. There Davis began strenuous drills on the hot, dry neck of sea land. Only once did he show anger at his men: They raided a cornfield of its roasting ears, which had just reached maturity. He made a stern speech and demanded that the rights of private property be absolutely respected, and he then paid the farmer for the crop. Davis insisted that no man or officer in his regiment should return home with a single souvenir looted from the citizens, not even a silver spoon. His men won the reputation of being the most orderly and best drilled soldiers of all the volunteers.

Gen. Taylor welcomed Davis, writing, “I can assure you I am more than anxious to take you by the hand, and to have you and your command with or near me.”

Davis had been with his men only three months when he received word that Varina was dangerously ill. He took an immediate leave, and while at home he took time to draw up a will offering his slave and overseer James Pemberton land or money and also his freedom should Davis be killed. Pemberton, ever a loyal friend, chose to remain a slave to Varina as long as she lived, and then he would like to be free.

On his return to Mexico after Varina’s recovery, Davis rejoined his regiment at Aqua Nueva south of Saltillo. Taylor’s army had been rapidly depleted by orders of Gen. Winfield Scott, who thought he needed the men in another part of Mexico. Mexican Gen. Santa Anna started north, and Taylor began withdrawing his men to a narrow pass close to a ranch named Buena Vista. His fewer than 5,000 men and officers were outnumbered four to one. The Americans were in danger of complete ruin.

Santa Anna impertinently demanded Taylor’s unconditional surrender in a verbose letter; Taylor simply replied, “I decline acceding to your request.”

Fighting began in the afternoon on Jan. 23, ceased at dark, and resumed at daybreak. At a critical moment Taylor appeared on horseback on the field, encouraging his men. The First Mississippi was ordered into battle, and Davis, leading his men, was wounded in the heel, a ball entering and shattering bone, embedding splinters or brass from the spur and shreds of wool from his sock deep into the flesh. Davis ignored the pain and attacked with violence. The Mexican infantry, which thought it had won, fell back in confusion and began retreating.

Approaching from the left, however, was the Mexican cavalry, and Davis knew it was up to his men to prevent them from getting behind the Americans and capturing the batteries. He quickly formed his men in a “V” or obtuse triangle, stationing them along a ravine, allowing the Mexicans to come within easy range.

The Battle of Buena Vista was a complete rout of the Mexican Army, and the news made Davis a national hero. On May 29, 1847, he and his men sailed for home. When they arrived in New Orleans, the crowd went wild when Davis appeared. Flowers were tossed from the balconies into his carriage. Bands played, cannon were fired, and there were eloquent speeches. The Picayune said it was impossible to describe the enthusiasm. Celebrations were repeated at other towns on the river, but in Vicksburg the celebration and “welcome home” was even more clamorous. The people did high honor for their colonel.

When asked for a list of those who should be recognized for gallantry, Davis replied that he would have to name every man in the regiment.

Finally at home at Brierfie1d he had a chance to rest and relax and also to answer a letter from President James K. Polk appointing him brigadier general.

At the beginning, when Polk declared that the country was at war, Davis reminded him that only Congress had that authority. Now, once it was over, he thanked Polk for the appointment, but declined as the Constitution did not give the chief executive that power over volunteer soldiers, either.

Davis was ever-vigilant when it came to interpreting the Constitution. It was a guiding light in his political career.

For a time – a very short time – Davis was at home at Brierfield, and then duty called again, and it was back to Washington as senator and Secretary of War.

Next: Brierfield felt like home

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Gordon Cotton is an author and historian who lives in Vicksburg.