Jefferson Davis Letters for the years 1834 thru 1887

Fort Gibson, AR - 16 December 1834

Tis strange how superstitious intense feeling renders us. but stranger still what aids chance sometimes brings to support our superstition, dreams my dear Sarah we will agree are our weakest thoughts

Warren County, MS - 24 July 1840

I am living as retired as a man on the great thoroughfare of the Mississippi can be, and just now the little society which exists hereabout has been driven away by the presence of the summer's heat and the fear of the summer's disease.

Hurricane, MS - 25 March 1844

I wish you aid me with any statements which can be made available against the charge of defalcation and extravagance under Mr. Van Buren's administration

Monterrey, MEX - 25 September 1846

The town is ours after a severe conflict. The Mississippians were brought into action on the 21st and performed some brilliant service.

Brierfield, MS - 19 September 1847

The political information you communicate was entirely new to me, and it is only under the belief that the crisis renders important the views of every southern man, that I can account for any speculations having arisen about my opinions as to the nex

Senate Chamber, MD - 30 January 1849

You know Mr. Polk and your view of the manner in which he should be dealt with as shown by your letters has very closely agreed with my own.

Warren County, MS - 10 November 1860

Reports of the election leave little doubt that the event you anticipated has occurred, that electors have been chosen securing the election of Abraham Lincoln, and I will answer on that supposition.

Washington, MD - 13 January 1861

I need hardly say to you that a request for a conference on questions of defense had to me the force of a command

Washington, MD - 20 January 1861

You will not be surprised when I say to you that my quiet hours are mostly spent in thoughts of Charleston Harbor, and may therefore pardon the frequency of my letters.

Washington, MD - 20 January 1861

I have often and sadly turned my thoughts to you during the troublous times through which we have been passing and now I come to the hard task of announcing to you that the hour is at hand which closes my connection with the United States

Montgomery, AL - 13 April 1861

Thanks for your achievement and for your courtesy to the garrison of Sumter.

Richmond, VA - 13 June 1861

Your information may be more accurate than we possess, in relation to the purposes of the enemy, and I will briefly reply to you on the hypothesis which forms the basis of your suggestions.

Richmond, VA - 17 July 1861

We are making all efforts to reinforce you. Cannot send to day, but afterwards they will go regularly

Richmond, VA - 20 July 1861

You are a General in the Confederate Army, possessed of the power attached to that rank.

Richmond, VA - 21 July 1861

Night has closed upon a hard fought field -- Our forces have won a glorious victory The Enemy was routed & fled precipatately abandoning a very large amount of arms munitions Knapsacks and Baggige

Manassas, VA - 21 July 1861

you are appointed to be ' General ' in the army of the Confederate States of America

, VA - 1 August 1861

We are anxiously looking for official reports of the battle of Manassas, and have present need to know what supplies and wagons were captured.

Richmond, VA - 4 August 1861

I think you are unjust to yourself in putting your failure to pursue the enemy to Washington to the account of short supplies of subsistence and transportation.

Richmond, VA - 10 August 1861

Some excitement has been created by your letter ; the Quartermaster and the Commissary General both feel that they have been unjustly arraigned.

Richmond, VA - 13 September 1861

While you were in the Valley of Virginia, your army and that of General Beauregard were independent commands ; when you marched to Manassas, the forces joined and did duty together.

Richmond, VA - 14 September 1861

Its language is, as you say, unusual ; its arguments and statements utterly one-sided

Richmond, VA - 25 October 1861

You were unquestionably wrong in the order to recruit a company for the Provisional Army. The Congress, with jealous care, reserved to men of such companies the power of selecting their own officers.

Richmond, VA - 30 October 1861

Yesterday my attention was called to various newspaper publications purporting to have been sent from Manassas, and to a synopsis of your report of the battle of the 21st of July past

Richmond, VA - 3 November 1861

Reports have been and are being widely circulated to the effect that I prevented General Beauregard from pursuing the enemy after the battle of Manassas

Richmond, VA - 10 November 1861

When I addressed you in relation to your complaint because of the letters written to you by Mr. Benjamin, Acting Secretary of War, it was hoped that you would see that you had misrepresented his expressions, and would be content.

Richmond, VA - 21 February 1862

The enemy are for the time occupied with the interior, and I have directed Captain Hollins to move up the river with his fleet In two or three weeks it is expected that some fourteen vessels, to be manned by "river men," will be ready to leave New Or

Richmond, VA - 28 February 1862

The heavy guns at Manassas and Evansport, needed elsewhere, and reported to be useless in their present position, would necessarily be abandoned in a hasty retreat. I regret that you find it impossible to move them.

Richmond, VA - 6 March 1862

I was fully impressed with the difficulties which you presented when discussing the subject of a change of position. To preserve the efficiency of your army, you will, of course, avoid all need less exposure

Richmond, VA - 15 March 1862

It is true I have had many and alarming reports of great destruction of ammunition, camp equipage, and provisions, indicating precipitate retreat ; but having heard of no cause for such a sudden movement I was at a loss to believe it.

Richmond, VA - 15 March 1862

I have no report of your reconnaissance, and can suggest nothing as to the position you should take

Fredericksburg, VA - 22 March 1862

You will relieve Major-General Holmes of his command, and direct him to report at Richmond for further orders.

Richmond, VA - 26 March 1862

My confidence in you has never wavered, and I hope the public will soon give me credit for judgment, rather than continue to arraign me for obstinacy.

Richmond, VA - 1 May 1862

Your announcement to-day that you would withdraw to-morrow night, takes us by surprise, and must involve enormous losses, including unfinished gunboats.

Richmond, VA - 30 May 1862

General Lee rises to the occasion . . . and seems to be equal to the conception. I hope others will develop capacity in execution. . . .

Richmond, VA - 19 June 1862

Mrs. Greenhow when she came brought me three oranges and a box of Jelly.

Richmond, VA - 20 June 1862

Your despatch, informing me that General Beauregard had turned over the command to you and left for Mobile, on surgeons' certificate, was duly received.

Richmond, VA - 31 July 1862

On the 22d of this month a cartel for the exchange of prisoners of war was signed between Major-General D. H. Hill, in behalf of the Confederate States, and Major-General John A. Dix, in behalf of the United States.

Richmond, VA - 31 July 1862

On the 23d of this month a cartel for a general exchange of prisoners was signed between Major- General D. H. Hill, in behalf of the Confederate States, and Major- General John A. Dix, in behalf of the United States.

Richmond, VA - 1 August 1862

you were instructed by the Secretary of War to make inquiries of the General in command of the United States forces, relative to alleged murders committed on our citizens by officers of the United States army

Richmond, VA - 11 November 1862

I concur with you as to the policy of allowing the conscripts, as far as the state of the service will permit, to select the companies and regiments in which they are to serve.

Richmond, VA - 8 May 1863

So far as we have learned here, the enemy seem to confine their operations to the country below Lake Providence and would appear to be endeavoring to carry out the avowed purpose of preventing the cultivation of the crops

Richmond, VA - 2 July 1863

Numerous difficulties and disputes have arisen in relation to the execution of the cartel of exchange heretofore agreed on by the belligerents, and the commissioners for the exchange of prisoners have been unable to adjust their differences.

Richmond, VA - 2 July 1863

Having accepted your patriotic offer to proceed as a military commissioner, under flag of truce, to Washington, you will herewith receive your letter of authority to the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.

Richmond, VA - 15 July 1863

When I learned that prejudice and malignity had so undermined the confidence of the troops at Vicksburg in their commander as to threaten disaster, I deemed the circumstances such as to present the case foreseen in Special Order No. 275

Richmond, VA - 24 July 1863

This is not the first intimation I have received that Holden is engaged in the treasonable purpose of exciting the people of North Carolina to resistance against their Government, and co-operation with the enemy

Richmond, VA - 11 August 1863

I am glad that you concur so entirely with me as to the wants of our country in this trying hour

Richmond, VA - 27 August 1863

The disasters in Mississippi were both great and unexpected to me. I had thought that the troops sent to the State, added to those already there, made a force large enough to accomplish the destruction of Grant's army.

Richmond, VA - 23 September 1863

I have read with emotion the deep grief therein expressed for the ruin and devastation caused by the war which is now being waged by the United States

Richmond, VA - 19 December 1863

I have directed a supply of arms, say 25,000, to be sent to you across the Missi. & have telegraphed to Genl. Johnston to correspond with you so as to secure your cooperation in giving protection & transportation to the arms

Richmond, VA - 8 January 1864

Apart from insuperable objections to the line of policy you propose (and to which I will presently advert), I cannot see how the more material obstacles are to be surmounted.

Richmond, VA - 21 February 1865

The article enclosed from the Register and Advertiser is a substantial expression of my own views on the subject of employing for the defence of our Country all the able-bodied men we have without distinction of color

Danville, VA - 5 April 1865

On last Sunday I was called out of church to receive a telegram announcing that General Lee could not hold his position longer than till night, and warning me that we must leave Richmond

Danville, VA - 6 April 1865

We are arranging an executive office where the current business may be transacted here, and do not propose at this time definitely to fix upon a point for a seat of government in the future.

Danville, VA - 9 April 1865

You will realize the reluctance I feel to leave the soil of Virginia, and appreciate my anxiety to win success north of the Roanoke

Charlotte, NC - 23 April 1865

The dispersion of Lee's army and the surrender of the remnant which remained with him destroyed the hopes I entertained when we parted.

Charlotte, NC - 24 April 1865

The hostile Government reject the proposed settlement, and order active operations to be resumed

Fort Monroe, VA - 30 June 1865

I desire to obtain from you or through you certain relaxations of the orders now in force in regard to myself.

Fortress Monroe, VA - 21 August 1865

I am now permitted to write to you under two conditions, viz., that I confine my self to family matters, and that my letter shall be examined by the United States Attorney-General before it is sent to you.

Fortress Monroe, VA - 15 September 1865

As only an occasional newspaper is given me, I cannot know whether any replies are made to the fictions published in regard to myself

Fortress Monroe, VA - 26 September 1865

It is true that my strength has greatly failed me, and the loss of sleep has created a morbid excitability, but an unseen hand has sustained me

Fortress Monroe, VA - 2 October 1865

My days drag heavily on. To what, I have no means to direct, or to fore see. Having no communication with the outer world except with you, and in that restricted by the judgment of the Commanding Officer

Fortress Monroe, VA - 11 October 1865

On the second of this month I was removed to a room on the second floor of a house built for officers quarters. The dry air, good water, and a fire when requisite, have already improved my physical condition

Fortress Monroe, VA - 3 November 1865

I am sustained by a Power I know not of. The Protector of the fatherless and the widow, I am permitted to hope, hears your prayer.

Fortress Monroe, VA - 21 November 1865

The negro is unquestionably to be at last the victim ; because, when brought into conflict, the inferior race must be overborne ; but it is possible to defer the conflict and to preserve a part of the kind relations hereto fore existing between the r

Fortress Monroe, VA - 7 December 1865

I am deeply impressed by the kindness of the Bishop, and that of the priests who have so nobly shown their readiness to do their Master's work in relieving the afflicted and protecting the fatherless.

Fortress Monroe, VA - 16 January 1866

I had feared that our negroes would be disturbed by the introduction of others among them, but could not have imagined that they would be driven away from their home by those pretending to be their especial advocates.

Fortress Monroe, VA - 24 January 1866

That power to compare and sift testimony is as necessary to a historian as to an attorney, and I hope the faculty will be put in exercise proportionate to the field our time has offered

Fortress Monroe, VA - 28 January 1866

Did you ever hear that Colonel MacCree refused to dine with the Duke of Wellington ? He, of course, gave no reason on that occasion, but it was well understood to be on mine.

Fortress Monroe, VA - 3 February 1866

Men turn to the judgment of posterity for the reversal of the decrees of their contemporaries, appealing with the self-sustaining hope of conscious rectitude, from Philip drunk to Philip sober

Fortress Monroe, VA - 17 February 1866

Mrs. Clay, after her return to Washington, sent me a coffee-pot, to enable me to make coffee for myself. Dr. Cooper came and gave me full instructions as to its use, making very good coffee as a part of the lecture.

Fortress Monroe, VA - 13 March 1866

I hope the reports of growing despondence, because of political action leading to organizations for expatriation, have been exaggerated. All cannot go, and those who must stay will need the help of all who can go away.

Fortress Monroe, VA - 22 March 1866

The spring is slowly appearing and, as well as the calendar, reminds me of the many months during which I have been closely confined without any legal proceeding

Fortress Monroe, VA - 8 April 1866

Next to the consciousness of rectitude, it is to me the greatest of earthly consolations to know that those for whom I acted and suffer, approve and sympathize.

Fortress Monroe, VA - 21 April 1866

Often has it occurred in the world's history that fidelity has been treated as a crime, and true faith punished as treason. So it cannot be before the Judge to whom all hearts are open, from whom no secrets are hid.

Mississippi City, MS - 4 February 1878

The facts you state in regard to captured treasure are new to me. It is probable that most of it was the property of the Richmond banks.

Beauvoir, MS - 6 November 1884

I have to-night received the enclosed published account of remarks made by General W. T. Sherman, and ask the use of your columns to notice only so much as particularly refers to myself

Beauvoir, MS - 20 June 1887

When our fathers achieved their independence, the corner-stone of the governments they constructed was individual liberty, and the social organizations they established were not for the surrender, but for the protection, of natural rights.