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Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis: Ex-President of the Confederate States of America, A Memoir by his Wife, Volume 2, Chapter 9: the President arrives in Richmond. (search)
th the rank of Major-General. Many troops had been sent from other States of the Confederacy to the aid of Virginia, and the forces there assembled were divided into three armies, at the most important positions threatened: one, under command of General J. E. Johnston, at Harper's Ferry, covering the valley of the Shenandoah; another under General G. T. Beauregard, at Manassas, covering the direct approach from Washington to Richmond; and the third, under Generals Huger and Magruder, at Norfolk and in the Peninsula between the James and York Rivers, covering the approach from the seaboard. The armies of Johnston and Beauregard, though separated by the Blue Ridge, had such practicable communication with each other as to render their junction possible when the necessity should be foreseen. Each of the three were confronted by forces greatly superior to their own, and it was doubtful which would first be the object of attack. The temporary occupation of Harper's Ferry was e
Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis: Ex-President of the Confederate States of America, A Memoir by his Wife, Volume 2, Chapter 17: Roanoke Island.-Mr. Davis's inauguration. (search)
yS. R. Mallory. Postmaster-GeneralJ. H. Reagan. Attorney-GeneralThomas H. Watts. The dissolution of his cabinet disquieted the President greatly, and about this time the organized opposition party began to be felt. The enemy also manifested unusual activity. Their first move was the capture of Roanoke Island, on the low coast-line of North Carolina, for it was an important outpost of the Confederates. Its possession by the enemy would give them access to the country from which Norfolk drew its supplies. On January 22, 1862, General Henry A. Wise was placed in command. The defence of this island consisted of six land batteries, and after manning the guns there were not one thousand effective men for duty. Seven gunboats were in the Sound to aid in its defence. On February 8th, General Burnside attacked the defences of the island, and with overwhelming numbers outflanked them, and captured almost the entire force. In this action Captain O. Jennings Wise, o
Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis: Ex-President of the Confederate States of America, A Memoir by his Wife, Volume 2, Chapter 22: Missouri, Monitor, and Virginia (Merrimac). (search)
est of the war was in progress on the waters — a fight that not only ended in a great victory for the Confederacy, but revolutionized the art of naval warfare. It was the fight between the Virginia (formerly the United States frigate Merrimac) and the Federal fleet, including the new iron-clad the Monitor, at Hampton Roads, in which the Virginia sunk the Congress, and disabled and sunk several smaller vessels, besides silencing all the guns at Newport News but one. The evacuation of Norfolk necessitated the destruction of the ram Virginia, as she could not be brought up the James river. The consternation was great when her loss was known-coming as it did so fast upon the heels of her triumph over the Federal fleet. The flag captured by her was brought to the Executive mansion for the President to see. It was borne by Colonel John Taylor Wood, a gallant participant in the fight, and was a bunting flag of very fine quality and large size. I took hold of it and found it damp
Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis: Ex-President of the Confederate States of America, A Memoir by his Wife, Volume 2, Chapter 25: Yorktown and Williamsburg. (search)
fter hearing the views expressed by the several officers named, the President decided to resist the enemy on the Peninsula, and, with the aid of the navy, to hold Norfolk and keep command of the James River. The Confederates numbered, when General Johnston took command, over 50,000 men. On April 16th, an assault was made up. Accepting your conclusion that you must soon retire, arrangements are commenced for the abandonment of the Navy Yard and removal of public property both from Norfolk and the Peninsula. Your announcement to-day that you would withdraw to-morrow night, takes us by surprise, and must involve enormous losses, including unfinis suffered terribly in officers and men, and General Early was wounded, retired from the Peninsula, and halted his army in the vicinity of Richmond. As soon as Norfolk was evacuated, a very severe course was adopted toward the citizens. In consequence of some fancied offence to the wife of General Viele, the ladies were forbidd
Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis: Ex-President of the Confederate States of America, A Memoir by his Wife, Volume 2, Chapter 26: the gun-boats in the James River-battle of seven Pines. (search)
te at night, so late that they remained until the next morning, when Mr. Davis sent me the following letter: Richmond, May 13, 1862. Yesterday afternoon I went to the headquarters of General Johnston's army, about twenty-two or three miles from here. He was out when we reached there, and the distance was so great that after consultation it was decided to remain, and I rode in this morning. The army is reported in fine spirits and condition. If the withdrawal from the Peninsula and Norfolk had been with due preparation and a desirable deliberation, I should be more sanguine of a successful defence of this city. Various causes have delayed the obstructions and the armament of the covering fort, while the hasty evacuation of the defences below and the destruction of the Virginia hastens the coming of the enemy's gunboats. I know not what to expect when so many failures are to be remembered, yet will try to make a successful resistance, and if it were the first attempt, w
Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis: Ex-President of the Confederate States of America, A Memoir by his Wife, Volume 2, Chapter 28: Mr. Davis's literary Preferences. (search)
Chapter 28: Mr. Davis's literary Preferences. In one of the most disheartening periods of the War, when Norfolk had been evacuated and the Virginia destroyed, he came home, about seven o'clock, from his office, staggered up to a sofa in his little private office, and laid down. He declined dinner, and I remained by his side, anxious and afraid to ask what was the trouble which so oppressed him. In an hour or two he told me that the weight of responsibility oppressed him so, that he felt he would give all his limbs to have someone with whom he could share it. I found that nothing comforted him, and at last picked up Lawrence's Guy Livingstone. Knowing that he had not read it, I thought it might distract his mind. The descriptions of the horses and the beau sabreur Guy interested him at first, in a vague kind of way, but gradually he became absorbed, and I read on until the sky became gray and then pink. He was so wrapped in the story that he took no notice of time. When Guy'
Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis: Ex-President of the Confederate States of America, A Memoir by his Wife, Volume 2, Chapter 29: seven days battles around Richmond. (search)
emy's plans, and some things they have not dreamed which we may do. If our ranks were full we could end the war in a few weeks. There is reason to believe that the Yankees have gained from England and France as the last extension, this month, and expect foreign intervention if we hold them at bay on the first of August. My great grief at the loss of the Virginia is renewed and redoubled by our want of her now in the James River. The timber for the completion of the Richmond was burned at Norfolk, and the work on her has been thus greatly delayed; it is uncertain when she will be finished. The batteries on the river, eight miles below here, will stop the gun-boats, and we must intercept and defeat any land force which attempts to take them from the land side. Our troubles, you perceive, have not ended, but our chances have improved, so I repeat, be of good cheer. I went to Richmond for a short visit immediately after the seven days fight, and the odors of the battle-field wer
Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis: Ex-President of the Confederate States of America, A Memoir by his Wife, Volume 2, Chapter 36: introduction to 1863. (search)
Chapter 36: introduction to 1863. The year 1863 opened drearily for the President, but the Confederates generally seemed to have, for some unexplained cause, renewed hope of recognition by England and France, and with this they felt sure of a successful termination of the struggle. Mr. Davis was oppressed by the fall of Donelson, Nashville, Corinth, Roanoke Island, New Orleans, Yorktown, Norfolk, Fort Pillow, Island No.10, Memphis, General Bragg's defeat at Murfreesboro, the burning of the Virginia and the ram Mississippi, the sinking of the Arkansas, and other minor disasters. The victory at Fredericksburg was the one bright spot in all this dark picture. Complaints from the people of the subjugated States came in daily. Women were set adrift across our borders with their children, penniless and separated from all they held dear. Their property was confiscated, the newspapers were suppressed, and the presses sold under the Confiscation act. In Tennessee, county o
Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis: Ex-President of the Confederate States of America, A Memoir by his Wife, Volume 2, Chapter 45: exchange of prisoners and Andersonville. (search)
t to improve the opportunity by concerting a settled plan for the exchange of prisoners. To execute this purpose our Government deputed Messrs. Conrad and Seddon as commissioners to meet those of the Northern Government under a flag of truce at Norfolk. Subsequently, a letter from General Wool informed General Huger that he, General Wool, had full authority to settle terms for the exchange of prisoners, and asked an interview on the subject. General Howell Cobb was then appointed by the Goveood faith of the Northern Government, and telegraphed in time to intercept the release of a portion of these hostages (among them Colonel Corcoran) who were en route from points farther south than Richmond, to go North under the flag of truce at Norfolk. A number of these hostages, however, had already been discharged. It now appears that, in contravention to the solemn agreement of the Northern Government, not one of our privateersmen have been released, and the Fort Donelson prisoners, i
Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis: Ex-President of the Confederate States of America, A Memoir by his Wife, Volume 2, Chapter 43: visit to New Orleans and admission to Fortress Monroe. (search)
misfortune. They were both objects of affection and esteem to Mr. Davis as long as he lived. Our sister, Miss Howell, came to the fort and remained with us, much to Mr. Davis's delight. The Right Reverend Bishop Lynch, Father O'Keefe, from Norfolk, the Reverends William Brand, Barton, and Minnegerode, the latter our beloved pastor, came often to see Mr. Davis, as well as charming people from Baltimore, Richmond, Norfolk, and the surrounding country; they generally remained to dinner, andNorfolk, and the surrounding country; they generally remained to dinner, and left in the evening boat; wine and delicacies of all kinds were pressed upon us by our friends. The Bishop of Montreal sent green chartreuse from his own stores, and to this powerful digestive stimulant the little Mr. Davis ate was due. He could only sleep when read to, and many times the day broke on me as he slept under the sound of my voice, with my hand on his pulse; at times it would stop, and then he was wakened and a glass of chartreuse given him, with one of half a dozen things kept r