--A correspondent of the Jackson Mississippian relates the following incident in the life of
President Davis, which reveals a beautiful trait of his character.
I am acquainted with a man who was a private soldier in the First Mississippi Regiment, under
Col. Davis, in the war with
Mexico.
The day
Gen. Taylor reached the
Walnut Springs, the day before the memorable
battle of Monterey, late in the evening after a long march, the private in question was taken with something like a congestive chill, and lay down beside the road nearly senseless.
It was now considered very dangerous for the soldiers to fall behind the rear guard, on account of Mexican Lancers and Guerillas, who were dodging after our army, hilling and robbing any who might be separated from the main body.
The main body of the army had already passed by; a well known
Colonel in company with another officer came up, called, demanded who was there and what he was doing?
The sick man gave him the name of the Regiment and company to which he belonged, and told him that he was very sick.--The
Colonel with an oath told him he "
reckoned it was about as near from that place to hell as any other, " and passed on and left him lying there.
Who was the Colonel? I forbear to tell you. Presently
Col. Jeff. Davis came up in company with an officer, called and received the same answer as was given to the first
Colonel.
Davis called a halt — said it would not do to leave him there — got down, examined and found him to be very sick indeed, even too sick to sit on a horse — asked him if he had any relations "in the company" of which he was a member, and who he "would have left to take care of him." He selected his cousin, a Lieutenant in the company.
Davis said he would send him back to stay with him, which he did. And then tying his horse to a chaparral bush for the sick soldier to ride, when he should be able.
Col. Davis went from there to the camp on foot, a distance of five miles. The sick man lived, got well, was at the
battle of Buena Vista, and is now
Captain of a company which is ready to fight in defence of the
Confederate States, when its services are needed.
The
Lieutenant, who was unable to get the sick man into camp before 10 o'clock at night, is now a Lieutenant in a volunteer company of Southern troops at Harpar's Ferry, or near there.
by an efficient corps of ladies where valuable services are constantly rendered, is receiving a large share of the sick and wounded from
Manassas into its large, cleanly, and comfortable rooms.
The neat and comfortable hospital at Spring field
Temperance Hall, in the same neighborhood, which enjoys the excellent attentions of
Dr. John Knox, and the most abundant ministrations of a number of ladies and gentlemen, is also filling up from the same source.
