Jefferson Davis and Chief Black Hawk- "From Kentucky Cabin to the

By: Howard Edward Haller, Ph.D.

The public is well aware that Jefferson F. Davis was President
of the Confederate States of America. This article is one of a
series of articles about "Jefferson Davis-A Memoir by his Great
Great Grandson" and "From Kentucky Cabin to the Capitol" which
will share "the rest of the story" of who Jefferson Davis was
and what he stood for and his wide range of accomplishments.
Jefferson Davis was born in log cabin in Kentucky and his family
settled in Mississippi when he was a young boy.

This series of well-documented and informative articles will
explore an number of the facets of Jefferson Davis's life as a
West Point graduate, a US Military career officer, an
industrious young man who carved out a plantation from a brier
covered swamp land, a Mississippi Militia Colonel (later Militia
Major General), served in US Congress (both as a multiple term
Senator and Congressman), as the outstanding US Secretary of War
for President Franklin Pierce, in addition to having been
President of the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis
was a truly renaissance man with deep values as a caring and
compassionate man. Jeff Davis had passionate opinions of the
strict interpretation of the US Constitution in which the
Founding Fathers of United States clearly limited the power of
the Federal Government. Jefferson Davis was named after Thomas
Jefferson, by his parents. Jefferson Davis's father, Samuel, was
a hero in the American army during Revolutionary War.

After graduating from the United States Military Academy at age
20, Jefferson Davis received a Commission in the US Regular
Army. The young Second Lieutenant was initially assigned to the
Sixth Regiment of Infantry and then he was assigned to the First
Regiment of Infantry.

US Army Lieutenant Jeff Davis was then sent to what is now
Wisconsin, to Fort Crawford in what was then an only slightly
inhabited portion of the Northwest Territories and a much colder
climate then he was used to in Mississippi. Lt. Davis was soon
reassigned and sent to Fort Winnebago also in the Northwest
Territories. While in the US Army in the Northwest Territories,
Jeff caught pneumonia and became very ill while he was stationed
in the freezing cold, the dampness, and snowy frontier of
Wisconsin.

About the time Jeff Davis had recovered from his bad case of
pneumonia, his First Regiment of Infantry received a new
commander, Colonel Zachary Taylor. Jeff had performed risky
tasks on patrol in the sparsely inhabited Northwest Territories,
but many of his military duties were both mundane and boring.
For his first three years in the US Army Lt. Jeff Davis's job
was to assist the US Army in protecting US Citizens from attacks
from both the local Indians and the British.

The ranking US Army officer in that portion of the Northwest
Territories was General Gaines, and he was Colonel Zach Taylor's
direct superior. There was proposed "Peace Conference" about the
"former" tribal lands with prominent Indian leaders, including
the famous and feared Chief Black Hawk.

The Indian leaders, including Chief Black Hawk were not willing
to meet the General at the US Army Fort. So the two parties came
up with the unusual idea for the two groups, the Indian Chiefs
and the US Military Officers to meet at a neutral location. The
obstacle of the non-traditional meeting location was overcome
because General Gaines was brave enough to meet Chief Black
Hawk, his braves and the other Indian Chiefs on neutral ground,
away from the safety of the US Army Fort.

General Gaines decided to boldly go to the meeting with the
Chief Black Hawk and the other Indian leaders with only an
interpreter, two enlisted men, and young Lieutenant Jefferson
Davis. The "Peace Conference" with the Indians was a total
failure. However, this would not be Lieutenant Davis's last
encounter with Chief Black Hawk.

Chief Black Hawk and the other Indian Chief's had absolutely no
intention to allow the US Government to take Indian Tribal lands
under any circumstance. It was very clear to General Gaines
after the complete failure of the "Peace Conference" that Chief
Black Hawk and warriors were leaving the "No Peace Conference"
meeting with every intention to fight to the end for their
lands. As a result of the Conference failure,

Young Lieutenant Davis would see his first view of battle in
1831 in what became known as the "Black Hawk War." The Black
Hawk War consisted most of raids by the Indians on the white
settlers and the US Army along with the Illinois Militia
volunteer engaging the Indians in selected battles.

The initial successes of Chief Black Hawk and his warriors
making raids on isolated settlers emboldened the Indians to make
even more savage attacks on the settler and their families.
There were a number of battles with the Indians over the next
nearly two years. The final battle of the Black Hawk Wars was
the Battle of Bad Axe. It is well documented that US Army
Regular Lieutenant Jefferson Davis and volunteer militia Officer
Abraham Lincoln both were at least present at that final of the
Black Hawk Wars at Bad Axe in August of 1832.

Chief Black Hawks and his warriors were successfully captured at
the end of the Battle of Bad Axe by the US Army and volunteer
militia troops on August 3, 1832. After the Indian War had been
won by the US Army, it was Lieutenant Davis who was assigned to
personally escort the defeated Chief Black Hawk from Wisconsin
to Jefferson Barracks in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Jefferson Davis was a young professional US Army Officer and a
member of the winning side of the Black Hawk War. However Davis
had developed a high level of respect for Chief Black Hawk, both
as a man and as a leader. It was reported that Lieutenant Davis
conducted himself in a professional proper military manner, but
elected to act kindly and with respect to his defeated enemy.

Jeff's professional but fair treatment of the defeated Chief
Black Hawk is well documented. In his autobiography, Chief Black
Hawk, specifically gave this specific praise to ["young war
chief"] Lieutenant Jeff Davis,

"We started to Jefferson Barrack in a steam boat, in the charge
of young war chief [Lieutenant Jefferson Davis], who treated us
all with much kindness. He is a good and brave young war chief,
with whose conduct I was much pleased.

Historical Note: The successful effort to restore Jefferson
Davis's United States citizenship was led by United States
Senator's Eastland, Thurmond, Hatfield and Hatch on the US
Senate Judiciary Committee to Jefferson Davis's citizenship (the
author's Great Great Grandfather). Jefferson F. Davis was a West
Point graduate, a US Military career officer, created a
successful plantation from swamp land, was a Mississippi Militia
Colonel (later Major General), served in the US Congress (as
Congressman and Senator), as the US Secretary of War for
President Franklin Pierce, all this in addition to having been
President of the Confederate States of America. Dr. Haller
actively lobbied on both sides of the aisle of the US Congress,
along with the significant efforts by Senator's Eastland,
Thurmond, Hatfield and Hatch, to successfully finally restore
Jefferson Davis's citizenship. Haller worked with President
Jimmy Carter and his senior White House staff, including White
House Chief of Staff. President Carter signed the unanimously
passed US Senate Joint Resolution 16, on October 17, 1978.

Copyright 2008 (c) Dr Howard Edward Haller

Article Source: https://www.collectibles-articles.com

Dr. Howard Edward Haller is a well respected academic scholar, University Professor, University Trustee, former President of University Board of Trustees, award winning author, and professional speaker. Dr. Haller is also an accomplished senior business executive.

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