Chapter 42 : President Davis 's letter to General Johnston after the fall of Vicksburg . ... Varina Davis. Writers Project by Mattie S. Meadows on August 25, 1937. Varina Davis was the wife of Jefferson Davis, the man named President of the Confederacy when the United States was enmeshed in Civil War during the years 1861-1865. It was written to Mrs. Howell Cobb Jr., while Mrs. Davis was sojourning at Mill View Plantation some five miles from … Go. A century after Varina Davis's death in 1906, Joan E. Cashin has written a masterly work, the first definitive biography of this truly modern, but deeply conflicted, woman. Winnie’s birth was hailed as a blessing by war-weary Southerners who saw her arrival as a good omen. According to Boklan, Malbone’s encrypted entry about Varina Howell Davis describes her as ... including punctuation marks and a dollar sign, that corresponded to letters of the alphabet. A dutiful obedient wife, she ignored her husband's affairs. Volume 6 covers fateful years for the nation and for Jefferson Davis, a man moving toward a destiny that he is both creating and hoping to avoid. Article excerpt. The last recorded evidence of him comes from the 1893 memoir of Elizabeth Hyde Botume, a Boston woman who came south to teach the freedmen on the South Carolina Sea Islands. The former 'First Lady of the Confederacy' shares her thoughts about childbirth and her family. A New Letter from Varina Howell Davis . Od. Davis, Varina, 1826-1906 Acknowledges receipt of his letter announcing funds raised for Southern Relief through a fair in St. Louis, and gives instructions for transferring the funds. To what, I have no means to direct, or to foresee. She held contradictory attitudes on gender, race, region, wealth, and the Confederacy itself. Personal correspondence gives revealing word pictures of Varina Davis and the children, the family’s sojourn in New England during the Summer of 1858, disastrous flooding at Brierfield in 1859, and Davis’ persistent, debilitating illnesses. Jefferson Davis', 4p, 5x6 1/4. Meticulous research in contemporary newspapers, government documents and correspondence places Varina Davis within the political and social framework of her world. Charles Frazier Explains How Jefferson Davis' Family Escaped Richmond as the Confederacy Surrenders Varina Banks Howell Davis (May 7, 1826 October 16, 1906) was an American author who was best-known as the First Lady of the Confederate States of America, second wife of President Jefferson Davis. Manuscript/Mixed Material Letter (pages 13-20), Varina Davis to Montgomery Blair describing the capture of her husband, Jefferson Davis, 6 June 1865. Davis, Varina, 1826-1906. Letters (correspondence) United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865. About this Item. Varina Banks Howell Davis (May 7, 1826 October 16, 1906) was the second wife of the politician Jefferson Davis, who became president of the Confederate States of America. The contents of nearly 600 letters reveal Davis' private thoughts on the hot-button issues of her time: women's rights, slavery and secession. Read preview. The assassination orders found on the body of a Union colonel caused outrage in the South. Varina Davis, the First Lady of the Confederacy, had a remarkably contentious relationship with southerners after her husband’s death in 1889. Julia Grant authored a personal memoir. 9.1", "denarius") All Search Options [view abbreviations] Home Collections/Texts Perseus Catalog Research Grants Open Source About Help. It will give emphasis to developments in and around Shreveport, as they are less known. Though the South lost the Civil War, the Davis' remained symbols for the rest of their lives of the Lost Cause of the South and the spirit of the Confederacy. The source document was in the posession of Mrs. Belle Carter of Chatham, Virginia. It is the story of Varina Davis, wife of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, during the American Civil War. The letter requests that a note be forwarded to Dr. John J. Craven, the Federal Army Surgeon assigned to Jefferson Davis at Fort Monroe. Dorsey had provided that, after Davis' death, Beauvoir would go to his daughter. Varina Howell Davis (1826-1905) Born at "The Briars," near Natchez, Miss., 7 May 1826. In a letter dated April 7, 1865, Varina Davis wrote to her friend and confidante, Mary Chesnut, “My name is a heritage of woe.” 1. Varina Davis. The author has a wonderful talent to make the 1860’s live … After Jefferson Davis was captured by Union troops in Irwinsville, Georgia, on May 10, 1865, he was imprisoned at Fortress Monroe in Virginia for two years. Acquisition information . Indeed, Varina Davis's own account of their separation indicates that she understood it to be permanent. Varina is a beautifully written historical novel by Charles Frazier, author of Cold Mountain. Hide browse bar Your current position in the text is marked in blue. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IN THE SCATTERED REFUSE on the floor of an attic in Athens, Georgia, was discovered the following letter by Mrs. Jefferson Davis. Varina Davis remained on the property for a time while she wrote her book Jefferson Davis: A Memoir (1890). At her death in 1898, the property was inherited by Varina Howell Davis. Fortress Monroe, Va., October 2, 1865.... My days drag heavily on. Varina Davis - Autograph Letter Signed Circa 1902 - Item 257106. The site also provides extensive information on Davis and his family and numerous images. Shop for Varina Davis related autographs, signed photographs, historical documents and manuscripts from the world's largest collection. The Confederacy was just days away from its demise at the hands of the Union Army. View. Purchased, 1983. Varina Anne “Winnie” Davis, younger daughter of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his second wife, Varina Howell Davis, was born in June 1864, only a month after the death of Confederate hero General Jeb Stuart during a string of Rebel victories. Chapter 43 : military operations at Charleston . The two exchanged frantic letters on the run in an attempt to meet up as the final moments of the war played out. Jefferson Davis letters and related materials collection: Dates: 1838-1964 : Abstract: Original handwritten letters between U.S. Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his government and military colleagues, and his wife, Varina. Varina Davis, wife of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, wrote this article describing how the Davis family spent the Christmas of 1864 in the Confederate White House. She and her daughter Winnie moved to New York City in 1891. Every purchase includes our industry recognized COA. Varina Davis, Jefferson Davis: Ex-President of the Confederate States of America, A Memoir by his Wife, Volume 2 ("Agamemnon", "Hom. ALS: 'V. Jefferson Davis(1808–1889) was the president of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, served in the House of Representatives and the Senate, and was secretary of war under Franklin Pierce. This letter was transcribed and filed with the W.P.A. She served as the First Lady of the new nation at the capital in Richmond, Virginia, although she was ambivalent about the war. Preferred citation [Identification of item], Varina Davis letter, MS 2113, Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia. This collection consists of a letter dated 24 June 1865, written by Varina Davis to General Henry Warner Birge, Union Commander of the District of Savannah, Georgia. Notes. When they finally reunited in Georgia, it was just in time to get nabbed by Federal cavalry. We recommend switching to Google Chrome or Edge for the best on-site experience. Administrative Information Custodial history Material was purchased from the Book Lady, Savannah, Georgia. By Kibler, James Everett; Cawthon, William Lamar. Title: Letter from Varina Davis, Fortress Monroe, Va., to Dr. W. M. McPheeters, February 23, 1867 . She conflicted with groups like the United Daughters of the Confederacy [UDC] over Civil War memory in ways that now seem counterintuitive. 23 February 1867. Mary Lincoln wrote many letters that reflect her intelligence and education. In addition to all the extreme physical discomforts and moments of terror, the trip had been a humiliating one. Pro-slavery but also pro-Union, Varina Davis was inhibited by her role as Confederate First Lady and unable to reveal her true convictions.