Being powerless to direct the current; I can only wait to see whither it runs; wrote Jefferson Davis to his wife; Varina; on October 11; 1865; five months after the victorious United States Army took him prisoner. Indeed; in the tumultuous years immediately after the Civil War; Davis found himself more acted upon than active; a dramatic change from his previous twenty years of public service to the United States as a major political figure and then to the Confederacy as its president and commander in chief. Volume 12 of The Papers of Jefferson Davis follows the former president of the Confederacy as he and his family fight to find their place in the world after the Civil War. A federal prisoner; incarcerated in a "living tomb" at Fort Monroe while the government decided whether; where; and by whom he should be tried for treason; Davis was initially allowed to correspond only with his wife and counsel. Released from prison after two hard years; he was not free from legal proceedings until 1869. Stateless; homeless; and without means to support himself and his young family; Davis lived in Canada and then Europe; searching for a new career in a congenial atmosphere. Finally; in November 1869; he settled in Memphis as president of a life insurance company and; for the first time in four years; had the means to build a new life.Throughout this difficult period; Varina Howell Davis demonstrated strength and courage; especially when her husband was in prison. She fought tirelessly for his release and to ensure their children's education and safety. Their letters clearly demonstrate the Davises' love and their dependence on each other. They both worried over the fate of the South and of family members and friends who had suffered during the war. Though disfranchised; Davis remained careful but not totally silent on the subject of politics. Even while in prison; he wrote without regret of his decision to follow Mississippi out of the Union and of his unswerving belief in the constitutionality of state rights and secession. Likewise; he praised all who supported the Confederacy with their blood and who; like himself; had lost everything.
#1537255 in Books Louisiana State Univ Pr 2001-11-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.40 x .94 x 5.50l; 1.17 #File Name: 0807127442432 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. The forgotten genius of the Confederate governmentBy ColmcilleAlthough this book was written in the 1930's and is not the latest work on Judah Benjamin; it is full of details beginning with Benjamin's Sephardic roots; his rise to prominence as a lawyer; the second Jewish US Senator; and the first Jew to hold offices (Confederate Sec. of War and Sec. of State) on a presidential cabinet. It contains a lot of information from Benjamin's personal correspondence and observations by his contemporaries.Benjamin's career is fascinating. He becomes internationally known for his law practice in international trade. As a US Senator from Louisiana; he makes a famous speech in the Seante chamber regarding the North trying to dominate the South which receives accolades from the entire US Senate. As Jefferson Davis' "right hand man" he does not do well as Secretary of War; but becomes instrumental as the Confederate Secretary of State. The book also follows his career as an English barrister after he escapes to England after the war.Perhaps the best feature of this book is that it is written from the perspective of a Southerner and not from anti-Southerner whose education regarding the War for Southern Independence is skewed by political correctness and misinformation. It exposes both the acceptance of Jews(Over 10;000 Jews fought for the Confederacy) and the interestingly small anti-semitic views of the Ante-Bellum South. Sadly; the Jewish community does not revere Benjamin's achievements as a brilliant man due to him being a slave holder and his connection with the Confederacy.I highly recommend this book for students of Jewish history and the War Between the States.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An Effective Introduction to Mr. BenjaminBy Hibberd KlineMeade's book is an excellent starting point for one wishing to understand this indomitable personality. Benjamin is often mentioned; but rarely fully developed in works concerning the Confederate Government. It would have been interesting for Meade to have delved deeper into Benjamin's constitutional philosophy and his legal and business activities. As one who writes about the Civil War and intends to have Benjamin figure significantly in a future work; this is an excellent beginning to understanding his character and actions. Conflicting Loyalties (Navy Gray Book 1)0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. THE BRAINS OF THE CONFEDERACY... IF THEY ...By Mark WestonTHE BRAINS OF THE CONFEDERACY...IF THEY HAD ONLY LISTENED TO HIM AT THE START OF THE CIVIL WAR...NOT AT THE ENDING.
