Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Davis Familys' Sojurn In Montgomery

Here is the time line on events regarding the Davis's and their time at the First White House of the Confederacy. As you know events unfolded as follows in early 1861:
Jan 11 - Ala adopted Ordinance of Secession
Feb 4 - Confederate States Organized
Feb 8 - Provisional Congress convened at State Capitol in Montgomery to elect a President
Feb 9 - Jefferson Davis elected
Feb 10 - Davis received telegram of his election at Brierfield
Feb 16 - Jefferson Davis arrived
Feb 18 - Jefferson Davis inaugurated Provisional President of the CSA on portico of State Capitol
Feb 21 - Provisional Congress authorized lease of the Executive Mansion
March 2 -Mrs. Davis stopped in New Orleans en route to Montgomery from Brierfield
March 4 - Letitia Tyler raised the First flag of the Confederacy
March 4 - Mrs. Davis arrived, without the children.
March 11 - President and Mrs. Davis held a levee (a reception)
April 1 - Mrs. Davis returned to Brierfield to supplement the White House furnishings
April 10 - Gen. Beauregard given discretionary authority by the CSA War Dept by telegram from Montgomery to "demand evacuation of Fort Sumter or reduce it"
April 14 - Mrs. Davis arrived Montgomery on steamboat with children, "silver, china, lamps, linen and a few favorite books" and went directly to White House
April 24 - Description of the Davis' $ 1300.00 coach ordered in New Orleans reported in newspaper.
May 20 - Provisional Confederate Congress passed proclamation to move Capital to Richmond
May 24 - First bloodshed in War Between the States occurred
May 26 - President Davis left Montgomery for Richmond (reluctantly I am told)
May 29 - President arrived Richmond. Mrs. Davis remained to supervise packing.
After the middle of June she was holding receptions at the Spotswood Hotel in Richmond, waiting to move into the old Brockenbrough House which would remain the White House for the duration of the War.

We will not forget that the First White House played an historic role in the formation of the short-lived Southern Confederacy. Its custodians are proud to maintain it as a part of the history of this great country.

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