Volume 18 No. 4 September, 2005 C ONFEDERATE GAZETTE

Jefferson Davis Shrine In Biloxi Hit Hard BEAUVOIR PARTIALLY DESTROYED BY KATRINA Hurricane Katrina There is also a large hole gone. Nothing remains but caused massive devasta- in the southwest corner of a slab. The small library tion to the Biloxi, Missis- the house and most of the where President Davis Confederate doors and the lived and wrote, located to windows are the east of Beauvoir, is Gazette no longer gone. The old chapel, mu- there. seum, and gift shop are all According gone, even the artillery Is a monthly publication piece inside is gone. The of the Major Robert M. Arial photos of Beauvoir house where (Beauvoir) White Camp #1250 taken on Au- Director, Patrick Hotard, Sons of Confederate gust 31st, Left: lived is gone, as well as SW view, Mid- the front fence and gates, Veterans dle: Front including the UDC archway Temple, Texas view, Below: in front of Beauvoir .” SE view There was also severe damage to the Davis Presi- dential Library on the Web Site: sippi area when it grounds of Beauvoir. The www.rootsweb.com/~tx1250 hit on August 29th, library was opened after

but remarkably the State of Mississippi Beauvoir, the for- authorized $3 million in mer home of Con- 1995 to build the library. George Ballentine federate President The two-story 13,500 Camp Commander square foot facility opened 2714 Phyllis Dr. sitting directly in 1998 Copperas Cove, TX 76522 across the street According to Echols,

from the Gulf of “The wall in front of the Mexico, still Presidential Library and stands. (Continued on page 6) John C. Perry Initial and in- Newsletter Editor accurate reports indicated to John P.O. Box 794 that Beauvoir had been Echols, a Salado, TX 76571 completely destroyed. member of Miraculously, the home the Board

survives, although it has of Trustees suffered severe damage. of Beauvoir, © 2005, Major Robert M. White The main damage a first hand Camp #1250 was to the front of the report indi- Sons of Confederate Veterans home, which faced the cates, “The Temple, Texas Gulf of Mexico, where the Hayes Cot- columns, steps, and front tage and porch are no longer there. pavilion are Page 2 Volume 18 Issue 4 C ONFEDERATE P ROFILE SOUTHERN SHRINE Editor’s Note: Normally this known as the Library Cot- was visiting the place profile page tells the story of tage, but Brown also used where the last dozen years one of our Confederate he- it as an office and as a of his life would be spent. roes. Due to the damage that school room for his chil- The next year Davis Beauvoir suffered at the end dren. The west cottage, returned to Biloxi and con- of August we have opted to tell the story of a true Southern later known as the Hayes templated building a small Shrine. Cottage, was first a Guest cottage on his property. House. When Dorsey heard that planter from Brown lived in the Davis was on the coast, Madison home until his death. she invited him for a visit. A County, Missis- Later the property was sold Arriving at Beauvoir in De- sippi, James Brown, to a Frank Johnson, but in cember, Davis was im- Completed in bought a tract of pressed by the 1851, Beauvoir land facing the Gulf peaceful atmos- of Mexico on Sep- phere. would become the tember 2, 1848 in The house was home of what is now Biloxi, surrounded by live Mississippi. Brown oaks, magnolias, Jefferson Davis acted as his own and cedars, with architect and con- Spanish moss fes- struction superinten- tooning the live dent in building the oaks. The Gulf lay house. He brought just in front of the slaves from his house, and behind Madison County it was an orange plantation to per- grove. Beyond it form the routine was a pine forest, work, and he built a Beauvoir, in Biloxi, Mississippi, pre-Katrina. crossed by a run- sawmill on the prop- The steps, porch and columns are now gone ning brook, on the erty. Skilled work banks of which was done by carpenters 1873 Sarah Dorsey pur- grew wild azalea, bay, yel- and decorators from New chased the property and low jasmine, and sweet Orleans. made Beauvoir her home. olive. There were six acres Brown completed the She gave the house the of scuppernong grapes. home in 1851. A four name it still bears, signify- The Louisville & Nashville room cottage to the rear of ing its “beautiful view.” Railroad cut through the the house was already on Davis was looking for property, and north of the the property, and it was some lots he had bought railroad was a virgin forest used by the Brown family many years ago in Biloxi. of long-leaf pine. during the construction. He was looking for a quite When Dorsey discov- Later, it served Brown and place to write. While in ered that Davis was seek- other owners, including Biloxi he visited Dorsey at ing a place to write his Jefferson Davis, as a Beauvoir. long-delayed book, she kitchen and servants' quar- He wrote that it was a showed him her east cot- ters. "fine place," having a tage, which consisted of Two small cottages, "large and beautiful house, one room with a pillared originally identical in plan, and many orange trees yet gallery completely sur- one east and one west of full of fruit." He had no rounding it. She urged that the house were built. The idea, on that day of No- the rear gallery could be cottage to the east was vember 18, 1875, that he (Continued on page 5) Confederate Gazette Page 3 Commander’s Camp Schedule September 10, 2005 Setemberfest in Cranfils Call Gap, 9:00 AM. Camp store to be set up, if we have By: George Ballentine, enough volunteers Camp Commander, Major Robert M. White Camp September 13, 2005 Camp’s monthly meeting First, let me say that I compatriots and guests as at the Cotton Patch Cafe in hope everyone keeps the possible can be at our Temple Mall, 7:00 PM. folks in the areas devas- September meeting at the Speaker: Mark Vogl, Topic: tated by Katrina in their Cotton Patch in the Temple “Dixie’s Greatest Secret, thoughts and prayers. Also Mall. Our speaker is an The Confederate Navy.” in the direct path of expert on the Confederate Katrina was one of our States Navy and has au- September 17, 2005 Divi- Confederate Symbols, thored several books. He sion Executive Council Beauvoir, the boyhood will have books available Meeting, El Conquistador home of CSA President for sale and autographs Restaurant, 901 North Jefferson Davis. From the for those interested. This Loop 340, Waco, TX, video taken of the building, should be a very interest- 10:00 AM. Next Camp it looks like the entire bot- ing program. Meeting: tom floor was washed As you know, elections September 24, 2005 Cot- th away and the building itself are getting closer. We have ton Harvest Festival, September 13 may be compromised. We selected a Nominating Moody, TX. Camp store to 7:00 P.M. at should have more detailed Committee who will be be set up, if we have information as the area asking around to see who enough volunteers Cotton becomes more open to is interested in running for visitors. office for 2006. The slate October 1, 2005 Pioneer Patch Cafe, This is a busy month will be announced at the Days Festival, Lake Whit- Temple Mall, for our camp store. By the November meeting. Elec- ney, TX. Camp store to be time you receive this we tions, with additional nomi- set up, if we have enough Te m p l e, T X should be finished with the nations from the floor, will volunteers Oatmeal Festival and get- be conducted in Decem- ting ready for September- ber, and installation of October 8, 2005 Quarterly fest in Cranfills Gap. I have officers at our annual Lee- Dinner Meeting, Cotton volunteers already for Jackson Dinner in January. Patch Cafe in Temple Mall, these events and the Sep- If you are interested in 7:00 PM. Speaker: Dr. tember 24th Cotton Har- being put on the slate, Buddy Patterson. vest in Moody, the October contact John Perry, Steve 1st Pioneer Days in Lake Wooley or Gordon Mobley. October 14-16, 2005 Whitney and the October I look forward to see- Ogletree Gap Heritage Fes- 14-16th Ogletree Gap Heri- ing all of you, and your tival, Copperas Cove, TX., tage Festival in Copperas families and guests, at the 8:00 AM. Camp store to be Cove. If anyone else wants September meeting. If you set up, if we have enough to join us for either of plan to eat before the volunteers these events, let me know. meeting, please plan to be I still need volunteers there in time to be finished October 22, 2005 Adopt- for Krist Kindl Markt, De- eating by 7:00 p.m. when a-Highway Clean-up. Meet cember 2-4, in Copperas the meeting begins. The at the Belton McDonald's Cove. This is a very profit- food is great, and the at 7:45 AM able event for our camp, prices are reasonable, too. but the hours are long and The program will be excel- November 8, 2005 cold. More details on that lent, so why not bring Camp’s monthly meeting as it comes nearer. I have along a friend and pro- at the Cotton Patch Cafe in sent in fees for all events spective member to the Temple Mall, 7:00 PM. through October. meeting? I hope that as many Page 4 Volume 18 Issue 4 Confederate Roster Book Ceremonies in Belton

A crowd of about 40 the Library. The book was Austin, who also created a people gathered at the first taken to the University special storage box for the Lena Armstrong Public of North Texas where it book when it is not on dis- Library in Belton to cele- was digitized. The book play. Funding for the pro- brate the ject was conserva- through the tion of the Lone Star 1888 Bell Libraries, a County Ex- state fund- Confeder- ing source ate Veter- adminis- ans Reun- tered by the ion Roster Texas Li- book. brary and Direct Link to The Archives event was Commission. Confederate hosted by Kroll said Library Di- that the con- Bell County is rector Kim servation of Conserved Kroll and the roster was jointly book is an sponsore- opportunity ded by The for one to, Bell Above: Confederate Veteran Roster Book on display at the Belton “recognize County Library on Saturday, September 3, 2005. Below: The cover of the the unique- M use um . 1888 Roster Book. ness and Camp value of our Member Rocky Sprott historic objects by hav- addressed the group ing them stabilized for giving those in atten- posterity. dance both a history of The roster book can Bell County’s Confeder- be viewed at the Bell ate service and a his- County Museum and tory of the roster. can be also be viewed The roster book online. The digitizing was created in 1888 work done by the Uni- when the first Confed- versity of North Texas’ erate Veterans Reun- Portal of Texas History ion was held in Belton. on their Internet site. It The roster contains a can be seen at http:// record of those veter- texashistory.unt.edu. ans still alive and at- Click on “Researchers tending the reunion. Portal” and then type in The Confederate Vet- “Confederate Ledger.” eran’s age, rank, date Kroll also completed of enlistment, current an updated version of a address, regiment, and transcription of the other information is all book. The transcription recorded in the roster. was then cleaned and sta- is available for review at The fragile roster book bilized by April Smith, a the Library. was recently conserved by paper conservator from (Continued on page 5) Confederate Gazette Page 5

Roster Book Ceremonies

(Continued from page 4) Camp #1250 was well recognized at the event. The camp’s colors were in prominent display at the library and three camp members were in uniform, Rocky Sprott, Richard Sut- Photos: Above left: Gordon Mobley, Rocky Sprott & Richard Sutton, Above left, ton, and Gordon Mobley. Stephane Turnham of the Bell County Museum explains the book to guests, Be- low left, Rocky Sprott speaks Below right: Kim Kroll Librarian speaks.

Jefferson Davis’ The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government was she warned Early written at Beauvoir BEAUVOIR that he must not (Continued from page 2) let Davis know of closed and could become a her intentions bedroom and dressing because he room, while the large room, would not permit could be lined with book- it if he knew her shelves. plans. Dorsey agreed to In February, $50.00 per month for 1879, Sarah Dor- board. By February, 1877, sey offered to Davis was hard at work on Confederate Government, sell Beauvoir to Jefferson his book at Beauvoir. Dor- many Confederate leaders Davis, and on February 19, sey volunteered her ser- came to Beauvoir to assist the title was passed to vices as Davis' amanuensis him by clarifying various Davis for $5,500, to be on the book, and her tal- historical points. During paid in three installments, ents and literary experience the Christmas season of the first of which was paid were very valuable. 1877 General Jubal A. immediately. Dorsey then Davis also brought his Early visited Davis. Sarah moved to . 20-year-old son, Jefferson Dorsey approached Gen- Following General Davis, Jr., to Beauvoir, and eral Early about Davis' fi- Early's visit, and well be- he occupied one of the two nancial condition. She told fore the sale of Beauvoir to small rooms built on the Early that she had learned Davis, Sarah Dorsey made rear gallery of the east cot- that Davis was almost des- her will on January 4, tage. Jeff, Jr. assisted in titute. She also said that 1878, leaving her estate taking dictation for the she felt that she did not to Jefferson Davis. It is book. have long to live, and that noteworthy that after her While Davis was writ- she intended to leave her death, Davis paid the two ing, The Rise and Fall of the entire estate to Davis. But (Continued on page 6) Beauvoir Damaged been destroyed, but I found out that it's BEAUVOIR still standing on its foundations. The galleries [porches] are gone, and there (Continued from page 5) has been significant damage to the remaining installments due on Beauvoir house. We don't in order to liquidate debts owed by Dor- know yet how all sey's estate. Consequently, Davis did the papers in buy Beauvoir, and he paid for it in full. Davis' presidential Davis’ two volume The Rise and library have Fall of the Confederate Government fared.” was published in 1881. Larry McClu- Jefferson Davis left Beauvoir for ney, 1st Lt. Com- the last time in early November, 1889 mander, Missis- for a trip to Brierfield, his plantation on Above: Davis Presidential Library on the grounds of Beau- sippi Division, SCV the Mississippi River below Vicksburg. voir pre-Katrina; Right: Davis statue still standing despite He took ill there and died in New Or- all of the first floor Presidential Library damage. said that, “Beauvoir is sal- leans on December 6,1889. (Continued from page 1) vageable,” with at Beauvoir is currently owned and the flagpoles in front are gone. The least 65% of the operated by the Mississippi Division of entire lower floor of the Presidential main house still standing. the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Library is washed out.” He said it Initial reports on the Presidential would be like driving a car under a car- Library indicate that the first floor is MOS&B with the notation “Beauvoir port. “The only thing remaining is the destroyed with the only thing left stand- Relief Fund.” Send your donations to: President's statue, he said just as it ing on the first floor is a statue of Jeffer- MOS&B, PO Box 1274, Fairhope, AL was.” Echols said. son Davis. Apparently most of the arti- 36533-1274. John Hildreth, director of the Na- facts and papers, along with his will, The SCV has started a general tional Trust for Historic Preservation were moved upstairs, so they survived. relief drive for Katrina victims. Com- told the Baltimore Sun that Beauvoir The Military Order of the Stars & patriots wishing to assist those com- was under as much as 30 feet of water Bars (MOS&B) has started a Beauvoir patriots who have suffered from the at one point. “It's maybe 500 yards relief fund. The fund dollars will only be impact of this storm may send finan- from the beach, ground zero in Biloxi,” used for Beauvoir. In order to contrib- cial contributions to: SCV Relief Fund, he said. “We'd heard at first that it had ute make out a check payable to the PO Box 59, Columbia, TN 38402

P.O. Box 794 Salado, TX 76571