- Jefferson Davis State Historical
Marker
- Located at on U.S. 319 just east of the Oconee River
Bridge, Dublin, Ga.
(text)
JEFFERSON DAVIS
On May 4, 1865, Jefferson Davis arrived in Washington,
Georgia (102 miles N), where he performed what proved to be his
last duties as President of the Confederate States of America.
Shortly thereafter, with a small staff and escort, he departed
enroute to the trans-Mississippi Department, from which vantage
point he hoped to negotiate a just peace. Traveling via Warthen,
Sandersville and Ball's Ferry, he reached the home of Mr. E.J.
Blackshear (10 miles N) early on May 7th, after finding his family
camped nearby. Stopping only for breakfast, he pushed on -- Mrs.
Davis' party added to his -- reaching Dublin about 11 o'clock.
After securing supplies from Judge R.H. Rowe, he again pushed
on. He camped near Alligator Creek (20 miles SW), unaware that
the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry had learned of his passage through
Dublin.
On the 8th, he camped in Abbeville (50 miles SW) after
crossing the Ocmulgee River. On the 9th, he camped a mile N of
Irwinville (76 miles SW) in the present Jefferson Davis Memorial
State Park. At dawn on May 10th, his camp was surrounded by men
of the 1st Wisconsin and 4th Michigan cavalry regiments and he
became a "state prisoner," his hopes for a new nation,
in which each state would exercise without interference its cherished
"Constitutional rights," forever dead.
- 087-3 GEORGIA HISTORICAL
COMMISSION 1957
-
© Carl Vinson Institute of Government,
The University of Georgia
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