Description: Davis Jefferson

Jefferson Davis Sends information contained in a report to the Navy Dept." to Naval Aide & Nephew John Taylor Wood


1p war dated ALS inscribed overall by Confederate President Jefferson Davis (1808-1889), and initialed by him as "J.D." at bottom. Cream blue-lined stationery paper embossed ""Walsh"" at upper left. With expected light paper folds, including one vertical crease professionally repaired verso. Minor mounting traces at top verso, else near fine. 5"" x 8"".


Jefferson Davis wrote this note to naval aide and nephew John Taylor Wood (1830-1904) sometime between 1861-1865.


In full:


"Dear John - I send to you Mr. A. A. Simcoe to deliver to you some information contained in a report to the Navy Dept. and which you will find enclosed with this. You will know to estimate the information given - God bless + preserve you — Your friend J.D."


John Taylor Wood was the maternal grandson of 12th U.S. President Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) and the nephew by marriage of Jefferson Davis. Wood's mother Anne Mackall Taylor (1811-1875) had been the elder sister of Jefferson Davis's first wife Sarah Knox Taylor (1814-1835). Wood's exemplary family connections, as well as his experience in the U.S. Navy, made him one of the Civil War's most prominent Confederate naval officers.


A career naval officer, Wood had gained his sea legs in Mexico during the Mexican-American War, the California Territory during its gold rush, and along the western African coast and Mediterranean suppressing illegal slaving operations. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1852, while uncle Jefferson Davis was then Secretary of War in the Pierce Administration.


Although he was initially neutral after Lincoln's election, Wood resigned his commission in the U.S. Navy nine days after Fort Sumter, on April 21, 1861. He moved his family from their Maryland farm to Richmond, Virginia where his uncle was Provisional President of the Confederate States of America. In October 1861, Taylor received a commission as a Lieutenant in the Confederate States Navy and became an officer aboard the C.S.S. Virginia (the former U.S.S. Merrimack) and fought against the U.S.S. Monitor at the Battle of Hampton Roads. Wood later led raids on Federal shipping and engaged in blockade running.


This letter was sent to Wood in his capacity as Davis's aide-de-camp. Wood's promotion to simultaneous commands in both the Confederate Army and Navy allowed him to serve as an effective liaison between Confederate forces and Richmond's Grey House. Wood accompanied Jefferson Davis on his post-surrender flight, later living in Cuba and Canada.


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