To: sarahreveley@grandecom.net
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 1:01 PM
Subject: Jefferson Davis

We sincerely regret that your visit to Fort Davis National Historic Site was not as rewarding as you might have hoped. Certainly it was not our intent that Jefferson Davis be underplayed in the history of Fort Davis.
During his four years of meritorious service as Secretary of War (1853-1857), he increased the army by four regiments, secured pay increases for enlisted men, and pushed through significant technological changes.

Bvt. Major General Persifor F. Smith, commander of the Department of Texas, personally selected the site for the post. And in keeping with the custom that a newly established post be named for the current Secretary of
War if one did not already bear his name, Smith authorized that it be named Fort Davis for Jefferson Davis

The picture of Jefferson Davis that hangs in the auditorium was donated to the fort by the Daughters of the Confederacy. We did not feel that it was “stuck in a corner” as it is the first thing visitors see when they enter the auditorium. As locating and identifying the photo is critical to answering questions for the Junior Ranger Program entitled “The Mystery of the Talking Walls,” its position allows students to enter the auditorium and view the photo when the video program is in progress without distracting those watching it.

The current museum exhibits, which cite Jefferson Davis in the “Founding of the Fort” case, were installed in the mid-1960s. They are old and out-dated and planning for new exhibits is underway. In the new exhibits, more attention will be given to the First Fort Davis, and to those
individuals who played a role in the founding of the fort. It is here that more information on Jefferson Davis will have a place.

The history of Fort Davis is rich, very diversified, and encompasses so much that it is difficult to tell its entire story. Thank you for your comments and for your interest in seeing history preserved.

Mary L Williams
Historian
Fort Davis National Historic Site

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Dear Mary,

Thank you so much for your response, and explaining everything so carefully to me. I'm delighted to hear that you will be including President Davis in the updated exhibits. I thought the existing exhibits were wonderful.

I've been to a lot of forts, and Fort Davis is the most impressive I've ever been to. When they play that bugle it stops everyone in their tracks. I took a million pictures, and would be happy to send them to you.

By the way, I made a special trip to the old National Cemetery here after the park ranger told me the soldiers were exhumed and interred there. I'll send you the pictures. They are in a mass grave with no headstones. Another fort put up a marker listing all the names of their men, maybe y'all could do that. I'll send you photos if you would like, I sent them to the park ranger.

Thanks again!

Sincerely,
Sarah Reveley