Jefferson Davis

Biography

Jefferson Davis came to the Mexican-American War as a West Point graduate (Class of 1828) who had left the army in 1835 to become a Mississippi planter and politician. When war broke out, he resigned his congressional seat to lead the 1st Mississippi Rifles — a regiment of volunteer sharpshooters who became one of the most celebrated units of the conflict. At Monterrey, Davis's regiment spearheaded the assault through the city's streets, sustaining heavy casualties in close urban fighting. At Buena Vista, his performance saved Taylor's army. When Mexican cavalry threatened to envelop the American left flank, Davis formed his regiment and elements of the Indiana infantry into a 'V' formation, waiting until the charging Mexican lancers were nearly upon them before delivering a devastating volley that shattered the attack. Davis was wounded in the foot during the battle but remained in command. The victory made him a Southern hero and launched a political career that would eventually make him president of the Confederate States of America — a position he would owe, in part, to the military credibility earned in Mexico.

Key Battles