Freed Slaves From Jefferson Davis S Brierfield Plantation Reaching There, they assisted 137 of davis’ slaves in escaping to freedom. the sketch is one of fifty items from the new york historical society ’s collections that appear in the new book the civil war. Demolished. 1931 (burned) architectural style (s) greek revival. governing body. private. location of brierfield plantation in mississippi. brierfield plantation was a large forced labor cotton farm built in 1847 in davis bend, mississippi, south of vicksburg, and the home of confederate president jefferson davis.
Freed Slaves From Jefferson Davis S Brierfield Plantation Reaching Arrival at chickasaw bayou of the negro slaves of jefferson davis, from his plantation on the mississippi from a sketch by our special artist, fred b. schell. source citation frank leslie's illustrated newspaper, august 8, 1863, 320. Now, as vicksburg reeled under grant’s relentless siege in midsummer 1863, union troops attacked the davis plantation directly. they spared the davis mansion, but 137 slaves escaped, and more soon followed. when davis’ “people” found their way to the safety of union lines, sketch artist schell was on hand to record the scene. Brierfield was the plantation home of jefferson davis located on davis bend in warren county, mississippi. the eldest brother of jefferson davis, joseph e. davis, acquired approximately 6,900 acres in the choice western and southern portions of the 11,000 acre peninsula, including the river frontage, in 1818. the river encircled area of fine. The confederate dollar, never backed by gold or land, was worth about 4 cents. although varina davis entertained lavishly at state functions, the president’s family struggled to put food on the table. jefferson and varina davis sold two slaves for $1,612 in confederate currency in january 1864.