Hidden Treasure

The Sequoyah County Historical Society team was preparing a display case recently and discovered a hidden treasure.  Upon removing the cardboard they found an old oil painting of Jefferson Davis.

Jefferson Davis was a politician from Mississippi who represented his state in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.  He became the first and only President of the Confederate States of America.

Many historians put the blame on Davis’ poor leadership as the reason that the Confederacy lost the Civil War.  He was accused of playing favorites with old friends, appointing them to key military positions instead of appointing more qualified men, and being preoccupied with detail.  He also known for his failure to delegate, inability to get along with those who disagreed with him among other things.  Most agree that he was much less effective of a leader than his counterpart Abraham Lincoln.

After his capture in 1865, Davis was accused of treason and imprisoned at Fort Monroe.  He was released two years later and never prosecuted but was awarded a presidential pardon by Andrew Johnson who became President when President Lincoln was assassinated.  Upon Davis’ release he was criticized by his former Confederate General, Robert E. Lee.  Davis completed his memoir in 1881 entitled The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government.

This painting is an exciting find and a great addition to the Sequoyah County Historical Museum.  In the coming months and years we have plans to have the painting restored and framed for display. We have started a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money to have the painting restored. Click Here to donate.