Accidental Death to a Member of the Rebel President’s Family.

(From the Richmond Examiner, May 2.)

The President and his family have just met with a great affliction in the sudden and violent death of Joseph E. Davis, second son of the President, about four years old. He fell from the east portico on Saturday afternoon, between three and four o’clock, a distance of fifteen feet, fracturing his hip and injuring his head. Mr. Davis and his wife were absent from the mansion at the time of the accident, and some minutes must have elapsed before the facts of the accident and the discovery of the condition of the child were made known by the servant. The sufferer was taken into the nursery, and a messenger despatched in haste for the President and his lady. Drs. Peticolas, Conway and Garnett, the family physicians successively came in and applied their skill without avail. The child was insensible when picked up and never recovered consciousness, dying in about three quarters of an hour later been taken up by the servant and carried into the house. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon at five o’clock from St. Paul’s church, the Rev. Dr. Minnegerode officiating. The occasion called forth a large throng of sympathizing friends, and the service were of the most affecting character. The interment took place at Hollywood, where the President’s family have a vault.

SOURCE: “Accidental Death to a Member of the Rebel President’s Family,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, Thursday Morning, May 12, 1864, p. 1, col. 8

Gleanings.

The Richmond Examiner of May 2 announces the sudden and violent death of Joseph E. Davis, a lad four years of age, second son of Jefferson Davis, by a fall from the portico of his father’s dwelling, a distance of fifteen feet.

SOURCE: “Gleanings,” The Brooklyn Daily Union, Brooklyn, New York, Thursday, May 12, 1862,  p. 2, col. 2

The Rebel President and his family . . . ,

. . . have just met with a great affliction in the sudden and violent death of Joseph E. Davis, second son of the President, about four years old. He fell from the east portico on Saturday afternoon between three and four o’clock, a distance fully fifteen feet, fracturing his hip and injuring his head. Mr. Davis and his wife were absent from the mansion at the time of the accident, and some minutes must of elapsed before the facts of the accident and the discovery of the condition of the child was made by the servants.

SOURCE: “The Rebel President and his family . . . ,” Daily Evening Express, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Thursday, May 12, 1864, p. 2, col. 5

Death of a son of Jeff. Davis.

JOSEPH E. DAVIS, second son of the rebel leader, aged four years, was killed on the 30th ult., by falling from a portico of the family mansion.

SOURCE: “Death of a son of Jeff. Davis,” Wisconsin State Journal, Thursday, May 12, 1864, p. 1, bottom of col. 7

The Funeral of Little Joseph.

The accident which has brought mourning to the hearthstone of President Davis is sad indeed, and the afflicted family will have the sincere sympathy of the entire people. This blow, added to his responsible position, must weigh heavily upon Mr. Davis, but he will doubtless be consoled by the reflection that little Joseph has been transplanted to a fairer and better clime, where wars and strifes are unknown, and where anthems of praise ever ascend to the Great Source of all perfection. The earthly “mansion” may be clothed in the habiliments of mourning and each member of the family circle will feel an aching void whenever the little prattler is missed from the group, but Joseph has a mansion “not built with hands eternal in the heavens.”

Of the death and funeral of this interesting little boy the Enquirer says:

“The afflicting dispensation of Providence which removed from this world a beautiful child of President Davis, has created a void never to be filled, but the deep sympathy of a whole country with the afflicted family may in some measure mitigate their grief. The funeral of little JOSEPH DAVIS on Sunday last, from St. Paul’s Church, was attended by one of the largest gatherings of the citizens of Richmond that any of the events of the last three years have called together. It was a tender and silent expression of the sympathy and regard of a large community for the President and his family. The whole country will join in condoling with the distressed family.”

SOURCE: “The Funeral of Little Joseph,” The Daily Progress, Raleigh, North Carolina, Wednesday, May 4, 1864, p. 2, Col. 3

The Telegraph announced a few days since . . .

. . . the afflicting dispensation of Providence which removed from this world a beautiful child of President Davis. It has created a void never to be filled, but the deep sympathy of a whole country with the afflicted family may in some measure mitigate their grief. We learn from the Richmond papers that the funeral of little Joseph Davis on Sunday last, from St. Paul’s church, was attended by one of the largest gathering of the citizens of Richmond that any of the events of the last three years have called together.—It was a tender and silent expression of the sympathy and regard of a large community for the President and his family. The whole country will join in condoling with the distressed family.

SOURCE: “The Telegraph announced a few days since . . .,” The Daily Confederate, Raleigh, North Carolina, Wednesday, May 4, 1864, p. 2, col. 2

Fatal Accident—A Son of President Davis Killed by a Fall

A most distressing accident occurred at the President’s Mansion on Saturday afternoon last. About 5 o’clock Joseph E. Davis, about four years old, son of President Davis, who had been playing about the yard during the earlier part of the evening, was missed, when search was instituted, and in a short time he was found lying in an insensible condition on the brick area below the east portico of the residence, with his left thigh broken and a severe contusion on his forehead. When discovered, an elder son of the President, named Jefferson, was kneeling by, endeavoring in the most affectionate manner to make him speak, but apparently not realizing the reason which prevented his brother from doing so. As soon as possible Drs. Wellford, Haxall, Conway, and Peticolas, were in attendance; but all their efforts proved ineffectual, and the little fellow, after an hour’s suffering, during which time he was perfectly insensible, breathed his last. The exact cause of the unfortunate accident is not known; but as there was a step-ladder leading from the area in the yard to the porch above, a distance of from fifteen to twenty feet, it is conjectured that he was standing near its top, and losing his balance, fell over into the yard below. The funeral took place at five o’clock yesterday afternoon, from St. Paul’s Church. A large crowd of sympathizing friends were in attendance, and the ceremonies of the occasion were of the most impressive.

SOURCE: “Fatal Accident,” Daily Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, Monday Morning, May 2, 1864, p. 1, col. 6