From February 16,1861 through May 5, 1865 Jefferson Davis was the elected President of the Confederate States. Even though his appearance was shockingly similar to that of President Abraham Lincoln, he was by most accounts an ineffective war strategist and his lack of popular appeal made sure that any similarities ended there. Historically he has been called meddlesome, difficult to work with and controlling.
Young George Ulmer had a completely different view of the man. After his printing debacle, George was re-assigned to a task he was well suited to. Cheerful, optimistic, friendly George was assigned as a type of guard to Jefferson Davis while the Confederate President was incarcerated at Fortress Monroe. He was instructed to accompany the President on his daily walks and generally keep the man company.
For a full week he walked and talked with the President listening to his woes and of course asking plenty of questions. George had nothing negative to say about his assignment in fact ,the opposite is true. In his memoirs he writes:
He gave me lots of good advice, and I learned more from conversation with him about national affairs than I ever expected to know; and if I ever become president I will avail myself of the advice and teaching of that great man. He pointed out the right and wrong paths for young men; urged me above all things to adhere strictly to honesty and integrity; to follow these two principles, and I would succeed in business and become great and respected. I thanked him for his kind advice, and pressed his hand good-bye. “Good-bye, my boy,” said he. “You have been a comfort to me in my loneliness and sorrow. God bless you, my boy, God bless you!” A great, big something came up in my throat as I turned and left him, and I have regretted all my life that I was not fortunate enough to have the pleasure of meeting him again before he passed away; for I assure you, indulgent readers and comrades, that no matter what he had done, or what mistakes he had made, his memory will always find a warm spot in the heart of that little Drummer Boy from Maine.
me and lizzie may 