Through a Contemporary’s Eyes
Jefferson Davis, c. 1888. Platinum photographic print (14 × 10 cm). Public domain; Library of Congress LC-DIG-ppmsca-23864.
L.B. Northrup’s 1881 Letter to Jefferson Davis
Hudson Strode’s Jefferson Davis Private Letters gives us an intimate window into the thoughts and trials of America’s Civil War President—long after the guns fell silent. In this post, we turn to Commissioner General L.B. Northrup, who in July 1881 penned a heartfelt tribute to Davis’s monumental postwar efforts. His words remind us not only of Davis’s perseverance, but of how extraordinary his burden truly was.
Excerpt from Northrup’s Letter (July 25, 1881)
Dear Davis,
Many thanks for your volumes received from the Apple House 12 days ago. Though incompetent to estimate such a work, I am sufficiently informed to say that no man has ever lived who had such a problem as you undertook and had to face. American politicians and their followers being the worst of material, they scrupled not an open opposition and secret mechanism while the members of Congress speculated in stocks and commodities and people generally became spectators.
America has never produced another man who could simultaneously have comprehended the problem of ongoing supplying and directing internally civil and military while conducting all external relations. There is a marvelous unity in your character manifested in this work. Charlemagne managed civil and military affairs, but he had unity within and no secret assailants to his position. No other man could have done what you did and no man in America could have held your ground for one year.
May you have health and long life is the prayer of yours ever,
L.B. Northrup
Why Northrup’s Words Matter
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An Unparalleled Burden
Northrup reminds us that Davis’s challenge wasn’t merely military or political—it was all of that and diplomatic leadership at once. No other American statesman before or since has faced such a multidimensional crisis. -
Character Under Fire
The praise for Davis’s “marvelous unity” of character speaks volumes. Even amid “open opposition and secret mechanism,” Davis maintained a steady sense of purpose. -
A Touchstone for Today
In our modern era of rapid news cycles and partisan maneuvering, Davis’s experience feels surprisingly relevant. Leaders today still navigate hidden agendas and public scrutiny—yet rarely under such existential stakes.
What strikes you most about Northrup’s tribute?