Eastman in Dodge County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Jefferson Davis Campsite

Photographed by Paul Liepe

1. Jefferson Davis Campsite Marker

Inscription.
Erected June 3rd, 1920, by Fannie Gordon Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, in honor of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, who camped here on the night of May the 8th, 1865.

Erected 1920 by Fannie Gordon Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the United Daughters of the Confederacy series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 8, 1865.

Location. 32° 8.769′ N, 83° 6.405′ W. Memorial is in Eastman, Georgia, in Dodge County. It is at the intersection of Pine Bluff Road and Jefferson Davis Memorial Road on Pine Bluff Road. The marker sits to the side of a smaller ranch home. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 883 Jefferson Davis Memorial Road, Eastman GA 31023, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Georgia’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Stuckey's (approx. 4½ miles away); Normandale (approx. 4.6 miles away); Old Eastman School (approx. 5 miles away); Dodge County Confederate Monument (approx. 5½ miles away); Dodge County (approx. 5½ miles away); Jefferson Davis (approx. 5.6 miles away); The Eastman-Bishop-Bullock House (approx. 5.7 miles away); The Blackshear Road (approx. 6.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Eastman.

More about this memorial. The marker is difficult to read.

Regarding Jefferson Davis Campsite. The historical accuracy of this marker is in doubt. The information came to the UDC in 1920 from former slave Uncle John Davis who claimed to be the carriage driver for President Davis. There were no carriages used in the Davis flight, only ambulances, and the President traveled mostly on horseback. According to contemporary

Photographed by Paul Liepe, February 2, 2025

2. Jefferson Davis Campsite Marker

accounts, President Davis spent the night of May 8 in Abbeville, GA. However, it is quite possible that the President stopped here for a meal and that his wife Varina Davis and a caravan of wagons spent part of the night here.

Also see . . . . From The Macon News, Macon, Georgia, Sun, Sep 4, 1921, page 5 via newspapers.com accessed February 2, 2025

The two trees to which the horse of Mr. Davis was hitched ... Uncle John Davis

(Submitted on February 3, 2025, by Paul Liepe of Danville, Virginia.)

Jefferson Davis Campsite Marker seen from Pine Bluff Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Liepe, February 2, 2025

3. Jefferson Davis Campsite Marker seen from Pine Bluff Road

Dedication of Marker with Uncle John Davis at left image. Click for full size.

circa 1920

4. Dedication of Marker with Uncle John Davis at left

Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2025. This page has been viewed 234 times since then and 53 times this year. Last updated on July 2, 2026. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 3, 2025, by Paul Liepe of Danville, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.