Near Oconee in Washington County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Jefferson Davis

Photographed by David Seibert, April 1, 2011

1. Jefferson Davis Marker

Inscription. On May 4, 1865, Jefferson Davis arrived in Washington, Georgia (85 miles N), where he performed what proved to be his last duties as President of the Confederate States of America. Shortly thereafter, with a small staff and escort, he departed enroute to the trans-Mississippi Department, from which vantage point he hoped to negotiate a just peace. His party reached Sandersville (17 miles NE) about noon on May 6th, where the last official business of the Confederate States Treasury was transacted.

That evening, they camped near Ball’s Ferry (2 miles NW); but upon learning of a threat to his family, which was on a converging route some hours ahead, Mr. Davis decided to press on. After an all night ride over unfamiliar roads, he found them near the home of Mr. E. J. Blackshear, 10 miles north of Dublin, on the road leading south from this point.

After a hard journey via Dublin and Abbeville, they camped a mile N of Irwinville (93 miles SW) in the present Jefferson Davis Memorial State Park. At dawn on May 10th, his camp was surrounded by men of the 1st Wisconsin and 4th Michigan cavalry regiments [US] and he became a “state prisoner,” his hopes for a new nation, in which each state would exercise without interference its cherished “Constitutional rights,” forever dead.

Erected

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1957 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 150-8.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1864.

Location. 32° 46.743′ N, 82° 55.606′ W. Marker is near Oconee, Georgia, in Washington County. It is at the intersection of Georgia Route 57 and Route 68, on the right when traveling west on Georgia Route 57. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oconee GA 31067, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Coastal Plain and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ball's Ferry (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Defense of Ball's Ferry (approx. 1.9 miles away); a different marker also named Ball's Ferry (approx. 1.9 miles away); Sherman's Right Wing (approx. 2.1 miles away); a different marker also named Ball's Ferry (approx. 2.2 miles away); The Defense of the Oconee Bridge (approx. 5½ miles away); Irwin’s Crossroad (approx. 7 miles away); Jared Irwin (approx. 8.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oconee.

Photographed by David Seibert, April 1, 2011

2. Jefferson Davis Marker

Photographed by David Seibert, April 1, 2011

3. Jefferson Davis Marker

Looking east on Georgia Highway 57 toward Wrightsville

Photographed by David Seibert, April 1, 2011

4. Jefferson Davis Marker

Looking west on Georgia Highway 57 toward the intersection with Georgia Highway 68, and the site of Ball's Ferry across the Oconee River.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,048 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 3, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.