Jim Limber

Jim Limber, also known as Jim Limber Davis, was a mulatto boy who was briefly a ward of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America. He was under the care of the Davis family from February 1864 to May 1865. Some believe his real name was James Henry Brooks. [Crist, Lynda (editor). "The Papers of Jefferson Davis: 1808-1840 Vol 1" (LSU Press) pg.547]

On February 14 1864, Varina Howell Davis, wife of Jefferson Davis, was returning home in Richmond, Virginia, when she saw a black boy being beaten by a black man. Outraged, she immediately put an end to the beating and had the boy come with her in her carriage. He was cared for by Mrs. Davis and her staff. They gave him clothes belonging to the Davises' son, Joe, since the boys were of similar age. When asked his name, he just said "Jim Limber."http://spofga.org/flag/2005/feb/jim_limber_davis.phtml]

Davis arranged for Jim to be freed from slavery. It is unknown if Davis actually adopted him. There was no adoption law in Virginia at that time, so any adoption would be an "extralegal" affair. [Coski, John M. What do we really know about Jim Limber? "Museum of the Confederacy Magazine", Winter 2008. pg.18]

Jim was with the Davises when they were forced to abandon Richmond before the Union Army captured the city in April 1865. When the Davises were captured by Union forces in Irwinville, Georgia, on May 15, Jim was separated from them. Some recounts of the story say this was due to a swift kidnapping of Limber by the Union Army, while other accounts say that the Davises recognized a Union general they knew well, Rufus Saxton. The Davis family never saw Jim again. [Coski 19] [ [http://ourworld.cs.com/mikegriffith1/jeffersondavis.htm Jefferson Davis: ] ]

Jim briefly lived with Saxton in Charleston, South Carolina, but was eventually sent north for education until he was old enough to support himself. [Crist pg.547]

In 2008, the Sons of Confederate Veterans offered a $100,000 statue of Jefferson Davis to the American Civil War Center in Richmond. A life-sized Jim Limber is depicted on the statue, by the legs of Jefferson Davis. The statue was scheduled to be finished in fall 2008. [Szkotak, Steve. Confederate group offers statue to Civil War Center "Associated Press" June 2008] [Jones, Will. [http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/state.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-06-10-0139.html Statue of Jefferson Davis is proposed] "Richmond Times-Dispatch" June 10, 2008] It was reported that the Center has accepted the gift, but is unsure how it will be used, if on display or to remain in storage. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/14/america/NA-US-Confederate-Statue.php Civil War Center accepts donated Davis statue] "Associated Press" August 14, 2008]

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