Jefferson Davis Cockades and Mementos

Politicians don't change much - and neither do their badges! Just as we see political ribbons, banners and stickers with candidates' photos on them today, so also the political badges of the past included candidates' pictures. Here's a look at political badges of President Jefferson Davis throughout his life.

Pre-War Career
Davis had a long and illustrious career in politics before he ever became the Confederacy's President. Besides serving as a US Representative and US Senator, he also served as Secretary of War and ran for the Governorship of Mississippi. It's likely this beautiful campaign cockade was from his 1857 Senate race.


Confederate President
Mississippi, Davis's state, was the second state to secede on January 9, 1861. Davis formally withdrew from the United States Senate on January 21. A month later, Davis was selected to become the provisional President of the new Confederacy.

Of course, he still had to face the real election process under the new Confederate Constitution. But such was his stature that he ran unopposed and was elected unanimously for a six-year term.

This drawing from Harper's Weekly of a Confederate cockade (see a real one in the title graphic) show people's assessment of him: "The Right Man in the Right Place." 


Opinions have varied over the years about Davis's abilities as a president - in fact, opinions varied while he was president too! But there was never any question of people's respect for Jefferson Davis as a person. This unidentified soldier, absolutely loaded with his favorite weapons, apparently wanted to make his sentiments clear. The slogan on the sign reads, "JEFF DAVIS AND THE SOUTH!" We can't see the emblem on the cockade in his hat, but it's doubtless just as patriotic as his slogan.

The Ladies Honored Him Too 
It wasn't just gentlemen who wore the president's image as a patriotic symbol. This gorgeous necklace made from dyed vegetable ivory was likely commissioned for a lady in 1865. The date is based on the fact that it not only includes photos of President Jefferson Davis and Vice President Alexander Stephens, but also Secretary of War John Breckinridge who took office in February 1865.

Jeff Davis Mementos 
Besides jewelry and cockades, Jefferson Davis's picture appeared in other places too, such as money, stamps... and hankies!

This is a handkerchief design made in England. It shows Jefferson Davis in the center, and eight Confederate generals and statesmen around the edges. The floral design is images of southern agricultural products.

Blue cockades are often associated with secession, but red and white was a favorite color combination too (see my article on that here). This flashy red and white cockade features a small tintype image of Davis in the center - no one would wonder about your politics when you wore this cockade!

Later Years 
After the war, Davis continued his illustrious career - and continued to be honored among his people. Besides his presidency, historians tend to focus on little else besides his authorship of "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government." But Davis's post-war career was just as interesting. In addition to serving as president of a life insurance company, he was elected as US Senator again (though disbarred from office by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution) and turned down the first presidency of what would become Texas A&M.

Davis died in New Orleans in 1889 and was buried there. But in 1893, Mrs. Davis decided to have him reinterred in Hollywood Cemetery in Virginia. Thousands paid their respects to his remains lying in state at the Virginia statehouse before the internment. This ribbon is a relic of that event.

The February 2, 1861 edition of Harper's Weekly described Jefferson Davis as, 'A finished scholar, a high-minded gentleman, an easy, yet vigorous and effective speaker, a devoted father, a true friend. He is emphatically one of those "born to command," and is doubtless destined to occupy a high position either in the Southern Confederacy or in the United States.' 

Presidential Cockades 
If you need a cockade honoring the president of either nation during the Civil War, I would be happy to supply you with one! I have both Davis and Lincoln cockades in my shop. Take a look at what I have ready-made or contact me for a custom order!

www.creativecockades.ecwid.com

Cockade Answers - In Their Own Words!

QUESTIONS:
What cockade did my ancestor wear? 
Is a cockade right for my impression? 
How do I know what my state's secession cockade looked like? 
And where do I find authentic answers, not just someone's opinion? 

Folks, I have the solution for you!! Read on...

ANSWERS! 

Backstory: On January 24, 2011 I opened an online shop to sell secession cockades. We and our friends were preparing for the 150th anniversary commemoration of the Firing on Fort Sumter and the cockades were a special touch of authenticity to our outfits. Here is a picture of that first cockade we listed, and we included our first bit of documentation - a quote from the Charleston Mercury about South Carolinians wearing blue cockades.

Ever since then, I've been hooked on cockade history. And I've continued to research original newspapers, diaries and memoirs to find out more about these tokens of patriotism. Cockades abounded in the 1860s but up till now, few historians have gathered the original documentation of them into one accessible resource.

Today is a special day for me because I finally get to offer YOU a compilation of my years of research!

Today, I'm announcing that the first in my series of e-books on American Civil War cockades is now available in my shop! 

"In Their Own Words: Cockades
and Badges in theSouthern States 1860-1865"

In Their Own Words
The stories and quotes about cockades in this digital book are all in the original words of people in the 1860s. Except for editing obvious typos, I have left the words and the spelling the same as when they were first written.

This is not a filtered history of cockades. I'm not playing the role of an egghead author "interpreting" what people really meant when they wore their patriotic rosettes. :) Instead, you get the unvarnished, original viewpoints of those who were there.

The stories are exciting and an excellent window into the turbulent times of 1860-1865. Sometimes folks found it easy to join the crowd in wearing a cockade. In other cases, people wrestled with the decision of which side - and cockade - to favor.

Still wondering if this book is interesting enough to bother reading it? Here are a few tidbits to whet your appetite!

Elizabeth Hardin

Which Side Is Right? 
Lizzie Hardin of Kentucky struggled at first with which side to favor. A cockade was the outward symbol of her final decision.

"Thus, at first, it was hard at first to decide which side had the most of justice and reason. Why, I asked, can we not wait for an overt act upon the part of Lincoln? What are we suffering that we have not suffered for twenty years? I do not know that I could enumerate all the arguments which first convinced me that South Carolina was right. I think it was more a mere statement of facts than arguments….At the end of two or three weeks I donned the blue cockade."

Richard Thompson Archer

The Oldest Secessionist 
"The capital of Mississippi is at present all alive with excitement, and densely crowded with people, who have been drawn to it by the deeply absorbing nature of the occasion of the assemblage of the Legislature in extraordinary session. . . 

"The people here, young and old, wear the blue cockade, the principal, if not the only, exceptions to the rule being those who are too well known for their ultra Southernism to need such symbols of their faith. Among the blue cockades I observe not a few quite elderly persons. Prominent among them is the veteran Col. Archer, of Claiborne, who declares that since the death of Senator Tazewell, of Virginia, he has become the oldest disunionist in the United States." 

Thomas F. Wood

Don't Let Dad Know About the Cockade 
And then there was the young man that had to hide his pro-Confederate sympathies - and cockade - from his Unionist father.

"I was a secessionist. It seemed to me that the North would not let slavery alone until we had a war, and the sooner begun the better. My father was a firm Unionist, and spoke his mind so freely that I only talked secession among my friends away from home. Mr. Erambert was a secessionist and his store was headquarters for the news. He was a Lt. in the Lt. Infantry and prided himself on his knowledge of tactics and studied books on that subject very attentively. The young men wore secession rosettes made of small pine “burs.”" 

Cockade in Effigy? 
The newspapers and diaries tell us that cockades were worn by men, women, children - black and white - rich and poor. And even the horses were adorned with cockades! Here's an account of yet another "person" that wore a cockade in Louisiana.

"There were general demonstrations of joy throughout the city of New Orleans on the reception of the news of the secession of South Carolina. One hundred guns were fired. The Pelican flag was unfurled and impromptu speeches made by leading citizens. The bust of Calhoun was displayed, decorated with a cockade."

Want to know more? Wondering what types of cockades the people in your state wore? Trying to decide which cockade your ancestor would have favored? 

Your questions can be answered by checking out my book! I've organized the quotes by state to make it easy to find information. All of the quotes are footnoted with their source. When you purchase the e-book, you can immediately download a PDF that you can save on your computer or smartphone.

You may be asking, Where is the book on Northern cockades? Sit tight folks, it's coming soon! I have it in the works, along with a book on Western cockades as well. Lord willing and the creek don't rise, both books will be available later this year.

The Complete Guide to Confederate Cockades

Curious about Secession Cockades? Want to know what cockade to wear for your historical impression? Or maybe you'd like to know the kind of cockade your ancestors wore. Read on...

Colors
The most popular color for secession cockades was blue. But red, or red-and-white ranked a close second. And there were just a few cockades on both sides that were black - the color worn during America's first war for independence.

Like Union cockades, Confederate cockade designs included rosettes, rosettes with tails or ribbon designs such as bows or knots. Some Confederate cockades were generic, others were designed specifically for a certain state or region.

Unlike Union cockades, there was huge variety in the combination of colors, emblems and materials. For example, all of these cockades are from one state: South Carolina.

 

 

Even among the blue cockades, there was a wide variety of designs.

Center emblems included military buttons, spangled stars, pictures of famous people... and also natural products such as palmetto fronds, cotton bolls, pine cones, and corn.

Confederate cockades were worn by men, women and children, black and white. They were often pinned to the breast or lapel, but could also be worn on hats and bonnets. For a more in-depth look at how men wore cockades, see here. For a detailed look at how women wore cockades, see here.

If you're looking for a Confederate cockade for yourself or a friend, check out the Confederate/Secession cockades in my shop. I have carefully documented and handcrafted each cockade. Let me know if you have a custom order or need a gift message and I'll be happy to work with you! My email is creativecockades@gmail.com.

You might also enjoy:
The Complete Guide to Union Cockades
The Complete Guide to Mourning Cockades

Star Spangled Glory

In previous posts I've talked about the colors of cockades. This post is about the centers of cockades - specifically, my favorite kind of center: Spangles.

This is a gorgeous original Alabama cockade with spangles.

 

You probably know them as sequins. But the sequins from the 19th century are very different from the modern plastic sparklies we're used to. Victorian era spangles are made of real, shiny metal. Here's a look at a few of my favorite cockades with spangles on them.

An original red and white Secession Cockade

 An original Irish Brigade badge (courtesy of the Virginia Historical Society) 

Can you imagine the sparkle when the sun hit these lovely beauties? Political pins just ain't what they used to be!

I wanted to recreate these gorgeous rosettes for my customers, and that led me on a journey of exploration into the subject of SPANGLES. 

How They Are Made

I was lucky enough to discover this article in the London "Daily Telegraph" from 1865. It explains how spangles are created:

 

"They are made from plated copper-wire, which comes from Germany. It is drawn out to the requisite size, and is then twisted, by English workmen, round a steel mandrel, till it has the same close spiral form as an old-fashioned spring, before the days of vulcanized india-rubber. From the long twist of metal thus shaped rings are chopped by a machine; and every ring closes by the elasticity of the metal. These rings, placed on a smooth steel anvil, are struck one by one with a smooth steel hammer, and being flattened at a blow, are spangles. Their polish is the combined effect of plating and of the smart, dexterous manner in which they are struck."

Here is the full article, which was explaining the process by which more than six pounds (!!) of spangles would be sewn to a Harlequin's dress. 

 

When you look closely at an original spangle, you can see that this process makes them slightly non-circular in shape. This is an original spangle that I photographed.

History Of Spangles
Spangles have been around for thousands of years, some historians believing they were around as early as 2500 BC. They are also called paillettes, or diamantes. The term "sequin" came from a rendition into French of the Italian word zecchino, which was a gold coin that was issued in the late medieval Republic of Venice. It looked like this:

An interesting history of these coins states in part, "In the cultures where these sequins circulated, the custom of stitching sequins and similar coins to women’s clothing, particularly headdresses, face veils, and over the bosom and hips, originally became a way to display (and store) family’s wealth. It was this ancient custom that led to the use of sequined fabric and trims in modern fashion, thus expanding the definition of sequin beyond coins to include this type of decoration."

Throughout history, we find spangles hand-sewn onto many items. Here is an acrobat's costume (with a pretty red cockade!):

http://blog.museumoflondon.org.uk/tag/walthamstow/

Some glitter on a man's coat.

And spangles on a lovely fan in my mother's collection.

I even recently saw spangles on a Civil War regimental flag. Wow, can you imagine the sparkle as it waved in the sun? Talk about star-spangled glory!

 

Aaaaand, of course, they were used on cockades, or I wouldn't be writing this blog entry about them! This is a gorgeous cockade in my collection that would have been worn by a pallbearer at a funeral. 

Note that the spangles are sewn into a circle, rather than a star. This circle is actually 3D, being sewn on top of a little puff of cotton to make it stand out from the cockade ribbon. That was a common method of attaching spangles in the 1800s.

Another item to note on this cockade is the odd little "springs" sewn on top of the spangles. Nowadays, we call this "french wire." It was often used either in a straight strip or a little kinky loop to secure spangles and add a little more sparkle.You can see the loop version on the flag picture.

When you look at the many vintage cockades with spangles, it's hard to tell how stunning they originally were. The metal is often rusted or tarnished, giving them a dingy look. But when I recreated this lovely Union cockade in my collection, I was able to see just how gorgeous the original spangled cockades were! Isn't this pretty? Our ancestors surely knew how to put on the glitz!