Despite massive storm damage, the historic Beauvoir House is structurally sound and can be restored with time and money, according to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

"Plans are already under way,'' said Richard Cawthon, chief architectural historian for the department. "Architectural specialists have examined the home and found it preservable.''

The beachfront retirement home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and the only national historic landmark in Harrison County, the Beauvoir house has lived through the Civil War, attempted arson and 21 other hurricanes during its 150-year life.

But Hurricane Katrina was almost fatal.

Beauvoir's elegant porches, recently refurbished, are gone. So is the graceful front staircase. Entrance doors, each with nine oval glass panes, were destroyed. A corner of the roof is missing. Original windows have been broken. Louvered green shutters are badly damaged.

A cherished example of "Raised Cottage" Gulf Coast architecture, its design is credited with the survival of the house. It is built on slightly elevated ground, and the main structure of the house stands 12 feet off the ground on brick piers, allowing floodwaters to surge through.

The wraparound porches may have offered some protection, said Cawthon. And its broad and low hipped roof, with a slope on each side, was less vulnerable to wind than a traditional vertical roof.

"The house was designed to accommodate weather conditions that occur on the Gulf Coast,'' he said. "It was constructed to maximize its survivability."

Beauvoir fared better than many other landmarks in Biloxi. The Dantzler House, a cottage dating back to the 1850s, was destroyed. The Brielmaier House is missing. Only a chimney is left of the Pleasant Reed House, built by a former slave and home to a museum of African-American history.

The first step in Beauvoir's restoration will be to repair the roof, so that rain does not further damage the interior, said Cawthon. Because the foundation of the house is sound, it will be able to support its weight during restoration.

Unfortunately, its surrounding structures did not fare so well. "It is with great sadness that the Library pavilion, where Jefferson Davis penned "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government,'' the Hayes Cottage, Soldier's Home Barracks replica, Confederate Soldier's Museum, giftshop and director's home were totally destroyed,'' according to the Beauvoir Web site. The Presidential Library lost its first floor.

Beauvoir is owned by the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, which will lead fundraising and restoration efforts.

Flooding carried away antique furniture and many priceless artifacts, including uniforms and weapons. It is feared that some rare rifles are gone, along with the saddle on which Davis rode into the Mexican war and the wooden hearse-like structure that carried his body to the grave.

Because an inventory is still under way, historians do not yet know how many artifacts were lost. Beauvoir historians reportedly provided a list of military artifacts to the eBay online auction Web site, so that any items listed for sale can be confiscated and returned to the estate.

The jacket of a confederate soldier was found suspended from a bush, along with other flotsam and jetsam.

To deter looters, the National Guard now patrols the site at night. A private security guard is posted during the day.

The good news is that the second-floor reference library of the Presidential Library survived. Two small cottages and a barn in the back of the property were untouched by flooding.

Its survival is a priority, agreed officials with the Washington D.C.-based National Trust for Historic Preservation and Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

"Beauvoir is a very important historic site because of its association with a very historic figure,'' said John Hildreth, director of the southern chapter of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

It attracts between 80,000 and 100,000 visitors a year. In 2002, the Mississippi Tourism Association named the estate the top tourism destination in Mississippi.

Because of its link to the Confederacy, "It is a lightning rod for a lot of people, which gives us an opportunity to explore a lot of themes in our history themes that have an impact on our current culture,'' he said.

South Mississippi historian Charles Sullivan calls it "a shrine" a memorial to a lost cause. Jefferson Davis is a symbol of a cause that failed.''

"It is a tangible connection to a past that wasn't so long ago. In the 7,000 years of human history, the Civil War was just an eyeblink ago. It just happened. Because of Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis is still with us,'' Sullivan said. "In the words of William Faulkner, 'The past is not dead. It is not even past.' "

Its restoration will be a delicate and deliberate process.

Because Beauvoir is listed as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service, it will be eligible for federal restoration money. Private donations are also being sought. After restoration of the Beauvoir House and Presidential Library, officials hope to build replicas of missing structures.

Jefferson Davis is said to have savored the climate of Biloxi, once saying that "the soft air is delicious.''

With air that was neither soft nor delicious, Katrina almost claimed the site.

"But we'll fix it,'' said Sullivan. "We're used to defeat. We'll restore it. It will rise again."

            The Pioneer Festival was a big success, I felt, even despite the surging gas prices that threatened to keep drivers home.  The administrators had done an excellent job in arranging quality booths and shows.  My complements to Scott Anderson for the job he did with registration and organizing the Reenactment portions. Many Crafts people had their tents up displaying and selling their wares, while two stages were set up offering musical entertainment throughout the days all day long.  The local blacksmith had a mini-forge set up displaying and explaining his difficult occupation, along with a trapper, woodrite, and others all displaying and selling their creations.  The museum and Overstreet house and old packing house were open and all were welcome to view inside.  Food and drinks were available all around the grounds.  A group of Antique car owners drove their beautifully restored cars and trucks to display them.  They proudly opened the hoods showing the clean engines and interiors.  I enjoyed my day furlough (Saturday) by meandering through the crafts area and museum and spending time with my SCV camp booth.

            The Confederate and Union encampments were small but well visited by the spectators.  Doc Riker had a small medical tent set up and displayed a few of the period devices used by the doctors of the Civil War.  Scott Anderson had his artillery piece and was the only artillery there, as one of the groups of artillery had suffered an accident and was unable to attend.  I do not believe it was anything real serious but our prayers go to them for speedy recovery.  Small groups of various units on both sides had shown up to participate, among the Confederates were 7^th Florida Volunteers Co. K.  On the Union side, one highly recognizable group was the 14^th Brooklyn aka the Red Legged Devils.

            Sunday rolled in and already the weather threatened to be hot.  At 9:00 am we fell in for Colors.  As we had no flag pole set up, we made due by marching the flag in front of the company as they saluted.  We received the morning orders and reports and then were dismissed.  We had one brand new recruit and so a small detachment including myself set up and went through some infantry drills to prepare for the day's battle.  After being informed to fall in at the encampment at 2:15, we were dismissed.  Pastor Roger held Church service at 10:00 to fellowship and praise God and Jesus.  He delivered a beautiful sermon and sang some hymns.  I spent the rest of the time with my family and friends again meandering through the grounds.

            As 2:00 rolled around I returned to the Confederate camp and shortly after we were called to fall in. We held weapons inspection then formed up into Battalion and proceeded to march down to our placement for the battle.  The cheers we received as we marched through the crowds were spirit lifting. Cries of “GO get em!” and “Hoorah for the South” rang out from everywhere.  We reached our staging area and stacked our muskets and drank plenty of water.  It wasn’t long till we heard the artillery firing and sounds of the pickets and skirmishers firing and engaging.  Major Kohl called the battalion to attention and then had us march out to engage the Federals.  As we marched down through the field, we took few casualties from their artillery battery and musket fire.  We pushed the Federal line back only to have them regroup and fortify their position on the hill.  Although we outnumbered them, their Cavalry and artillery took a toll on our boys leaving many lying on the field.  We were forced to fall back and retreat across the field.  The Federal infantry advanced quickly with Cavalry at their flank and soon we were forced to surrender to the Union officer.  The call of resurrect rang out and we fell in back into our companies and lined into ranks for the Salute.  The crowed cheered and applauded us and then we were dismissed with the cry of “FLORIDA!”  The field was hot and sticky.  We all drank plenty of water and to my knowledge no one suffered any ill effects from the heat.

            Monday found our numbers had shrunk some on both sides but the Confederates still outnumbered the Union.  However, the red legged devils were still there.  Once again we fell into formation at the encampment for weapons inspection and marched through the crowd.  Everyone cheered and applauded us as we passed.  The feeling was incredible, as we reached our bivouac and rested, our Cavalry spotted Federal pickets along a fence.  Riding up to investigate, they engaged and a company of our skirmishers went out to assist.  Soon they drew back and our battalion was called in to reinforce the line.  We advanced and fired and advanced again shortly overrunning the fence causing the Union soldiers to withdraw.  Our battalion fired again, once by battalion then by line.We saw the chance to pass over the fence and advance on the Union position.We marched up close to the base of the embankment firing as their cannon fired.  Several of our boys fell taking hits.  We retreated some and regrouped. T he Union thought they had us and advanced only to be out flanked and finally having to surrender.

            The battle may have been small but we did our best to portray the correctness of the times and hardships of the Civil war soldier.  The crowd enjoyed and cheered us with enthusiasm.  Our company commanders did a wonderful job in keeping us driven as did Major Kohl in commanding the entire battalion.  It was successful and a great event to participate in.  Until next time,

Your Faithful obedient servant

Pvt. John E. Butler.

5^th Florida Co. I.