Confederate Presidential Dog. Beauvoir (Beautiful view) was the retirement estate of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Sarah Anne Ellis Dorsey, a Confederate partisan, the owner, invited Davis to write his memoirs here. Davis accepted and lived in a cottage on the grounds, then purchased the property moving into the estate mansion where he lived until his death. Some facts gained from research into the history of Traveler, who became the personal pet of Jefferson Davis, seem dubious, contrived and embellished... but here goes. The Dorsey's used their wealth to travel the world. On a trip to the Bernise Alps in Switzerland, the couple purchased a mix breed puppy fathered by a Russian Bulldog. (Extinct, bred to fight and guard) He was trained to be their bodyguard and accompanied them during their numerous travels. Traveler had many encounters... while camping on the Arabian Desert, Mr. Dorsey severely punished his Arabian servant for stealing. Mrs. Dorsey was left alone as her husband journeyed away on business. The servant intent on revenge, cut his way into her tent while asleep. He was soon pinned under the massive body of Traveler, the knife lying by his side. The reigning Arab sheik ordered the man executed. While in Paris, Mrs. Dorsey wore her diamonds during a night time reception. She was followed to her hotel room by a thief. She was aroused from her sleep by his cry for help as Traveler had him pinned to the floor. A trial was not needed as the thief did not survive a major wound inflicted by the dog to his throat. Upon Jeff Davis becoming owner of the property, Traveler was his as a gift from Mrs. Dorsey and became his constant companion and guard while sleeping beside his bed at night. They were a common daily sight as master and dog walked the beach fronting the estate on the Gulf of Mexico. One had to be foolhardy to approach before President Davis gave an okay signal. The mansion needed no locks or bars as Traveler maintained a sentry march on the wide porches surrounding the mansion. Once cleared by Davis, Traveler remembered and thereafter, a person could come and go unmolested. Although fierce and massive in stature with a bloody past, he was gentle and the playmate of small children. The dog would roll with them on the grass lawn, while youngsters pulled his hair, pound on his head and rode him as a pony. He would accompany a visiting neighbor girl back to her residence day after day to insure she arrived home safely. Traveler became ill. Mr. Davis engaged the best doctor in the region in an attempt to save him, but nothing relieved the dog's suffering as he became weaker. During an all night vigil, Traveler passed away- his head resting on his Master's knee. Jefferson Davis gently placed his dog upon the rug uttering, "I have lost my best friend." A coffin was constructed and the entire family gathered on the front porch for a brief service. At the conclusion, Davis patted the box with his hand, and retreated into the house before the animal was buried in the front yard of Beauvoir Mansion. Soon, a small engraved, stone marked the grave. Alas... after the death of Davis and the intervening years that followed, the marker disappeared, probably stolen by a souvenir hunter. Today the exact burial location of Traveler is unknown and the grave has been recycled. The entire estate was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and hundreds of artifacts were either lost or blown around the area. The main house stands but is heavily damaged. The library's first floor is gone but the statue of Davis and much of his papers survived. The small cottage where Davis wrote his memoirs sustained little damage but many buildings including the gift shop were completely destroyed.