Editing Jefferson Davis (section)

====1863====
[[File:The Jefferson Davis mansion, Richmond, Virginia-LCCN2008679544.jpg|thumb|Colorized photograph of the [[White House of the Confederacy]] (Jefferson Davis's Executive Mansion) in Richmond (1901)|alt= white rectangular building]]
On January 1, Lincoln issued the [[Emancipation Proclamation]]. Davis saw this as attempt to destroy the South by inciting its enslaved people to revolt,{{sfn|Cooper|2000|pp=408–409}} declaring the proclamation "the most execrable measure recorded in the history of guilty man".{{sfn|Davis|1863a}} He requested a law that Union officers captured in Confederate states be delivered to state authorities and put on trial for inciting slave rebellion.{{sfn|McPherson|2014|p=121}} In response, the Congress passed a law that Union officers of [[United States Colored Troops]] could be tried and executed, though none were during the war. The law also stated that captured black soldiers would be turned over to the states they were captured in to be dealt with as the state saw fit.{{sfn|Hattaway|Beringer|2002|pp=191–192}}

In May, Lee broke up another invasion of Virginia at the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]],{{sfn|Stoker|2010|p=258}} and countered with an invasion into [[Pennsylvania in the American Civil War|Pennsylvania]]. Davis approved, thinking that a victory in Union territory could gain recognition of Confederate independence,{{sfn|Cooper|2000|pp=435–437}} but Lee's army was defeated at the [[Battle of Gettysburg]] in July.{{sfn|McPherson|2014|p=143}} After retreating to Virginia, Lee blocked any major Union offensives into the state.{{sfn|Stoker|2010|pp=311–317}}

[[File:The soldier in our Civil War - a pictorial history of the conflict, 1861-1865, illustrating the valor of the soldier as displayed on the battle-field, from sketches drawn by Forbes, Waud, Taylor, (14576231299).jpg|thumb|''Arrival at Chickasaw Bayou of the Slaves of President Davis from [[Brierfield Plantation|His Mississippi Plantation]].'' A woodcut adaptation of a sketch by [[Francis H. Schell]] (1863)|alt= a group of African Americans, one riding a donkey walking to the left, being met by two Union Soldiers on the right who are facing them. There is a tree on the right with two other Union around it.]] 
In April, Union forces resumed their attack on Vicksburg.{{sfn|Hattaway|Beringer|2002|pp=222–223}} Davis concentrated troops from across the south to counter the move,{{sfn|McPherson|2014|pp=129–131}} but Joseph Johnston did not stop the Union forces.{{sfnm|Cooper|2000|1p=439|McPherson|2014|2pp=131–132|Woodworth|1990|3pp=207–208}} Lieutenant General [[John C. Pemberton]] withdrew his army into Vicksburg, and after [[Siege of Vicksburg|a siege]], surrendered on July 4. The loss of Vicksburg and [[Port Hudson, Louisiana]], led to Union control of the Mississippi. Davis relieved Johnston of his department command.{{sfn|McPherson|2014|p=134}}  During this time, Brierfield was occupied; Davis's slaves gained their freedom, and almost all of his property was confiscated or destroyed.{{sfnm|Cooper|2000|pp=449–450}}

In the summer, Bragg's army was maneuvered out of [[Chattanooga]] and fell back to [[Georgia in the American Civil War|Georgia]].{{sfn|Cooper|2000|p=453}} In September, Bragg defeated the Union army at the [[Battle of Chickamauga]], driving it back to Chattanooga, which he put under siege.{{sfn|Woodworth|1990|pp=237–238}} Davis visited Bragg to address leadership problems in his army. Davis acknowledged that Bragg did not have the confidence of his subordinates but kept him in command.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|pp=455–457}} In mid-November, the Union army counterattacked and Bragg's forces retreated to northern Georgia.{{sfn|Stoker|2010|p=329}} Bragg resigned his command; Davis replaced him with Joseph Johnston{{sfn|Hattaway|Beringer|2002|pp=238–239}} but retained Bragg as an informal chief of staff.{{sfn|McPherson|2014|p=180}}
Davis had to address faltering civilian morale. In early spring, there were [[southern bread riots|riots]] in Confederate cities as people began to suffer food shortages and price inflation.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|p=448}} During one riot in Richmond, the mayor of Richmond called the militia when a mob protesting food shortages broke into shops. Davis went to the scene and addressed the protesters, reminding them of their patriotic duty and promising them that he would get food. He then ordered them to disperse or he would command the soldiers to open fire; they dispersed.{{sfn|McPherson|2014|pp=168–169}} In October, Davis went on a month-long journey to rally the Confederacy, giving public speeches across the south and meeting with civic and military leaders.{{sfn|Cooper|2000|p=461}}