Search for the Jefferson Davis DVD - Video Documentary by PEPE Productions

Buried in the oceans sands off St. Augustine, Florida, “the Nation’s oldest port,” is a lost shipwreck, one of the last great maritime mysteries from America’s Civil War. The 150 year old shipwreck had several incarnations—first, that of a commercial trader, then an illegal slaver, and finally a feared rebel privateer. Join underwater archaeologists and forensic scientists in their pursuit to find the missing Confederate privateer—Jefferson Davis.

One hundred fifty years ago, America was embroiled in a terrible Civil War (1861-1865). Early into that conflict, the Confederate government issued letters of marque, creating privateers that preyed upon Union shipping. Confederate privateers acted in support of an almost non-existent rebel navy. The most successful of those marauders was the brig Jefferson Davis. Lost on the St. Augustine Bar in August of 1861, underwater archaeologists from the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program are engaged in a search for this vessel. The Jefferson Davis started life as a merchant ship known as the Putnam, then slipped into a dark period as an illegal slave trader, and finally ended its career as the Union Navy’s “most wanted.” The quest to find this lost shipwreck is a journey into our shared maritime past. Join us in the hunt for the Jefferson Davis, Trader-Slaver-Raider!

WRITTEN BY JOSEPH W. ZARZYNSKI & DR. SAMUEL TURNER
DIRECTED BY PETER PEPE
PRODUCED BY PEPE PRODUCTIONS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LIGHTHOUSE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MARITIME PROGRAM, THE ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE & MUSEUM, AND THE FIRST LIGHT MARITIME SOCIETY
CONSULTING ARCHAEOLOGISTS—CHUCK MEIDE, DR. SAMUEL TURNER, BRENDAN BURKE, AND JOSEPH W. ZARZYNSKI
ANIMATION BY JOHN WHITESEL
UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPY BY STEVEN C. RESLER
NARRATED BY PETER PEPE