Portrait Gallery

Brigadier-General
Jefferson C. Davis

Annals of the Army of the Cumberland: comprising biographies, descriptions of departments, accounts of expeditions, skirmishes, and battles;
also its police record of spies, smugglers, and prominent rebel emissaries
... and official reports of the battle of Stone River and of the Chickamauga Campaign

by John Fitch, 1864, Pages 158-170.

Jefferson C. Davis, Brigadier-General of Volunteers, and Captain in the 1st Regular Artillery, now commanding the 1st Division of the 20th Army Corps, was born in Clarke county, Indiana, March 2, 1828. His ancestors were notable men in early days in the "West. His father was born and raised in Kentucky. His mother was born in Indiana, and is now sixty-two years of age, and is, probably, one of the oldest living natives of that State. His grandfather, William Davis, was an old Indian-fighter, who was an actor in numberless encounters and battles, among the more important of which was that of River Raisin. On his mother's side, his grandfather James Drummond was one of the earliest settlers of Kentucky, at the Falls of the Ohio. Several of his uncles were also active in the early settlement of that country, and participants in the battle of Tippecanoe and other Indian fights.

In 1841, young Davis, who was an apt scholar, entered the Clarke County Seminary, at that time one of the most prominent in the State. Here he remained four years, obtaining what was then esteemed in the West a liberal education, and was still attending school there in 1845, when the Mexican War broke out. The thrilling news from Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma flushed thousands of hearts with excitement, and among them that of young Davis, now seventeen years of age. Love of study was succeeded by a new and more absorbing passion, a thirst for the romance of camp and soldier life; and one morning he threw down his books, and in the afternoon was the first enrolled member of a volunteer company, called "the Clarke Guards," raised under the auspices of Captain T. W. Gibson, a West Pointer in earlier days, then a prominent lawyer of the county, and now one of the most notable attorneys in Louisville, Kentucky, or, indeed, in the West. The regiment of which it was a part was under the command of the now noted James H. Lane, of Kansas. The subject of our notice participated in the battle of Buena Vista, and in the entire Mexican campaign, without losing a day from sickness or other cause.

For gallant conduct in his regiment he was appointed second lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of Regular Artillery, to rank from June 17, 1848. Receiving his commission near the close of the war, Lieutenant Davis reported at Cincinnati for recruiting service, where he remained until October, obtaining in that time many recruits. Peace having been declared, he was ordered to join his company, which had just returned from Mexico and was then at Baltimore. Among his messmates and associates in the regiment were the present rebel generals Magruder, (Stonewall) Jackson, Hill, Winder, and Slaughter, and French, Brannan, Schofield, Baird, Vogdes, Anderson, Doubleday, and others now holding distinguished positions in the Union service. Of the officers of this regiment alone, twenty-one have become generals of mark and are now in active service. From Baltimore he was ordered to Fort Washington, on the Potomac, nine miles below Washington, where two years were spent on post duty and in professional study, his researches extending to every branch of military science. Much advantage was here derived by the young lieutenant from constant association with officers of skill and experience, whose theoretical knowledge had been tested and perfected by the trying scenes of the Mexican War. Young and full of life, he mingled much during these two years in Washington society, where he ever found a ready welcome. In the summer of 1850 his command constituted a portion of the escort at the funeral of President Taylor. In the fall of the same year it was ordered to New Orleans Barracks, then under the command of General Twiggs.

In the fall of 1851 he was ordered to the Rio Grande to enforce the neutrality laws, and while there was engaged in several expeditions That section of country was in a greatly disturbed state, in consequence of the presence of a band of scheming fillibusters, the survivors of the Cuban expeditions under the illfated Lopez. Swarming upon the Rio Grande, many attempts were made by them to revolutionize the adjoining country; and in some parts of Texas they succeeded to a certain extent. The danger becoming somewhat threatening, President Fillmore issued a proclamation warning the participants to cease from their illegal acts, and immediately entered upon prompt measures to put an end to them. For this purpose troops were sent to the Rio Grande, and among them, as we have seen, Lieutenant Davis and his command. Lieutenant Davis himself captured Colonel Wheat, the most noted of their leaders, and the band was eventually defeated and broken up by the Mexicans at Camargo, the battle being witnessed by Lieutenant Davis and his men from the Texas side of the river.

February 29, 1852, he was promoted first lieutenant, vice T. J. (Stonewall) Jackson, resigned. In the summer of the same year he returned to New Orleans, and thence went to Pascagoula, where his ranks were fearfully decimated by the yellow fever. In the succeeding autumn he was transferred to Florida, and took a command on the Caloosahatchee River, on the west coast, where he made several reconnaissances against the Indians and was engaged in a number of skirmishes with them. In June, 1853, after five years' continued service, Lieutenant Davis obtained his first furlough, and visited his home in the West. Rejoining his command in the fall at Fortress Monroe, he there spent two years at close study in the Artillery School of Practice. Old Point Comfort was at that time a favorite summer resort of the wealthy and fashionable; and the monotony of garrison-life was enlivened to our lieutenant by many pleasant hours passed in this agreeable society. In the fall of 1855 he was ordered to join French's Light Battery at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, and during his two years' sojourn at this place became proficient in light-artillery practice, being accounted one of the most skilful officers in that branch of the service.

In the fall of 1857, having completed his detailed course of practice, as was then required, he was ordered to a station on Indian River, on the east coast of Florida, where he arrived in November. The winter and spring were occupied with Indian scouting expeditions, in which with his command he scoured that whole country from the Everglades to the northern boundary of the State, —a region some three hundred miles in extent.

In May, 1858, in accordance with the provisions of the treaty then made, the Indians were removed to the West, and in June the troops were withdrawn from Florida and Lieutenant Davis and his command ordered to Charleston-harbor. In August, 1858, he was placed in command of Fort Sumter with the first garrison that occupied it. Here he had charge of a largo number of native Africans, the cargo of a slaver captured by the Dolphin, under command of Lieutenant Maffitt, now of the rebel navy. The people of Charleston, always ready to fan themselves into a blaze, were intensely excited, and threatened to take the negroes from his custody by force. The aid of the law was called in, and several writs of habeas corpus were served upon him. But Lieutenant Davis was firm in refusing to give them up; and in this position he was sustained by one of their most eminent judges, and by various editors in the State, who assumed the ground that negroes were not citizens, and consequently not entitled to the benefits of the habeas corpus act. While the controversy was pending, the yellow and ship fevers set in, raging with terrible fatality and carrying off large numbers of both garrison and negroes. The surviving blacks were sent to Liberia; and thus the difficulty was settled.

Lieutenant Davis remained nearly three years at Charleston, devoting himself to artillery practice, and finally passing a brilliant examination in that branch of the service. In December, 1860, when South Carolina seceded, by exerting his personal influence he contributed much to avert immediate collision between the citizens and the military. When Major Anderson cut down the flag-staff at Fort Moultrie, spiked the guns, burned the carriages, and retired to Fort Sumter, Lieutenant Davis was by his side.

During the four and a half months of the weary siege, he looked out from the walls of Sumter upon the line of batteries with which the rebels were encircling that devoted fortress. On the morning of April 12 he was on guard, and was upon the ramparts in the act of relieving the last sentry, when, at four o'clock, the first shell of the rebellion came over from Fort Johnson and exploded in the air forty feet above his head. It was still the gray of early dawn when this messenger of war was hurled against that small garrison, the sole representative there of that Government against which South Carolina had arisen in opposition. Unconnected with the saddening thoughts to which it gave rise, the general describes it to his friends as a magnificent sight. But there was little time then for melancholy reflection. The contest was upon them; and the little garrison of seventy-six were pitted against as many hundreds. All know the story of that memorable engagement, —how they fought long and well, but at length, wellnigh roasted by the flames of their burning quarters, were compelled to yield. During the bombardment, Lieutenant Davis commanded one of the batteries on the northwest face of the work, and directed his attention principally to the famous floating battery, silencing most of its guns and making it a complete wreck.

With Major Anderson and the garrison, Lieutenant Davis proceeded to New York after the surrender, when he received notification of his promotion to a captaincy, and found orders detailing him as mustering officer for the State of Indiana, with his head-quarters at Indianapolis. Here he remained several months, engaged in mustering volunteers and discharging quartermaster and commissary duties. His labors were severe and successful, the organization and equipment of many regiments having been furthered by him. The battle of Wilson's Creek and the death of Lyon now occurring, affairs in Missouri began to look dark, and the necessity for speedy reinforcements under competent commanders was proportionately increased. Captain Davis, being desirous of active service in the field, was commissioned colonel of a full regiment, the 22d Indiana, and ordered to Missouri to assist in the defence of St. Louis. Three days after the receipt of the order, the regiment and its colonel were in St. Louis, and reported to General Fremont. Remaining there ten days, Colonel Davis was ordered to relieve General Grant of the command of all the forces between the Osage and Missouri Rivers. This territory constituted a district, with head-quarters at Jefferson City, and on the 28th of August Colonel Davis assumed command. At that time Price and McCulloch were at Springfield; and the new commander at once began to fortify the place and to dispose his forces —about fifteen thousand in number— with a view to its defence. He personally superintended the construction of the works, and so strengthened Jefferson City that the enemy deemed it unadvisable to make any attack upon what soon became known as one of the best-fortified posts in the West.

Leaving Jefferson City to the right, the rebels advanced upon Lexington and captured it. Colonel Davis repaired the Pacific Railroad, destroyed by the rebels, rebuilt the La Mine bridge, burned by Price, and pushed his forces to Georgetown, compelling Price to fall back from Lexington to Springfield, want of transportation on the part of our troops alone preventing his capture. During this period Colonel Davis's troops were actively engaged in scouring the country, and many small fights occurred, together with some severe ones, such as the desperate engagement at Booneville, which was successfully defended against largely superior numbers by Major Eppstein, and the fights at Lexington and at Arrow Rock.

Fremont now came up with his whole force, and took the field in person, appointing Colonel Davis an acting brigadier-general and assigning him to a brigade in General Pope's division. The army advanced to Springfield, and Price and McCulloch fell back before it to Arkansas. Fremont was at this juncture recalled; Hunter succeeded to the command, and the Federal forces fell back to the La Mine. General Pope was now assigned to the command of all the forces in Central Missouri, and Colonel Davis placed in charge of that district with about fifteen thousand men under his command, whom he was instructed to put into winter quarters. The month of November and a portion of December were spent in building quarters,instituting camps of instruction, &c. While thus engaged, Colonel Davis was ordered to join his captain's command at Washington; but through the influence of General Halleck, who wished him to remain, this order was countermanded.

On the 15th of December, Colonel Davis, in command of a brigade under General Pope, started upon the famous Blackwater expedition. The Union force —cavalry, infantry, and artillery— numbered about four thousand, and was divided into two brigades, the first under Colonel Davis and the second under Colonel (now Major-General) Steele, the whole commanded in person by General Pope. The object of the movement was to get between Price's army on the Osage and the recruits, escorts, and supplies on their way south from the Missouri River. On the first evening the force encamped fifteen miles west of Sedalia. That the enemy might be deceived as to the destination of the expedition, it was given out that Warsaw was the point aimed at, and the troops pursued the road towards that place several miles beyond Sedalia. On the 16th General Pope pushed forward by a forced march twenty-six miles, and at sunset, with his whole force, occupied a position between the direct road from Warrensburg and Clinton and the road by Chilhowee, the latter being the route usually taken by returning soldiers and recruits. Shortly after sunset the advance captured the enemy's pickets at Chilhowee, and learned that he was encamped in force (about two thousand two hundred) six miles north of that town. After resting a couple of hours, General Pope threw forward ten companies of cavalry and a section of artillery, under Lieutenant-Colonel Brown (now Brigadier-General), of the 7th Missouri Cavalry, in pursuit, and followed with his whole force, posting the main body between Warrensburg and Rose Hill, to support the pursuing column. Lieutenant-Colonel Brown continued the pursuit all night of the 16th and all day and part of the night of the 17th, his advance-guard occupying Johnstown in the coarse of the night. The enemy began to scatter as the pursuit grew close, disappearing in the bushes and by-paths, driving their wagons (common two-horse ones taken from farmhouses) into farm-yards distant from the road, and throwing out their loads. When the pursuing forces reached Johnstown, the enemy, reduced to about five hundred, scattered completely, one portion fleeing precipitately towards Butler, and the other towards Papinsville.

The main body of Pope's command now moved slowly towards Warrensburg, awaiting the return of Colonel Brown, who proceeded from Johnstown to scour the country south of Grand River to the neighborhood of Clinton. In these operations, sixteen wagons, loaded with tents and supplies, and one hundred and fifty prisoners, were captured, and the enemy's force thoroughly dispersed. On the morning of the 18th, Lieutenant-Colonel Brown rejoined the main body. Knowing that there must still be a considerable force to the north, General Pope on the 18th moved slowly forward towards Warrensburg, and when near that town the scouts sent out before leaving Sedalia reported that a large force was moving from Waverly and Arrow rock, and would encamp that night at the mouth of Clear Creek, just south of Milford. General Pope thereupon posted the main body of his command between Warrensburg and Knob Noster, to close all outlet to the south from those two points, and despatched seven companies of cavalry, afterwards reinforced by a company of regular cavalry and a section of artillery, all under the command of Colonel Davis, to march on the town of Milford, so as to turn the enemy's left and rear and intercept his retreat to the northeast, at the same time directing Major Marshall, with Merrill's regiment of horse, to march from Warrensburg on Milford, turning the enemy's right and rear and forming a junction with Colonel Davis. The main body occupied a point four miles south, ready to advance at a moment's notice, or to intercept the enemy's retreat south.

Colonel Davis marched promptly and vigorously with the forces under his command, and at a late hour in the afternoon came upon the enemy encamped in the wooded bottom-land on the west side of the Blackwater, opposite the mouth of Clear Creek. His pickets were immediately driven in across the stream, which was deep, miry, and impassable except by a long narrow bridge, occupied by the enemy in force under Colonel Magoffin. Colonel Davis brought forward his force and directed the bridge to be carried by assault. Two companies of regular cavalry, under Lieutenants Gordon and Amory, were designated for the service, and were supported by five companies of the 1st Iowa Cavalry. Lieutenant Gordon led the charge in person, carried the bridge in gallant style, immediately formed his company on the opposite side, and was promptly followed by other companies. The force of the enemy at the bridge retreated precipitately over a narrow open space into the woods, where his main body was posted. The two companies of the 4th Cavalry advanced, and were received with a volley of small arms. They continued to press onward, however; and the enemy, finding his retreat to the south and west cut off, and that he was in the presence of a large force and at best could only prolong the contest a short time, surrendered at discretion. The force thus captured consisted of parts of two regiments of infantry, and three companies of cavalry, numbering in all about nine hundred and fifty men, among whom were Colonels Robinson, Alexander, and Magoffin, Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson, Major Harris, a somewhat noted Missouri politician, and fifty-one commissioned company officers. About five hundred horses and mules, seventy-three wagons heavily loaded with powder, lead, tents, subsistence stores, and supplies of all kinds, and one thousand stand of arms, fell into Colonel Davis's hands. For his skilful management in this affair Colonel Davis was highly complimented by General Pope, and recommended to the special notice of General Halleck.

The prisoners and arms were at once sent to St. Louis, in charge of Colonel Davis, and arrived there the day before Christmas. Obtaining forty-eight hours' leave of absence, he made a flying trip to Indianapolis, was there married, returned with his wife upon a bridal tour to his camp, and rejoined his command at Otterville. Here he was ordered to join General Curtis's column moving from Rolla preparatory to an advance upon Springfield. The march overland to that place was a desperate undertaking, —indeed, was pronounced impossible by many military men; but General Halleck persisted in his order, saying that Colonel Davis's skill and energy would carry him safely through. Accordingly, it set out. Tents wore left behind, and only such things carried as were indispensable. The Osage was very high, and was crossed on rafts in the midst of a heavy snow-storm. Three days and nights were occupied in the passage; and, as they ferried themselves over on the frail structures, many a soldier was probably reminded of the crossing of the Delaware by Washington, —more famous, but not more perilous.

In ten days from the time of starting he made a junction with Curtis at Lebanon, and his command became a part of the Army of the Southwest. As Curtis advanced, Price retreated, only stopping long enough to engage in a small skirmish with the Federal advance, commanded by Colonel Davis. At the Missouri line and at Cross Timbers, Arkansas, Price again made a stand, but was forced to continue his retreat. Colonel Davis now took command of all the cavalry, about eighteen hundred in number, and, on the exact line of thirty-six thirty, made a dashing charge on the enemy's rear brigade and a battery, driving them in confusion.

The army remained at Camp Halleck until Price, reinforced by McCulloch and Van Dorn, came back and gave battle at Pea Ridge. In that three-days engagement Colonel Davis's division fought, on the 7th of March, the battle of Leetown, one of the most sanguinary and decisive contests of the war. This division, numbering about three thousand, was opposed to McCulloch's command, reported at twelve thousand; and the latter were utterly routed, with the loss of Generals McCulloch and McIntosh killed and General Herbert taken prisoner. McCulloch was attacked in his own position; and the struggle was short and desperate, being decided in little more than thirty minutes. The next day Colonel Davis, with his whole division, stormed and carried the heights of Elkhorn, capturing five cannon and deciding the battle against the rebels.

After the battle of Pea Ridge, General Curtis began his memorable march through Arkansas, and Colonel Davis accompanied him as far as Sulphur Rock, where he received orders from General Halleck to take his command to Cape Girardeau and thence proceed by river to join the army in front of Corinth. Starting on the 10th of May, with two brigades, after an exhausting march of two hundred and forty miles through a rough and sparsely-settled country, he reached Cape Girardeau on the 20th, thus averaging twenty-four miles of travel each day. Upon this march he received by a courier his commission as a brigadier-general, dating from the day of the Blackwater fight. Embarking on steamers, he reached Pittsburg Landing on the 24th, and marched at once to Corinth. There he was assigned to the left of Pope's command; and when the evacuation of Corinth took place ho accompanied Generals Pope and Rosecrans in their pursuit of Beauregard. The pursuit over, the army fell back to Clear Creek, General Pope was ordered to Virginia, and General Rosecrans assumed command. By him General Davis was ordered to Jacinto, and remained there until about the 1st of July, when he was ordered to make a reconnoissance to Ripley, Mississippi. On this expedition he advanced to within a few miles of Holly Springs, when he was directed to return by forced marches to his original camp at Jacinto. This he did, remaining there until August, when ill health compelled him to retire from his command, and, with a twenty-days leave of absence, he visited his home in Indiana.

Soon afterwards Bragg advanced into Kentucky, and General Buell started in pursuit of him. The threatening state of affairs induced General Davis —still in ill health— to offer his services to General Wright to assist in the defence of Louisville. His division, which had been placed in charge of General Mitchel and attached to Buell's army, had arrived at Louisville, and he again assumed its command. While in the city, an unfortunate personal difficulty occurred between himself and Major-General Nelson, which resulted in the death of the latter and led to the arrest of General Davis. After a few days' arrest, he was released, much to the gratification of the public, and ordered to report at Cincinnati for duty, where he was assigned to the temporary command of the forces around Newport and Covington. After the subsidence of the fear of an attack on Cincinnati, he was ordered to take command of his old division, and did so at Edgefield, opposite Nashville. At the battle of Stone River this division was in the thickest of the fight, holding the centre of the right wing. After the attack upon General Johnson's division, the enemy fell upon it with crushing weight, and it too was forced back, but in comparatively good order. Its commander was faithful and brave as ever upon that memorable occasion; and that his efforts were appreciated is evident from the fact that in the official report the commanding general places him second on the list of those whom he recommends to be made major-generals, or, as he terms it, who "ought to be made major-generals in our service."

General Davis still commands his old division, which has marched more than five thousand miles and participated in ten battles and fights. As a whole, it has been engaged in five general battles —viz., Pea Ridge, Corinth, Perryville, Knob Gap, and Stone River— and in almost numberless expeditions and reconnoissances. It was the first organized division in the West, and still retains its original number and position. Its record and the histories of its commanding officers would fill a volume, and would constitute a history that would well compare in thrilling interest with any written upon the wars of continental Europe during the Middle Ages.

This old division, now the 1st of the 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, stands among the foremost in efficiency and popularity. Many of its gallant men sleep in heroes' graves, and its history is written in the blood of a wicked rebellion.

All honor to the loved and the lost from its ranks, and a country's gratitude to those who remain and are as determined as ever to maintain inviolate the integrity of the republic of the American fathers!

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