Brig. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis

[jkBluesman]

Brig. Gen. Jefferson Columbus Davis (b. 1828, d. 1879). Although a capable general Davis is best remembered as the murderer of Gen. William “Bull” Nelson and for the similarity of his name and that of the Confederate president. Born in Clark County, Indiana, Davis enlisted in the volunteer army as a young man to fight in the Mexican-American War. He was promoted for his conduct at Buena Vista and stayed in the army after the war. As first lieutenant he was stationed at Fort Sumter and witnessed the first shots of the Civil War on April 12, 1861. In August, Gov. Oliver P. Morton of Indiana promoted him to colonel and placed him in command of the 22nd Indiana Infantry. Davis’ first battle of the war was Wilson’s Creek on August 10, where the South won. His own performance was promising enough to earn him the promotion to brigadier general of volunteers in December and command of a division. He led it successfully at Pea Ridge, Arkansas on March 7-8, 1862, the battle which ensured Union control of Missouri. He fell sick during the Corinth-Iuka campaign later in the year. When he reported back for duty he was sent to Nelson in Louisville, Kentucky. When he felt insulted by his superior, Davis demanded an apology, did not get one, slapped Nelson and was slapped in the face in return. This enraged Davis so much that he shot Nelson. Due to the protection of Gov. Morton and Gen. Horatio G. Wright he was soon released from prison and not charged for murder. Instead he remained with his division and led it at Stones River at the end of the year, where it was driven back by the Confederates under Gen. Patrick Cleburne. But in the end the Union held the field. At Chickamauga in September 1863 the Northern army was almost destroyed, Davis’ division put to flight after parts of the line collapsed. However Gen George Thomas saved the army. During the battles for Chattanooga, Davis’ men were mostly kept in reserve. In 1864 Davis fought in the Atlanta Campaign and received a brevet promotion to major general for his conduct at Kennesaw Mountain, where the Union attack had been repelled on June 27. For the famous “March to the Sea” the army under Gen. William T. Sherman was reorganized. Davis got command of the XIV corps which he also led during the final Carolina campaign in 1865. In one of the last battles of the Civil War, at Bentonville (March 19-21), Davis’ men were at first pushed back but held their line thus preventing a defeat. For his conduct Davis was recommended for promotion but due to his crime in Kentucky he was not given the rank of major general. After the war, Davis stayed in the army at the rank of colonel and became first commander of the Department of Alaska in 1868. In 1873 he participated in his last battle when fighting the Modocs in Southern California and Oregon. Davis died six years later in Chicago and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis.

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Teaches: Shooters

[Gil R.]

Copied, thanks.

[Gil R.]

Not just copied, but edited:


Brig. Gen. Jefferson Columbus Davis (b. 1828, d. 1879). Although a capable general, Davis is best remembered as the murderer of Union Gen. William “Bull” Nelson and for the similarity of his name and that of the Confederate president. Born in Clark County, Indiana, Davis enlisted in the volunteer army as a young man to fight in the Mexican-American War. He was promoted for his conduct at Buena Vista and stayed in the army after the war. As first lieutenant he was stationed at Fort Sumter and witnessed the first shots of the Civil War on April 12, 1861. In August, Gov. Oliver P. Morton of Indiana promoted Davis to colonel and placed him in command of the 22nd Indiana Infantry. Davis’ first battle of the war was Wilson’s Creek on August 10, where the South won. His own performance was promising enough to earn him the promotion to brigadier general of volunteers in December and command of a division. He led it successfully at Pea Ridge, Arkansas on March 7-8, 1862, the battle which ensured Union control of Missouri. Davis fell sick during the Corinth-Iuka campaign in Mississippi later in the year. When he reported back for duty he was sent to serve under Nelson in Louisville, Kentucky. When he felt insulted by his superior, Davis demanded an apology and, not getting one, slapped Nelson, and was slapped in the face in return. This enraged Davis so much that he shot Nelson, who died immediately. Due to the protection of Gov. Morton and Gen. Horatio G. Wright, he was soon released from prison and not charged for murder. Instead, he remained with his division and led it at Stones River at the end of the year, where it was driven back by the Confederates under Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne, though in the end the Union held the field. At Chickamauga in September 1863 the Northern army was almost destroyed, with Davis’ division being put to flight after parts of the line collapsed. Gen. George H. Thomas’ heroic stand held back the Confederates and enabled the defeated army to escape to Chattanooga, where it soon was besieged. During the battles for Chattanooga that followed, Davis’ men were mostly kept in reserve. In 1864 Davis fought in the Atlanta Campaign and received a brevet promotion to major general for his conduct at Kennesaw Mountain, where the Union attack had been repelled on June 27. For the famous “March to the Sea” Gen. William T. Sherman’s army was reorganized, and Davis got command of the XIV Corps, which he also led during the final campaign through the Carolinas in 1865. In one of the last battles of the Civil War, at Bentonville, North Carolina on March 19-21, Davis’ men were at first pushed back but held their line and avoided a defeat. For his conduct Davis was recommended for promotion, but due to his crime in Kentucky he was not given the rank of major general. After the war, Davis stayed in the army at the rank of colonel and became the first commander of the Department of Alaska in 1868. In 1873 he participated in his last battle when fighting the Modocs in Southern California and Oregon. Davis died six years later in Chicago and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)


(Yes, edited. It's summer break for me, so I'll try to do at least one bio each day.)