Jefferson C. Davis

Major General Jefferson C. Davis

Jefferson Columbus Davis (March 2, 1828 – November 30, 1879) was an officer in the United States Army who served in the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and the Modoc War. He was the first commander of the Department of Alaska, from 1868 to 1870. Although successful in a number of Civil War battles, he is best remembered for two attributes: the similarity of his name to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his murder of a superior officer during an argument in the Civil War.

Born near present-day Memphis, Indiana, Davis served as an enlisted volunteer during the Mexican-American War. Upon completion of his volunteer service, he was accepted for an Army commission and served in the 1st U.S. Artillery. At the start of the American Civil War, Davis had attained the rank of first lieutenant and was serving in the Fort Sumter garrison when it was bombarded by Confederate forces in 1861. In August, Davis became Colonel of the 22nd Indiana Infantry, which he led in the Battle of Wilson's Creek. In December 1861, he became brigadier general of volunteers, commanding the 3rd Division, Army of the Southwest, at the Battle of Pea Ridge. He commanded the 4th Division, Army of the Mississippi, at Corinth. He went on sick leave, but left his hospital bed to serve in the defenses of Cincinnati, Ohio.

marker denoting Davis' birth near Memphis, Indiana

During this time of convalescence, on September 29, 1862, Davis got into an argument with his superior officer, Maj. Gen. William "Bull" Nelson, in the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky. Davis had been offended by insults on prior occasions and when his face was slapped by Nelson, Davis shot and killed him. He was arrested and imprisoned, but Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright came to his aid and was able to get him released from prison. He avoided conviction for the murder because there was a need for experienced field commanders in the Union Army. He commanded the 1st Division, Right Wing, of the Army of the Cumberland at Stones River, where his troops collapsed and retreated after receiving a massive surprise Confederate flanking attack. His division was redesignated the 1st Division, XX Corps, at the Battle of Chickamauga. He commanded the 2nd Division, XIV Corps at Chattanooga and during the Atlanta Campaign. He took command of the XIV Corps and led it during the March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaign.

Gen. Jefferson C. Davis shoots fellow Union Gen. William "Bull" Nelson at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky in 1862

Davis was a capable commander, but due to the murder of General Nelson, he never received a full promotion higher than brigadier general of volunteers. He did however receive a brevet promotion to major general of volunteers on August 8, 1864 (for his service at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain), and a brevet promotion to brigadier general in the regular army on March 13, 1865.

After the Civil War, Davis continued service with the Army. He gained fame once again when he assumed field command of the U.S. forces during the Modoc War. He was the first commander of the Department of Alaska, from March 18, 1868, to June 1, 1870. He died in Chicago, Illinois, and is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Trivia

• By a coincidence, on April 6th, 1865 Confederate General John A. Wharton was shot and killed by a suborinate officer Colonel John Baylor after a quarrel.

References

• Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
• Levstik, Frank R., "Jefferson Columbus Davis", Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History, Heidler, David S., and Heidler, Jeanne T., eds., W. W. Norton & Company, 2000, ISBN 0-393-04758-X.

See also

• Louisville in the Civil War