Henry Brevard Davidson
Encyclopedia
Henry Brevard Davidson was a career soldier who served as an officer in the United States Army
in the West
and later was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
. He commanded brigade
s of cavalry
in the Western Theater
, particularly in Tennessee
and Georgia
.
, in the winter of 1831. He was educated in the common schools and served in the Mexican War as a 15-year-old private in the 1st Tennessee Volunteers. He was decorated for gallantry at the Battle of Monterey
and promoted to sergeant. He received an appointment to the United States Military Academy
at West Point, New York
, and graduated from the academy in 1853 ranking 33rd in his class. Among his classmates were future Confederate generals John S. Bowen
, John Bell Hood
, and John R. Chambliss, Jr..
He subsequently received a brevet
commission as a second lieutenant
in the First Dragoons. Between 1855 to 1858, he served in Oregon
and the New Mexico Territory
as part of the forces often involved in engagements with Native American Indians. In 1858, he transferred to the quartermaster
department.
of several Southern states and the outbreak of hostilities in early 1861, Davidson resigned from his recent commission as a captain in the Union Army
(he had been promoted to that rank on May 13). Shortly thereafter, he traveled to the South and entered the service of the Confederate States of America
as a major and was a staff officer for several leading generals including Albert S. Johnston. He served in the Adjutant General
's office and then on the Inspector General
's staff. He was among the forces which surrendered following the Battle of Island Number Ten
. In 1862, he was appointed as the colonel
in command of the military post at Staunton, Virginia
, in the Shenandoah Valley
.
For much of the rest of the war, he was involved with the cavalry. He participated in several raids and mounted actions including Wheeler's October 1863 Raid
. In August 1863 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was given command of a cavalry brigade at Rome, Georgia
, in early 1864. His brigade served in parts of the Atlanta Campaign
until Davidson was sent back to Virginia
where he took command of a brigade of cavalry attached to the division
of Brig. Gen. Lunsford L. Lomax
. He served in that role until the end of the war.
, where he served as a deputy sheriff until 1867. From 1878 to 1886, he was an inspector of United States public works at San Pedro, California
. He was appointed a Deputy to William C. Hendricks, the Secretary of State of California, in 1887. He also was a civil engineer and railroad agent.
He died at Livermore, California
, and is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California
.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in the West
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
and later was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He commanded brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
s of cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
in the Western Theater
Western Theater of the American Civil War
This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.-Theater of operations:...
, particularly in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Early life and career
Davidson was born in rural Shelbyville, TennesseeShelbyville, Tennessee
Shelbyville is a city in Bedford County, Tennessee, United States. It had a local population of 16,105 residents at the 2000 census. Shelbyville, the county seat of Bedford County, was laid out in 1810 and incorporated in 1819...
, in the winter of 1831. He was educated in the common schools and served in the Mexican War as a 15-year-old private in the 1st Tennessee Volunteers. He was decorated for gallantry at the Battle of Monterey
Battle of Monterey
-Preliminaries:Prior to the Mexican-American War the Californio forces had already driven the Mexican appointed Governor Manuel Micheltorena and most of his soldiers from Alta California...
and promoted to sergeant. He received an appointment to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, and graduated from the academy in 1853 ranking 33rd in his class. Among his classmates were future Confederate generals John S. Bowen
John S. Bowen
John Stevens Bowen was a career United States Army officer and a general in the Confederate States Army, a commander in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. He is often said to have died just as his abilities were gaining attention.-Early life:Bowen was born in Bowen's Creek, Georgia...
, John Bell Hood
John Bell Hood
John Bell Hood was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Hood had a reputation for bravery and aggressiveness that sometimes bordered on recklessness...
, and John R. Chambliss, Jr..
He subsequently received a brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
commission as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the First Dragoons. Between 1855 to 1858, he served in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and the New Mexico Territory
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
as part of the forces often involved in engagements with Native American Indians. In 1858, he transferred to the quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
department.
Civil War
Following the secessionSecession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
of several Southern states and the outbreak of hostilities in early 1861, Davidson resigned from his recent commission as a captain in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
(he had been promoted to that rank on May 13). Shortly thereafter, he traveled to the South and entered the service of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
as a major and was a staff officer for several leading generals including Albert S. Johnston. He served in the Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
's office and then on the Inspector General
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
's staff. He was among the forces which surrendered following the Battle of Island Number Ten
Battle of Island Number Ten
The Battle of Island Number Ten was an engagement at the New Madrid or Kentucky Bend on the Mississippi River during the American Civil War, lasting from February 28 to April 8, 1862. The position, an island at the base of a tight double turn in the course of the river, was held by the Confederates...
. In 1862, he was appointed as the colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in command of the military post at Staunton, Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
, in the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
.
For much of the rest of the war, he was involved with the cavalry. He participated in several raids and mounted actions including Wheeler's October 1863 Raid
Wheeler's October 1863 Raid
Wheeler's October 1863 Raid was a large cavalry raid in southeastern Tennessee during the American Civil War. Maj. Gen...
. In August 1863 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was given command of a cavalry brigade at Rome, Georgia
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
, in early 1864. His brigade served in parts of the Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
until Davidson was sent back to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
where he took command of a brigade of cavalry attached to the division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of Brig. Gen. Lunsford L. Lomax
Lunsford L. Lomax
Lunsford Lindsay Lomax was an American educator, farmer, and officer in the United States Army who resigned his commission to join the Confederate Army at the outbreak of the American Civil War.-Biography:...
. He served in that role until the end of the war.
Postwar
After the war, Davidson moved to New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, where he served as a deputy sheriff until 1867. From 1878 to 1886, he was an inspector of United States public works at San Pedro, California
San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
San Pedro is a port district of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was annexed in 1909 and is a major seaport of the area...
. He was appointed a Deputy to William C. Hendricks, the Secretary of State of California, in 1887. He also was a civil engineer and railroad agent.
He died at Livermore, California
Livermore, California
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
, and is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals