John Wynn Davidson

John Wynn Davidson
John W. Davidson
Nickname(s)	"Black Jack"
Born	(1825-08-14)August 14, 1825 Fairfax County, Virginia,U.S.
Died	June 26, 1881(1881-06-26)(aged 55) Saint Paul, Minnesota,U.S.
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/ branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1845–1881
Rank	Brigadier General BrevetMajor General
Unit	1st Cavalry Regiment 10th Cavalry Regiment 2nd Cavalry Regiment
Battles / wars	Mexican–American War Battle of San Pasqual Battle of Rio San Gabriel American Indian Wars Apache Wars Battle of Cieneguilla American Civil War Seven Days Battles Battle of Bayou Fourche

John Wynn Davidson(August 14, 1825 – June 26, 1881) was abrigadier generalin theUnited States Armyduring theAmerican Civil Warand anAmerican Indianfighter. In 1850, he co-led theBloody Island massacreof 60-200Pomoold men, women, and children as part of the widerCalifornia genocide.

In 1866, he receivedbrevetgrade appointments as amajor generalof volunteers and in the regular U.S. Army for his Civil War service.

Early life and education

Davidson was born inFairfax County, Virginia,the son of William B. Davidson, anartilleryofficer in theUnited States Army,and the former Elizabeth Chapman Hunter. He was the oldest of four boys, includingHunter,Roger, and Charles. In 1840, his father died from disease inFloridaduring theSecond Seminole War.His mother died ten years later, shortly after remarrying.

He graduated from theUnited States Military AcademyatWest Point, New York,in 1845. His father graduated from there in 1815.

Career

Mexican-American War

Shortly after graduation he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Dragoons and participated in theMexican–American War,and was engaged in considerable military action at theBattle of San Pasqualand theBattle of Rio San Gabriel.On May 15, 1850, Davidson and CaptainNathaniel Lyonled a regiment of the 1st U.S. Dragoons in a massacre of the Pomo population of the island of Bo-No-Po-Ti in northern California.

Western Indian Wars

Following the Mexican-American War, Davidson was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and assigned to theWestern frontier,where he served as the regimental quartermaster and adjutant. He led two companies of the1st Dragoon Regimentagainst theJicarilla Apachesin theBattle of Cieneguillaon March 30, 1854,where he was badly defeated in the fourth-worst defeat suffered by the American military during the Western Indian Wars.In 1855 Davidson, who had still earned praise for commanding at Cieneguilla, was promoted captain and was in command ofFort Tejon, Californiawhen the American Civil War erupted.

In 1851, he married Clara McGunnegle, the daughter of a merchant inSt. Louis,and they had several children.

American Civil War

He was allegedly offered a commission in theConfederate Army,but turned it down.Davidson was transferred to the east and took command of a brigade in the newly formedArmy of the Potomac.On February 6, 1862, PresidentAbraham Lincolnappointed Davidson to the grade of brigadier general of U.S. volunteers, to rank from February 3, 1862, the same day the U.S. Senate confirmed the previously submitted nomination.

General Davidson assumed command of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division,IV Corpsduring thePeninsula Campaign.He fought at the battles ofYorktownandWilliamsburg.During theSeven Days Battleshe received brevet promotions in theRegular Armyfor his service atGaines' MillandGolding's Farm.Shortly after the culmination of the Seven Days' fighting, Davidson was transferred to theTrans-Mississippi Theaterwhere he was placed in command of the Dist. of St. Louis. From December 3, 1862, to March 26, 1863, he was also in command of the so-calledArmy of Southeast Missouriuntil much of his army was transferred to Ulysses S. Grant in preparation for theVicksburg Campaign.He retained command of the Dist. of St. Louis until June 16, 1863, when he briefly commanded the Dist. of Southeast Missouri.

From August 10 to November 3, 1863, Davidson commanded the 1st Division ofFrederick Steele'sArmy of Arkansasin his most distinguished role in the west. He led Union advance into central Arkansas and won theBattle of Bayou Fourche,which led directly to the fall of Confederate-heldLittle Rock.After the Little Rock expedition, Davidson commanded the cavalry in the Dept. of the Gulf before returning to command the cavalry in the Dist. of Southeast Missouri.

Davidson's raid

Beginning November 27, 1864, Davidson was ordered to lead a 4,000 strong cavalry raid from theUnion ArmyheldBaton Rouge,to sever the M & O Railroad nearState Line, Mississippi.The raid was intended to divert resources away from Confederate John Bell Hood's operations nearNashville,and to threaten and harassMobile.Additionally, the raid was to support Sherman's March to the Sea by requiring the Confederates to keep resources in the Mobile theater of operations. After departing Baton Rouge Davidson's forces reached Greensburg capturing several Confederate prisoners, on November 29, 1864, then to Tangipahoa where they captured a confederate conscript camp and destroyed the New Orleans, Jackson Great Northern Railroad.

On December 3, 1864, Davidson's Raiders crossed thePearl Riverand enteredMarion County, Mississippi,occupying Columbia the next day. While in Columbia the cavalry foraged extensively in the area. General Davidson then ordered a diversionary feint toward's Monticello, Mississippi led by Major Seth Remington. After engaging in a brief skirmish outside Columbia Davidson's forces headed east towards Augusta. Upon Davidson's arrival receipt of certain intelligence made him alter his plans. An excerpt from Davidson's official report provides: "The day after my arrival at Augusta I found Mobile papers containing full accounts of our strength and design and our daily progress and marches were telegraphed to Meridian Where Gen. R. Taylor had his headquarters, and to Mobile." As a result, Davidson decided to divide his command, sending a small element of the 2nd New York Veteran Cavalry, 1st Louisiana Cavalry, and a detachment of the 11th New York Cavalry under the command of Lt. Col. Asa Gurney north via Leakesville to destroy telegraph lines and a bridge on the Mobile and Ohio at State Line near the Alabama line, while he continued on toward Farley's Ferry.

On December 10, 1864, elements of Davidson's forces met two regiments of Confederate Cavalry nearLeakesville, Mississippiat McLeod's Mill. During the ensuring Battle of McLeod's Mill, one Union soldier stated the lead flew faster than he had ever seen before. The Confederates kept falling back to their main body. Finally, Lieutenant Albert Westinghouse, in command of the first squadron, was ordered to draw sabre and make a charge, which took them past the mill. Westinghouse in the vanguard spurred his horse and shouted to his men to "follow me", all the while swinging his sabre overhead. Westinghouse was shot in the stomach while making the charge and died shortly thereafter. Three charges were made against the Confederates after they had fallen back on their main body. The Union detachment soon realized they were now facing superior numbers with the advantage interior lines of communication, and therefore abandoned the mission. After withdrawing from the engagement, the Confederates did not follow in pursuit. When the fight concluded, three soldiers from the 2nd New York were killed, including Company B's 1st Lt. Albert Westinghouse along with Sgt. Theodore Moss and James Woods of Company A. After this struggle, two days later, Gurney rejoined Davidson's main column. According to different accounts around fourteen or fifteen Confederates were killed along with several being taken prisoner by the withdrawing column.

For the remainder of the Civil War, Davidson held various administrative commands inMississippi.He was mustered out of the volunteer service on January 15, 1866.

On January 13, 1866, PresidentAndrew Johnsonnominated Davidson for appointment to the grade ofbrevetmajor generalof volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865, and theUnited States Senateconfirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.On April 10, 1866, President Johnson nominated Davidson for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general, U.S. Army, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed that appointment on May 4, 1866.On July 17, 1866, President Johnson nominated Davidson for appointment to the grade of brevet major general, U.S. Army, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on July 23, 1866.

Post-war service

Following the end of the Civil War, Davidson was again posted on the Western frontier, this time as a lieutenant colonel of the10th Cavalry,known as theBuffalo Soldiers.It was there that he acquired the nickname "Black Jack."Davidson also served as the first professor of military science (1868–1871) atKansas State Agricultural College.

In 1879 he was transferred to the2nd Cavalryas colonel, atFort Custerin theMontana Territory.Davidson died inSaint Paul, Minnesota,in 1881. Originally buried inBellefontaine Cemeteryin St. Louis, his body was exhumed in 1911 for reburial inArlington National Cemetery.His widow died in 1914 and is interred beside him.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals (Union)
• Notable graduates of West Point

References

• Davidson, Homer K. (1974).Black Jack Davidson, a Cavalry Commander on the Western Frontier: The Life of General John W. Davidson.A. H. Clark Co. p. 273.ISBN0-87062-109-2.

External links

• A letter by Davidson– (Official Records of the Rebellion: Volume Eleven, Chapter 23, Part 1: Peninsular Campaign: Reports, pp. 306–307)
• Pictures of John Wynn Davidsonat theWayback Machine(archived February 8, 2008)
• "Davidson, John Wynn".Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography.1900.
• "John Wynn Davidson".at ArlingtonCemetery.net. March 8, 2023. (Unofficial website).