Nelson H. Davis

Nelson H. Davis (September 20, 1821 – May 15, 1890) was a general in the United States Army; serving in the Mexican–American War, the American Civil War and in actions against the Apache people in New Mexico.

Nelson Henry Davis
Born	September 20, 1821 Oxford, Massachusetts
Died	May 15, 1890(1890-05-15) (aged 68) Governor's Island, New York
Place of burial	South Cemetery, Oxford, Massachusetts
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service / branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1846–1885
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands	7th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment Asst. Inspector General, Army of the Potomac Inspector General of the U.S. Army
Battles / wars	Mexican-American War American Indian Wars American Civil War

Davis graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1846 and served as an infantry officer in the Mexican-American War. When the civil war began then-Captain Davis fought at the First Battle of Manassas. He became colonel of the 7th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment but after a few months he was transferred as a major to a staff position within the Army of the Potomac. In this capacity, he caught the attention of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, who eventually assigned Davis to duty with his headquarters staff. On July 10, 1868, President Andrew Johnson nominated Davis for the award of the honorary grade of brevet brigadier general in the Regular Army, to rank from March 13, 1865, for meritorious and efficient services during the war.^[1] The U.S. Senate confirmed the brevet on July 28, 1868.^[2][3]

After the war Davis continued his military service and eventually became Inspector General of the U.S. Army in 1885. He retired in the same year with the rank of brigadier general.^[4] He died at Governor's Island, New York, on May 15, 1890.^[4]

See also

• Biography portal
• American Civil War portal

• List of American Civil War brevet generals (Union)
• Massachusetts in the American Civil War

Notes

1. Hunt, Roger D. and Brown, Jack R. Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue. Gaithersburg, MD: Olde Soldier Books, Inc., 1990. ISBN 1-56013-002-4. p. 150
2. Bowen, 911–912.
3. Eicher, 733
4. Hunt and Brown, 150

References

• Bowen, James L. (1889). Massachusetts in the War, 1861–1865. Springfield, Massachusetts: Clark W. Bryan & Co. OCLC 1986476.
• Eicher, David J.; Eicher, John H. (2001). Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
• Hunt, Roger D. and Brown, Jack R. Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue. Gaithersburg, MD: Olde Soldier Books, Inc., 1990. ISBN 1-56013-002-4.