Background
Jefferson Columbus Davis was born on March 2, 1828 in Clark County, Indiana, United States, whither his family had come from Kentucky; the son of William and Mary (Drummond) Davis.
Jefferson Columbus Davis was born on March 2, 1828 in Clark County, Indiana, United States, whither his family had come from Kentucky; the son of William and Mary (Drummond) Davis.
Davis had a year’s service in the Mexican War as an enlisted man in the 3rd Indiana Regiment, and fought at Buena Vista. Appointed a second lieutenant in the 16t Artillery in 1848, he was promoted first lieutenant in 1852 and captain in 1861. He was in garrison at Fort Sumter at the time of the bombardment. In August 1861 he was appointed colonel of the 22nd Indiana Infantry, and in December was made brigadier-general of volunteers. He commanded a division at the battle of Pea Ridge and at the siege of Corinth. He seemed to have a brilliant future before him when he stained his reputation with a crime which is often remembered when his military services are forgotten. Brooding over a severe rebuke received some days before from Gen. William Nelson, his commanding officer, he sought out Nelson in the lobby of a Louisville hotel with the evident purpose of forcing a quarrel upon him. After high words, Davis crumpled up a card and threw it in Nelson’s face, and Nelson retaliated with a slap. Davis then left him, but returning a few minutes later with a revolver shot him as he passed through the hall, inflicting a mortal wound. Partly on account of his military abilities, but more, it is surmised, because of the exertion of strong political influence—especially through his friend, Gov. Oliver P. Morton, who accompanied him when he quarreled with Nelson— Davis went wholly unpunished and after a short time was restored to duty. He commanded a division at Murfreesboro and Chickamauga and in the Atlantic campaign, and a corps on the march to the sea and in the campaign of the Carolinas. He received, however, no further promotion, although Rosecrans, and later Grant, recommended that he be made a major-general. Perhaps the administration felt about him as Dr. Johnson did about the American colonists, that he “ought to be thankful for anything, short of hanging. ” He was mustered out of the volunteer service in 1866, and appointed colonel of the 23rd Infantry.
He served for a considerable time in Alaska, and took part in the Modoc War which followed the murder of General Canby in 1873.
General Fry describes him as “brave, quiet, obliging, humorous in disposition and full of ambition, daring, endurance and self-confidence. ”
Davis was married to Mariette Woodson Athon of Indianapolis.
