Nelson H. Davis

Nelson H. Davis was a career soldier in the United States Army. Graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1845, he served in the Mexican–American War, the American Civil War and in actions against the Apache people in New Mexico. His service in the Civil War began as a colonel commanding the 7th Massachusetts. However, 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, U.S.A., Regular Army, to rank from March 13, 1865, for meritorious and efficient services during the war,[1] and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on July 28, 1868.[2][3] Nelson H. Davis retired from the army as a brigadier general in 1885.[4] He died at Governor's Island, New York, on May 15, 1890.[4]

Nelson Henry Davis
Born	September 20, 1821 Oxford, Massachusetts
Died	May 15, 1890
Place of burial	South Cemetery, Oxford, Massachusetts
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1845–1885
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	7th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Asst. Inspector General of the Army of the Potomac Asst. Inspector General of the Department of New Mexico Inspector General of the U.S. Army
Battles/wars	American Civil War
Awards	Bvt. brigadier general
Other work	Regular Army officer retired as a brigadier general

See also

• List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
• 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.