James Lucius Davis

(1813 - 1871)
Home State: Virginia
Command Billet: Commanding Regiment
Branch of Service: Cavalry
Unit: 10th Virginia Cavalry

Before the Antietam Campaign:
From Henrico, and a graduate of West Point, he served in the US Army as a Lieutenant in the 4th US Artillery from 1833 - 36. By 1850 he was a man of some means in Henrico County, and he was Lt Colonel of the 4th Virginia Cavalry Militia (1858-60). In April 1861 he was Captain of the Henrico Troop - a company of cavalry. In 1861 he also published a book called The Trooper's Manual: or, Tactics for light dragoons and mounted riflemen (A. Morris, Richmond) - being credited as a man who was "for many years commander and instructor of volunteer cavalry"

The remainder of the War:
He was captured at Hagerstown, on the return leg of the Gettysburg Campaign, by Federal Cavalry in July 1863.

References, Sources, and other notes:
Sources: Heitman, Francis Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army 1789-1903, Washington, US Government Printing Office, 1903.,
The Imprints Index of the Rosanna A Blake Library of Confederate History, Marshall University; and
Memoirs of Confederate Doctor Archibald Atkinson, Jr. of the 10th Virginia Cavalry - online from the University Libraries at Virginia Tech.

Notes: He was a cousin of Confederate States President Jefferson Davis, though they may have had a difficult relationship. His son Mervyn was later a journalist and Texas Ranger - according to an article with some additional references to the Colonel.

More on the Web:
He may have been part of a plot to free John Brown in 1859.

Birth State: VA
College: US Military Academy, West Point, NY    Graduating Year: 1833    Class Rank: 16
Death Date: 5/11/1871

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