16th New York Infantry - General Davies' Staff

Item CDV-8858

Description

16th New York Infantry
Thomas A. Davies
Photographed with his staff
Backmark: St Louis, MO
Identified in period ink

Born at Black Lake, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., Dec. 3, 1809, was graduated
at West Point in 1829, and, after serving two years on frontier duty, resigned to become civil engineer on the Croton aqueduct, and to enter mercantile pursuits in New York city. He re-entered the national service, May 15, 1861, as colonel of the 16th N. Y. regiment, and distinguished himself at the battle of Bull Run, where, as commander of the 2nd brigade, 5th division, Army of the Potomac, he successfully repulsed an attack upon the left wing after the main body of the Federal army was in full flight, thus preventing the capture of Washington. At the close of the battle he was placed in command of the left wing of the army by Gen. McDowell, was afterwards engaged on fortifications around Washington and in the defenses of Alexandria, until March 7, 1862, when he was commissioned brigadier-general for "gallant conduct at the battle of Bull Run," and joined Gen. Halleck's army at Corinth. He engaged in the siege of that place in April and May, 1862, in the battle of Corinth, Oct. 3-4 1862; commanded Columbus, Ky., 1862-63; Rollo, Mo., 1863-64 ; the district of North Kansas, 1864-65, and that of Wisconsin in 1865. His services being no longer needed in Wisconsin, he resigned his commission, in June, 1865, and on July 11. 1865, was brevetted major-general of volunteers, " for gallant and meritorious services." After the war he devoted a good deal of his time to literature, and was the author of numerous books on religious criticism and kindred subjects. He
died at Black Lake, N.Y., Aug. 19, 1899.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 8