Henry Eugene Davies

Henry Eugene Davies (July 2, 1836 – September 7, 1894) was an American soldier, writer, public official and lawyer. He served in the Union Army as a brigadier general of volunteers in cavalry service during the American Civil War ("Civil War") and was promoted to the grade of major general of volunteers at the end of the war. Davies was one of the few nonprofessional soldiers in the Union cavalry in the East to be promoted to the grade of general. He led his brigade in several major battles, especially during the Overland Campaign, the Battle of Trevilian Station, the Siege of Petersburg and the Appomattox Campaign at the end of the war. Early life Henry Eugene Davies was born in New York City, the eldest son of Judge Henry E. Davies. He was educated at Harvard, Williams, and Columbia colleges, and was admitted to the bar in 1857. On August 10, 1858, he married Julia Rich, daughter of John T. Rich and Julia Van Voorhies, at Fishkill-on-Hudson, New York. They had one son, Henry Eugene. Henry Davies was the nephew of Union Army Brigadier General and Brevet Major General Thomas Alfred Davies. Civil War service At the outbreak of the Civil War, Henry E. Davies became a captain of the 5th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment and fought in one of the first battles of the war, the Battle of Big Bethel, Virginia on June 10, 1861. In August 1861, Davies was appointed major of the 2nd New York Cavalry Regiment. The regiment was attached to Major General Irvin McDowell's corps on the Rappahannock River line during the Peninsula Campaign. The regiment was heavily engaged in the campaign of Second Manassas. Davies was promoted to lieutenant colonel in December 1862 and to colonel in June 1863. In June 1863, the 2d New York Cavalry suffered heavy casualties at Beverly's Ford, Virginia during the Battle of Brandy Station on June 9, 1863, and at the Battle of Aldie, Virginia on June 17, 1863. The regiment was stationed at the Union Army supply base at Westminster, Maryland during the Battle of Gettysburg. Davies was appointed brigadier general of volunteers on September 16, 1863, although his appointment was not confirmed by the United States Senate until April 1, 1864. He served with distinction in the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac in brigade and three brief periods of temporary division command until the end of the war.