“Remembered With Special Honor”: Benjamin Davis at Brandy Station

The Beverly Ford Road. Davis led his brigade along this road after crossing the Rappahannock in the opening stages of the battle.

Today marks the 154th Anniversary of the Battle of Brandy Station. One of the more interesting and I think forgotten figures of the engagement is Col. Benjamin Franklin “Grimes” Davis. Unlike many of his comrades, Davis was a Southerner. George Sanford, who served with him in the 1st U.S. Cavalry later claimed he was a distant relative of the Confederate president. Davis, however, remained loyal to the  Union, an action that so impressed Frederick Newhall, a member of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, wrote after the war that Davis should be “remembered with special honor.” Davis is also recognized more for his actions during the Antietam Campaign, rather than his death in battle. His fall, however, in the early phase of Brandy Station, proved to be a critical moment in the battle.

Davis graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1854. After a brief stint with the 5th U.S. Infantry, he was transferred to the 1st U.S. Dragoons and served in the Southwest. In 1857, he was wounded in action against the Apaches. Davis was promoted to Captain in late July 1861, following his regiment’s re-designation  to the 1st U.S. Cavalry. “To Captain Davis more than any other one officer I was, and am, indebted for whatever I afterwards became in the service” Sanford wrote. “He was a thorough officer, and as far as I can remember, never missed an opportunity to impart the instruction I required.”

In June, 1862 Davis received a commission as colonel of the 8th New York Cavalry. “He was a military man clear through…he was a strict disciplinarian, and brought the regiment down under the regular army regulations” wrote a member of Davis’ new command. Less than three months later during the Antietam Campaign, rather than surrender to Maj. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s corps, Davis led the cavalry assigned to the Harper’s Ferry garrison in a successful breakout. During the march through the Maryland countryside, Davis stumbled upon and captured Maj. Gen. James Longstreet’s reserve ordnance train. By the following spring, Davis was in command of a brigade attached to Brig. Gen. William Averell’s division, which he led in Stoneman’s Raid during the Chancellorsville Campaign.

Riding the wave of momentum from his victory at Chancellorsville, Gen. Robert E. Lee decided to launch a second invasion of the Northern states. Preparatory to his movement from Fredericksburg to the Shenandoah Valley, Lee ordered his cavalry, under Davis’ former West Point classmate, Maj. Gen. James Ewell Brown “Jeb” Stuart to concentrate his men in Culpeper County.  Stuart’s assignment was to screen the upcoming infantry march. This enemy presence was soon detected by the Federals and Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker directed his cavalry chief, Brig. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton, to cross the Rappahannock and destroy the Confederates.

Shortly before 4:30 a.m. on the morning of June 9, 1863, Brig. Gen. John Buford’s division prepared to cross the Rappahannock at Beverly Ford. Once across, Buford was to ride to a nearby stop on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad known as Brandy Station and rendezvous with Brig. Gen. David Gregg’s division. Buford and Gregg would then proceed to Culpeper Court House and engage Stuart. Davis would lead Buford’s advance. His brigade consisted of his old 8th New York, 8th Illinois, and several companies from the 3rd Indiana, 9th New York and 3rd West Virginia. Not surprsingly, Davis rode at the head of the 8th New York.

After wading the river, Davis ran into a company of the 6th Virginia Cavalry from Brig. Gen. William E. “Grumble” Jones’ brigade picketing the ford. Davis must have been surprised as the Federals anticipated encountering the Confederates in Culpeper and not so close to the Rappahannock. Nevertheless, his troopers soon gained the upper hand and began to push the Virginians back along the Beverly Ford Road. Unbeknownst to Davis, he was leading his brigade directly toward Maj. Gen. Robert Beckham’s Confederate Horse Artillery, parked just below the field.

Riding in the middle of the road, Davis soon outdistanced the Empire Staters. Reaching a sharp bend, he turned back and yelled “Stand firm, 8th New York”. As he did so, Davis felt someone close by and he immediately turned and swung his saber at Lt. Robert Allen of the 6th Virginia. Allen had been riding at the rear of the retreating Virginians and had looked back to see a lone Federal along the road. Allen approached Davis just in time to dodge the saber blow. As he ducked, Allen discharged his pistol. The ball struck Davis in the head. He was probably dead before he hit the ground.

This loss sapped the momentum of the Union advance. A counterattack by the newly arrived 7th Virginia helped to buy time for the Confederate guns to withdraw to a new position on a ridge to the west. Had Davis been able to reach and capture even several batteries, if not all of Beckham’s guns, it would have certainly impacted the evolving battle and been a serious blow to Stuart. Instead, the surprised Confederates were able to rally and ultimately bring the blue cavalry to a halt.

But perhaps more importantly, Davis’ death deprived the Union cavalry of a valuable asset at the outset of another campaign. He was an aggressive and reliable officer, having risen from company to brigade command in less than two years. Similar to Elon Farnsworth who fell at Gettysburg, Davis would never have the opportunity to realize his full potential.

Robert Beckham’s Horse Artillery Park along the Beverly Ford Road near the location of Davis’ death will be one of the stops during this year’s ECW Symposium Tour of Brandy Station. You may register for the Fourth Annual Emerging Civil War Symposium here. For more information on the tour, you may click here.



19 Responses to “Remembered With Special Honor”: Benjamin Davis at Brandy Station

  1. I enjoyed your story Daniel! I’ve been to the spot several times where Col. Davis was killed. I have a special interest in this battle, since one of my great-great grandfathers, Pvt. Thomas Jordan Dunnahoo of Company H, Cobb’s Legion Cavalry Battalion from Athens, GA, was most likely there. His company, under the command of Captain Jeremiah E. Ritch, was fighting dismounted as sharpshooters while most of the mounted cavalry engagements were taking place at Brandy Station. Captain Ritch was wounded and captured during the battle. He remained a prisoner of war until February of 1865. Pvt. Dunnahoo survived many battles the Legion cavalry later participated in and was elected as the second lieutenant of company H in September of 1863. After the first lieutenant of the company was captured at Ely’s Ford on the Rapidan River in February of 1864, Lt. Dunnahoo became the acting commanding officer in mid-1864 until his death on 12 Apr 1865 during the action at Swift Creek near Raleigh, NC. He almost survived the war!

    1. Thanks Ed for reading and for sharing the information on your great-great grandfather.

  2. Pvt. Dunnahoo survived many battles the Legion cavalry later participated in and was elected as the second lieutenant of company H in September of 1863. After the first lieutenant of the company was captured at Ely’s Ford on the Rapidan River in February of 1864, Lt. Dunnahoo became the acting commanding officer in mid-1864 until his death on 12 Apr 1865 during the action at Swift Creek near Raleigh, NC.

  3. I do not think Benjamin Franklin Davis was a cousin of Jefferson Davis. His parents were Benjamin E Davis and Matilda Holladay Davis.

    1. Hi Sharon,
      Thank you for reading. Grimes was a cousin of Jefferson Davis. George Sanford, a Lieutenant who served with Davis in the 1st U.S. Cavalry mentions this in his memoir, “Fighting Rebels and Redskins”. I think Allan Tischler also delves into this in his study, “The History of the Harper’s Ferry Cavalry Expedition”, if you can find a copy.
      All the best!

      1. I will look into it because I have been unable to find the association between Grimes Davis and Jefferson Davis researching their family history.

  4. I saw no mention of B. F. Davis being related to Jefferson Davis in Tischler’s book. Jefferson Davis’s father was an only child. His great grandfather had one brother Benjamin and a number of half brothers. Nothing adds up to make them related but I am still pursuing the issue. I ordered “Fighting Rebels and Redskins” to see the source. Often times some statements regarding people come down through history and there is no basis in fact for the original statement & then historians keep repeating the error by citing the original source which is incorrect. I am not saying that is what is happening in this case but as mentioned the association does not add up. For Jefferson Davis and B. F. Davis to be second cousins they would have to share great grand parents.

    1. Thank you, Sharon. Please share any information that you may be able to turn up. I look forward to it. Based on some additional items I have found, it looks like they may be cousins. I think the second was a typo on my part and I have updated the original comment.

  5. Daniel: I am really curious about what the bottom line as to whether Benjamin Davis and Jefferson Davis are in fact cousins. I continue to pursue the topic and I hope we can both share information to ascertain if they are in fact related. I continue to follow leads on Ancestry.com and Fold3. I was able to locate Benjamin Davis’s parents and the names of 4 of his 5 brothers through this research but the quest continues.

    1. Hi Sharon,
      Sounds great, I look forward to it. Good luck in all of your research endeavors. If you haven’t already, but I am sure you have there is also some nuggets out there on Rootsweb. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time. You may find my e-mail on the Tour page of the site.
      All the best!
      Dan

  6. His parents were Benjamin E Davis and Matilda Holladay Davis. Pvt. Dunnahoo survived many battles the Legion cavalry later participated in and was elected as the second lieutenant of company H in September of 1863.

  7. Interesting new info about Benjamin F. Davis. Benjamin E Davis, his wife and 6 sons lived in Perry County, Alabama until after the 1840 Census was taken in October. The family moved to Union Parish, Louisiana where the father opened a store. Matilda Holladay Davis died in early 1843. Benjamin E. Davis died on or about June 26, 1846 leaving the 6 Davis boys orphans. Sometime after their fathers death the 6 brothers became wards of William Taylor and went to live in Monroe County, Mississippi.

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