Michael W.
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2015
- Location
- The Hoosier State
I have always been an admirer of Brig. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis (he is from my home state of Indiana). Mexican War vet, on duty at Fort Sumter when the war began, and Western Theatre officer. But he clearly committed what at the very least would today be considered second degree murder when he borrowed a pistol from a fellow officer and shot Maj. Gen. William "Bull" Nelson. Davis really should not have been in the area in the first place. He was on leave from duty and was then under Rosecrans's command in Missouri. While on leave in Indiana the Confederate invasion of Kentucky commenced. Davis, on his own actions offered his services to Maj. Gen. Horatio C. Wright in Cincinnati, who ordered him to report to Nelson in Louisville. Skipping all the details here, the final result after their two separate confrontations at the Galt House was the death of Nelson. Davis openly admitted what he had done, and was placed under arrest. Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell and the Army of the Ohio were by this time now in Louisville, and were preparing to move south to confront Bragg. Buell agreed that Davis needed to be tried, but with the crisis on hand of what would culminate to be the Battle of Perryville, he wired Gen. Halleck and stated: ".....a court-marshal should take place immediately, but I can't spare officers from the army now in motion to compose a court." Davis was left in custody in Louisville while Buell moved to confront Bragg. 5 days after the Battle of Perryville, on Oct. 13, 1862, Davis was released from custody by order of Gen. Wright. Military regulations required that a general court had to be assembled within 45 days of the arrest, or all charges would have to be dropped. With the Kentucky campaign underway, and all senior officers tied up with active military operations in the region, Davis was never tried within the 45 day limit, and never would be. Because that was the law. Davis committed the perfect crime. Your thoughts?