★ Davidson, John Wynn

John Wynn Davidson​

Born: August 18, 1824

Birthplace: Fairfax County, Virginia

Father: Captain William Baker Davidson 1800 – 1840

(Buried: Saint Augustine National Cemetery, Saint Augustine, Florida)​

Mother: Elizabeth Chapman "Eliza" Hunter 1800 – 1850

(Buried: Resthaven Cemetery, Washington, Georgia)​

Wife: Clara B. McGuennegle 1832 – 1914

(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

Married: 1851 in St. Louis, Missouri

Children:

Elizabeth Davidson Hoppin 1852 – 1928​

(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

Education:

1845: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (27th​ in class)​

Occupation before War:

1845 – 1846: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 1st​ Dragoons​

​

1845 – 1846: Frontier Duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas​

​

1846: Frontier Duty at Fort Crawford, Wisconsin​

​

1846 – 1848: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 1st​ Dragoons​

​

1846: Served at the fighting at San Pasqual, California​

​

1847: Served at the fighting at Passage of San Gabriel River​

​

1847: Served in the Skirmish at Mesa​

​

1848 – 1849: Frontier Duty at Los Angeles, California​

​

1848 – 1855: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, 1st​ Dragoons​

​

1849 – 1850: Frontier Duty at Sonoma, California​

​

1850 – 1851: Quartermaster for U.S. Army, 1st​ Dragoons​

​

1851: Adjutant for United States Army, 1st​ Dragoons​

​

1851: Frontier Duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas​

​

1855 – 1861: Captain, United States Army, 1st​ Dragoons​

​

1856: Commander of Expedition to open route to Pecos River​

​

1857: Commander of Expedition to Fort Buchanan, New Mexico​

​

1857 – 1858: Scout for United States Army​

​

1858 – 1859: Served in the March to Fort Tejon, California​

​

1859: Commander of Expedition to Explore Owen Lake and River​

​

1859 – 1860: U.S. Army Commander of Fort Tejon, California​

​

1860 – 1861: Conductor of Recruits in California​

​

1861: U.S. Army Commander of Fort Tejon, California​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1862: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.​

​

1861 – 1866: Major of United States Army, 2nd​ Cavalry Regiment​

​

1862 – 1866: Brigadier General, Union Army Volunteers​

​

1862: Served in the fighting at Lee's Mills, Virginia​

​

1862: Served in the Battle of Mechanicsville, Virginia​

​

1862: Served in the Battle of Gaines Mill, Virginia​

​

1862: Brevetted Lt. Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Gaines Mill​

​

1862: Brevetted Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Golding's Farm​

​

1862: Union Army Commander of St. Louis, District of Missouri​

​

1862 – 1863: Commander of Union Army of Southeast Missouri​

​

1863: In pursuit of the enemy, during Marmaduke's Raid​

​

1863: Cavalry Commander engaged, Battle of Brownsville, Arkansas​

​

1863: Union Army, Commander of Capture of Bayou Metre, Arkansas​

​

1864: Union Army, Commander of Western Cavalry Bureau​

​

1864: Cavalry Commander in expedition from Baton Rouge to Pascagoula​

​

1865: Brevetted Brig. General for Gallantry at Capture of Little Rock​

​

1865: Brevetted Major General for his service in the War

​

1866: Commander of United States Army, 2nd​ Cavalry at Fort Riley​

​

1866: Mustered out of the Union Army on January 15th​​

Occupation after War:

1861 – 1866: Major of United States Army, 2nd​ Cavalry Regiment​

​

1866: Inspection Tour of the U.S. Army, Department of Missouri​

​

1866 – 1879: Lt. Colonel, United States Army, 10th​ Cavalry Regiment​

​

1868 – 1871: Military Science Professor at Kansas Agriculture College​

​

1871 – 1873: U.S. Army Commander of Camp Supply, Indian Territory​

​

1873: Regimental Commander at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory​

​

1873 – 1875: Regimental Commander at Fort Sill, Indian Territory​

​

1875: Regimental Commander at Fort Griffin, Texas​

​

1876 – 1878: U.S. Army Commander of Fort Richardson, Texas​

​

1877 – 1878: U.S. Army Commander, District of Upper Brazos​

​

1878 – 1879: U.S. Army Commander of Fort Sill, Indian Territory​

​

1879 – 1881: Colonel of United States Army, 2nd​ Cavalry Regiment​

​

1879: U.S. Army Commander of Fort Elliott, Texas​

​

1879: Served on Court Martial Duty in United States Army​

​

1881: U.S. Army Commander of District of Yellowstone​

​

1881: U.S. Army Commander of Post of Fort Custer, Montana​

​

1881: February 8 - Seriously injured during an inspection tour when his horse got spooked by a gunshot, slipped on ice, and Davidson fell and ended up with the horse on top of him.​

Died: June 26, 1881

Place of Death: St. Paul, Minnesota

Cause of Death: Enlarged liver and inflammation or cancer

Age at time of Death: 56 years old

Original Burial Place: Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri

Current Burial Place: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

(Remains reinterred in 1911, Section 2, Site 1199-SS)​

 

[Pollaco]

That 10th cavalry regiment that he was second in command of after the war was a black unit.

 

[Pollaco]

In 1881 he was in command of the 2nd cavalry in the Montana Territory and during inspection someone fired a gun which spooked his horse. He was seriously injured in the fall and was originally buried in the Bellefontaine Cemetary in St. Louis. His body was exhumed in 1911 for reburial in Arlington.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Certainly a distinguished military career.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday (August 18th) Week to Brig. General John W. Davidson! Salutes remembering General Davidson on his birthday week.