North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-09-06

prisoners. When the Indians were seen ap-
preaching, the femal ca and child were GOV.
cred up with blankets in one of the wagons,
as their presence always increased the hostil-
ty of the savages. The teams were stopped
and the men obliged to get out of the wag-
ons. The Indians sat down on the ground
in circle and held council of war, to de-
termne the fate of the prisoners. Finally
the chief agreed co let them 60 on condition
that they would divide their provisions, which
being considered a cheap ransom, was &C
cepted and the party was released. At this
time there was no friendly assistance near
er than thlee hundred miles.
In the spring Of 1868, Mr. Davis purchased
the Doylestuwn Democrat, one of the very
largest county newspaper establishments in
the country, and since then has been en-
gagged in the profession Of a public journalist.
The rebellion of 1861 found him busily en-.
gagged on his paper. When the insurgents
fired on Sumter he threw down the pen and
took up the sword. He raised the first arm
ed men in his county and Congressional dis
trict to sustain the government. He called
q meeting in the Court House on his own
responsibility, organized it, took the rostrum
and in short speech called for volunteers.
10 two hours sixty had enrolled their names,
and in two days one hundred and fifty had
offered their services. He went to Harris
burg with his company, and was thence sent
to York. Here he was offered the lieutenant
colouelcy of the 18th regiment, but would
not leave bis company, aud was then trans
ferred to the 25th Pennsylvania regiment, in
which he served as captain through the
three months campaign, ON the Upper Poto-.
mac, under General Patterson. Capt. Davis
was ordered to guard a six gun battery from
York TO Washington, aud his company was
the first body OF troops which passed through
Baltimore after the bloody riot OF April 18th.
His men were hooted at and stoned and
they sat on the trucks, with their rifles cock
ed, ready to resist attacks, but none were
made.
Ciptain Davis was mustered out of SER
vice the last Of July. In August he went to
Washington and again rendered bis services
10 the Secretary of war. He was immediate
iy suthorl lied to raise regiment of infantry
and battery OF artillery to serve for three
years of the war. He fixed his camp a,
DoyIestown, and in month his regimont,
the lO4ih P. v, was nearly full, composed
of the very flower of the youth of Bucks and
he neghborng counties. He turned The
entire control and management of his news
paper over 10 Dactor John D. Mendenhal,
gentleman in whom be had conf lence, and
gave all his time and thoughts to bis military
duties. He did MT resume the charge of his
paper again until the lst of January, 1865.
Colonel Davis marched to Washington
tse hrst OF November; and many of our citi
zens remember the splendid appearance of
his regiment as it marched through the city.
In less than week, he was placed in COM
mand of brigade and ordered to organize
and discipline il. Before he had been a
month at Washington, he submitted to Gen
eral Mcclellan, then Commander in Chief.
Ian Of barracks to winter his brigade in
which was approved, and he was ordered to
build them. They were erected on Meridi-
an Hill and the work was entirely done by
his soldiers. For the last three years they
have been known as Carver General Hos.
ptal." Colonel Davis took his brigade to
the Peninsula in March, 1862, and command
ed it until the last of April, when he was re-
lieved by General H. NJ. Naglee. He then
returned to his regiment. HIS regiment par.
ticipated in oil the operations in the cam.
paign on the Peninsula, and with the SD
Pennsylvania regiment led the celebrated
reconnaissance from the Chickahominy to
within four miles of Richmond. Colonel Da
Wis, with his regiments, brought on the cele-
brated action of Fair Oaks, the first of the
series of bloody encounters around the Con
federate capital. Here he lost forty per cent.
of his men, and received q painful wound,
rife ball penetrating his left elbow, at the
joints, He was also struck by spent mus
ket ball, in the left breast, He was laid up
by his wound two months, and rejoined his
regiment at Harrson's Landing, seven day Q
before his leave Of absence expired, and
when he could not mount bis horse without
assistance. When the Army of the Potomac
returned to Washington, his division (Peck's)
was retained on the Peninsula, and Colonel
Davis was placed in command of the import
ant post at Gloucester Point, garrisoned by
small brigade. He put the extensive works
there in complete repair. In December Of
that year he was transferred to North Caro-
lima, when General Foster placed him in
command Of his old brigade again, which he
retained, with an ocoas ional charge of resi-
ment, until yearly the end Of his term
of service, HIS command was trans.
ferrcd to South Carolina, in January, 1863,