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

We take from the Philadelphia Age the
following sketch of Col. W. W. H. Davis,
the gallant soldier who has been nominated
as the Democratic candidate for AUDITOR
GENERAL, Of Pen nsylvania
Col. Davis was born in Bucks county, in
this State, anu is the only son of General
John Davis, who formerly represented that
district in Congress. He was educated at
The Military Academy at Norwich, Vermont.
Immediately on graduating, he was appoint.
ed professor of ma 'bematics and military in
s;ructor at the Military Academy at Ports
mouth, Virginia. He remained there two
years, when he return ed home and studied
Law, and was admitted to the bar. Thence
he entered the law school of Cambridge
University. At this time the Hon. Caleb
Gushing was raising bis regiment to 90 70
Mexico, with which country the United
States was then at war; Mr.. Davis shut up
his law books and enlisted as private in
Captain Crownng>hied's company. His
knowledge of military affairs soon brought
him into notice. He was commissioned a
I'entenant and then made adjutant of the
regiment When Colonel Gushing was pro
NOTED in the field, Lieutenant Davis was Of
fered the majority of the regiment, but being
rendered the position eli aid-de-camp and act
lug assistant adjutant general on the stall by
Gen. Gushing, he accepted the latter. He
served on the upper line under General Tay
lor for some time, and then was transferred
with bis brigade to the lower line to reinforce
General Scott. He discharged the duties of
quartermaster for Patt erson's division on the
march from Vera Cruz to the city Of Mexico.
In the winter of l848 he was promoted to
captaincy by an order Of General Scott, and
as suca served to the end of the war.
On bis return home in July, 1848, he open
ed an office IN Doylestown, and commenced
the practice of the law. 10 September, 1853
President Pierce appointed him District At
torney of the United States for the Territory
OF New Mexico, and be crossed the great
plains in November, of that year, and took up
his residence in Santa Fe. The District At
torney was obliged to ride the circuit,
thousand miles in extent. twice year, and
cross the great desert, known as ei tornado
del Muerto, the Journey of Death, where for
distance of niI ETY. miles water is found in
only one place, and that collected from rains
The country was infested by hostile Indians,
and the travel was dangerous. Captain Ds-
Wis made this trip in the spring of 1854 in
company with four members of the bar and
the Marshal. In the summer of that year he
was appointed Secretary of the Territory,
which position he held until November 1857, =,
when he resigned and returned to Bucks
county. Meanwhile he was acting Governor
and Superintendent Of Indian affairs for over
a year. While he resided in Santa Fe he
edited and published the Santa Fe Gazette,
in English and Spanish, over two years
Colonel Davis then crossed the great plains
that stretch from the Missouri river to the
Rocky Mountains several times, and met
with numerous adventures. On one occasion
he was returning to the States in charge of q
lady, her servant and child. When the little
party he was travelling with was some four
hundred miles out, and on the Cimmaron
river, they were pounced upon BY war par