Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-07-08

worse? Shall the highest virtues inculcated
by these mothers be practised by their sons,
only to be misinterpreted by partisan press
Is manliness in this age so COMMON yirtue
that we can afford to detract from the honor
due to a worthy life?
Shall we Americans who teach our children
that honesty. sobriety, virtue and industry
are honorable and that in our free land they
lead to preferment, seek to injure those who
rise by possessing native ability coupled with
these? Can we reasonably expect to prosper
as a nation by such system of party tactics :
Are there no issues Of principle before The
people of Maine? Cannot even our partizans
find amid the important questions of real pol
ity sufficient assauting material without re
course to unworthy attacks upon true charac-
ter? Ii is much to BE- desired that they can
and will. The writer would be slow to be-
lieve that anything more than desire for
party success could have prompted the attacks
recently made in certain public journals, up
on the military history of Hon. ID. +. Davis,
the republican candidate for Governor of
Maine.
1t is much to he regretted that the author 5
Of these statements were not better informed,
as they are incorrect and UNJUST; and having
been scattered broadcast throughout the State
they may do injury 10 "A pure and upright man,
Il faithful soldier, who with no other motive
than patriotism became by his own voluntary
act, at an carly age one of the humblest de-
Tenders of his countrys unity, at time when
such as he were sorcly needed. Having
known Mr.. Davis during his boyhood; served
with him in the same regiments and with
peculiar advantages for observation, since
the war, witnessed his manly and noble con-
duct in matters too delicate and sacred Cor
the public eye, the writer is impelled for the
sake of justice and propriety to make the fol
lowing statements, which, as nearly as his
recollection will serve, are true
Daniel f. Davis, at the age of twenty and
his brother Stephen, who was younger, en-
listed in the Union army in September, 1868,
and proceeded with Company "D." lst ID. G..
Cavalry, to Washington, ID. c., in October of
the same year.
The battalion of which said company was
part, was on picket duty at Annandale in
the defenses of Washington some three
months. ID. +. Davis, who was a corporal,
was on duty, faithful and obedient to orders
during this period, and by his studious and
gcntlemanly habits won the respect and cs-
TEEN of all his comrades and officers, which
he retains to this day Early in the spring
of 1864 the battalion was ordered to York
town, became part of Kautzs division, and
soon after participated in Klpatrick's raid
upon Richmond This duty was as danger
Gus and arduous, and entalcd as much hard
ship as any during the war, and nj Bottoms
ment with the enemy.
Daniel +. Davis was present and faithful
through all. Being rcpulscd, the expedition
returned to Yorktown, and the command was
soon after ordered to Pongo Landing in the
Dismal Swamp where it remained on picket
duty for some months, and was afterwards
on Deep Creek on same duty 1t participat-
ed in the Stony Creek raid, burning the rail
way station and destroying many miles of
railroad and having severe engagement
with the enemy. Returning, the division was
ordered to Bermuda Hundred, where it
manned the breast-works, doing duty as In
fantry for some weeks. The LIST District Col
umba Battalion was now increased to a full
regiment, by the addition of eight hundred
more Maine men who enlisted as ID. +. Davis
did, and none of whom would now claim to
have served more faithfully than he. In
May, 1864, the command was engaged in the
attack upon Petersburg, the first ID. c. cav
airy storming the enemy's works dismounted
and carrying them in the third charge. Com
pany ''D" was in the thickest of this lively
fight, and no man in it did his duty more
faithfully than Corporal ID. +. Davis. This
attack having accomplished its purpose, was
followed June 10Th 1864, by a general battle
in which the command was also engaged. II
was here that the lamented Lieut.. L. w.
Parkman was MORALLY wounded, and Corpor-
al Davis was so near him when he fell that
he assisted in bearing him from the field.
Those who knew Parkman will agree that no
purer spirit was offered up during the war.
Lieut.. Parkman and Corporal Davis were in
innate friends, and to dsparage the one is to
dishonor the other. The same shot which
killed Parkham wounded also another. He
would also be dishonorcd.
Early in July, Wilson's and Kautzs dvis.
ions started on the great raid to the South
side railroad bridge at stanton, Virginia
This raid was for the destruction of the rail
way and bridges, and the work was effectual-
ly done. Staunton Bridge, the objective point
being reached, was after some severe fighting
burned. The column returned by way Of
Ream's Station and after fighting all day al
that point, forced its way through heavy
masses Of the enemy into the Union lines
ID. +. Davis was with his regiment through
all this. s
Kautz's division was soon after put on pick
ct duty at Sycamore Church, and in the fall
of 1864, the line was attacked by heav,
force Of the enemy. The Union line being