Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-07-29
THE WAR RECORD OF HON.
DANIEL +. DAVIS.

To the Editors Of the ReHneJec Journal:
According to the report of the Adju-
tant General of the State Of Maine for
lS64-5, Daniel F. Davis, aged 20 years,
residing at Stetson, enlisted as a private
in Co. ID. First District of Columbia Cav
airy, oct. 18th 1868, and was transferred
10 Co. f. First Maine Cavalry.
The First District of Columbia Cavalry
was originally battalion raised in the
District of Columbia for special duty at
the seat of government, under command
of Col. l.. G. Baker, Provost Marshal Of
the War Department, and was familiarly
known as Bakers Mounted Rangers.
In the fall of 1868 it was desired to in
crease the members of this organization,
aud knowing where good men could be
obtained, Capt. afterwards Major Joel
W. Cloudman of Stetson, was empowered
to raise a company for this purpose. He
succeeded in enhsting one hundred and
twenty five men in two weeks, and this
success induced the War Department,
later, January 22d, 1864 to issue an
order for recruiting six more companies in
Maine afterwards made seven for this
organization and making it regiment.
The men thus enlisted by Capt. Cloud
man formed Co. ID. with the exception
of few who were assigned to Co. +. on
arriving at the front, and among them
was private Daniel +. Davis.
Company ID. according to Chaplain
Merilrs campaigns of the First Maine
and First District Of Columbia Cavalry,
left Augusta Oct 22d, 1868, under COM
mand of Capt. Cloudman, arriving at
Washington on the 25th, and at once en-
tered upon active duty at Annandale, ten
miles from Alexandria, where it remained
until January 9th, 1864, and then
Joined the remainder of the battalion at
Yorktown. Jan. 30th the battalion went
on an expedition of a dozen miles or
so, and Feb. 5th. 9th, 7th and Sth, on an
expedition to Bottoms Bridge. on the
Chickahominy river, twelve miles from
Richmond-an expedition in which there
was little fighting but much hard
work, the men hardly being out of the
saddle during the whole time. The bat
talon remained in that vicinity, going on
frequent expeditions, picketing, &c, and
busy all the time, until in May, being
joined on the Sth of April by Co. F., also
from Maine.
In March Gen. Kautz' cavalry division
was organized, to which this command
was assigned. May 5th the battalion
started with the division on what was
known as Kautz' first raid, going through
Suffolk and across the Blackwater, strik-
ing the Weldon railroad, seventy miles
away, at , clock on the afternoon OF the
7th. The command cut the railroad,
destroyed public buildings, burned the
railroad bridge over the Notaway river,
and met the enemy in two engagements,
capturing one hundred prisoners, and drlv-
ing them through the bridge-a covered
one-across the river and into their forti-
fications. The object of the expedition
being accomplished, the command went
to City Point.
After resting day, the command set
out on another raid-One of the most
hazardous and effective of the war, going
through Chesterfield county TO CoalfieId
station on the Danville Railroad, thirteen
miles from Richmond, where the railroad
and telegraph were destroyed, and trains
of cars, depot buildings, and large guam
titles of government stores burned. This
was repeated at Black and Whites sta
ton on the South Side railroad, thirty
miles west of Petersburg, and again at
Weliville station, five miles east. The
command now started for Belleyllle on
the Weldon railroad, but Gen. kautz
learned that the enemy was prepared for
him there, and as his object was not so
much to fight as to weaken the enemy by
interrupting communications and destroy
ing supplies, he avoided an engagement
and marched to the Notaway river at
Freeman's Bridge Here he found HIM
self in trap. One span of the bridge,
40 #. long had been burned, the fords
above and below were strongly guarded,
and the enemy was gathering in force In
the rear. He must cross or tight at
disadvantage and where nothing was to
be gained. A Major of New York
regiment, commanding the advance, de-
clared that the bridge could not be made
passable until the forenoon of the next
day. But Capt. William S. Howe, com
manding Co. d, First d. c. Cavalry,
knew better, and was given an opportu-
nifty to show his faith by his works. Co.
ID. was informed what was wanted, work
ing parties were instantly organized, and
and in three hours from the time the
Maine boys began the work, the bridge
was repaired, and the column passed over
in safety, reaching City Point on the 18th.
During the nine days of this trip the
command marched twenty hours out of
every twenty-four, cut the Richmond and
Danville and South Side railroads in six
different places, and inflicted an amount
of damage upon the enemys communica-
tions and army stores which told severely
] ,,non them afterwards. At this time IL