Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1913-05-09
defferyon Dar0J O
Us President |

for their display. These we're not shown by mere
personal heroism though his as We have already
said, was of the highest order, but in thorough
equipment with all the resources Of military skill
and science, in the quick perception Of the adap-
taton of means to ends. and in the cool discrimi-
nation of judgment which became both prompt
er and steader instead of being rufled or con-
fused under the pressure of difficulty. the
stimulus of danger
He was daring without rashness, and deliber-
ate without hesitation He never led his
into needless danger, but never shrank from any
risk when necessary. and had the eye of an eagle,
in discernment of the crisis, when risk
quired. AS leader he commanded the unques-
tioning unshrinking confidence Of his followers.
and his presence on the field was an inspiration
The skill to handle bodies of men was combined
with the magnetism that controls the wills of in
dividuals two of the most essential requisites for
the command Of the volunteer troops Of which
American armies are comprised"
Soon after the close of the Black Hawk war;
a regiment Of dragons was formed and added to
the regular service. Henry Dodge of Iowa was
made the colonel of the organization. Mr.
Davis was promoted to the position of first lieu
tenant OF one of the companies and still further
honored by being appointed Immediately there
after adJutant Of the regiment-a choice that in
dicates better than anything else what manner of
man he was
when Mr. Davis was brought face to face with
the burning question of 1929 the problem of
state versus national loyalty and the rumor that
the regiment to which he belonged would prob
ably be sent to Charleston S. c., in event of open
hostilities his words best set forth his posi-
ton: Then much | valued my commission
much as desired to remain in the army, and dis
approving as much as | did the remedy resorted
to- that commission would have been torn to tat
ters before it would have been used in civil war
with the state OF South Carolina"
Colonel Dodge, with select company OF his
dragons, sent in 1884 to Fort Gibson, on the
borders of Arkansas and the Indian Territory
near Red river Lieutenant Davis accompanying
the detachment. The policy of the government
to collect the remnants of the many tribes Of
Indians, both southern and northern In this far.
off portion Of the country, had been developing
since the transfer of the Cherokees and Creeks
from western Georgia. upper Alabama and Mis-.
sissirpi to that reservation, and 1t here that
the young lieutenant passed his last years in the
United States army. There no longer need
of his being In service. he having served more
than the term Of years required to repay the gov
eminent for his training at West Point. After
year and half at Fort Gibson. he rendered his
resignation on June 30, 1885, and severed his con-
nection with the army whose service he had GER
tainly loved. He had manifested decided capacity
for successful military command, and his talent
for management and for ready decision in emer.
gencies had been clearly developed His habits
had been temperate and selfrestrained with
tendency to books and the scholarly life.
TheD tollowed new life for short time-in