Davies, Thomas Alfred, 1809-1899

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Davies was born in 1809 near Black Lake, located in St. Lawrence County, New York. He spent his childhood and early youth in his father's farm and received common education from the local schools. He entered the United States Military Academy on July 1, 1825, and graduated on July 1, 1829, ranked twenty-fifth. Future high-ranking Confederates in the class of 1829 were Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. Johnston, and Theophilus H. Holmes. Davies was commissioned in the 1st U.S. Infantry on the Wisconsin frontier and as quartermaster at the Military Academy. In 1831 he resigned his commission to practice civil engineering in New York City. He was a merchant in New York from 1841 to the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861.

When the American Civil War began in 1861, Davies chose to follow his native state and the Union cause. He was elected colonel of the 16th New York Infantry Regiment on May 15. Davies led a brigade during the First Battle of Bull Run that July. He then commanded the 10th Brigade in the defenses of Washington, D.C., until March 7, 1862. On that date Davies was promoted to brigadier general in the Union Army, and he was transferred to the Army of the Tennessee in the Western Theater.

In April and May 1862 Davies was engaged in the Siege of Corinth as a division commander. He took part in the Second Battle of Corinth on October 3–4, 1862, also in division command. Davies was assigned to command the Districts of Columbus, Kentucky, in 1862–63, Rolla, Missouri, in 1863–64, and North Kansas in 1864–65. While in command at Columbus, Davies issued orders that the fortified Union post at Island No. 10 be disarmed with all ammunition destroyed, cannon spiked, and gun carriages burned, directives that seemed so nonsensical to the post commander that they had to be repeated several times before they were obeyed. One military investigator looking into the matter reported to headquarters that Davies' conduct should result in his dismissal from the army "the better for our country, its cause and its treasury." Davies, however, was not dismissed. On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Davies for appointment to the grade of brevet major general of volunteers, to rank from July 11, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866. Davies was mustered out of the Union Army on August 24, 1865.

After the war, Davies returned to New York. He made a substantial fortune in the real estate, and also devoted himself to the philosophic and theological speculation. He published a number of books supporting the divine inspiration of the Bible, and rebutting materialistic philosophy. His books on theology were Cosmogony; or, Mysteries of Creation, Adam and Ha-Adam, Genesis Disclosed, and Answer to Hugh Miller and Theoretical Geologists. Davies was an Episcopalian, and was one of the oldest and influential members of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, New York. He also published How to Make Money, and How to Keep It, which was later revised and reissued by Henry Ford.

Davies died in Ogdensburg, New York, in the fall of 1899, and was buried in the family cemetery in nearby Oswegatchie.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part III: The Civil War: The Union, 1804-1915. Houghton Library
referencedIn Davies, Thomas -- Brigadier General United States. National Archives and Records Administration
creatorOf Davies, Thomas A. (Thomas Alfred), 1809-1899. Thomas A. Davies papers, 1829-1874. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Philip Case Lockwood memorial collection of Civil War portraits and autographs, 1862-ca. 1886. Houghton Library
referencedIn Photographic Portrait File The Huntington Library
creatorOf Thomas A. Davies papers, 1829-1874 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
Role Title Holding Repository
contributorOf Davies, Thomas A - New York - 1831 - File No. D41 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn [New York] Davies, Thomas A - Unit: 16th Infantry, Company: Staff - Enlistment Rank: Colonel, Discharge Rank: Colonel United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Consolidated Military Officer's File of Thomas A Davies, New York, 1865 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1862 - Davies, Thomas A - File No. D142 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
Place Name Admin Code Country
Wisconsin WI US
St. Lawrence County NY US
Kansas KS US
New York City NY US
Ogdensburg NY US
Fairfax County VA US
Prince William County VA US
Columbus KY US
Corinth MS US
Rolla MO US
Washington City DC US
West Point NY US
Subject
Bull Run, 1st Battle of, Va., 1861
Civil War, 1861-1865
Corinth, Battle of, Corinth, Miss., 1862
Episcopalians
Occupation
Authors
Civil Engineer
Merchants
Real estate investors
Soldiers
Activity

Person

Birth 1809-12-03

Death 1899-08-19

Male

Americans

English

Information

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