Thomas A. Davies, Thomas A. Davies Brevet Major General USV, 1st Ed., Signed

Description

This unusual “memoir” by Union General Thomas A. Davies lacks a title page or publication information. It does include a frontispiece signed “Thos. A. Davies, Brevet Major General USV” which stands as its title.

Davies was an odd character. He was a West Point graduate from the class of 1825. After a short stint in the army, he worked in commerce and real estate in New York City. In 1861 he went back into the army and made brigadier general.

In 1862, Davies was given command of a Union division in U.S. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee after its commander was killed at the battle of Shiloh. Davies led the division through the siege and occupation of Corinth, Mississippi. At the October 3-4 battle of Corinth Davies and his division were heavily engaged. All of Davies brigadiers were casualties. Davies was reassigned to the command of the garrison at Columbous, Kentucky, but his career foundered after he ordered the defenses of New Madrid, Missouri destroyed.

The “memoir” of Davies is unusual as he writes short, often random accounts of chapters in his life. The accounts often seem to respond to criticism of him without placing the responses in context. The short tidbits are nevertheless interesting and relevant – provided the reader draws the larger context from other sources.

The Thomas Davies “memoir” is quite unusual, and when found is usually inscribed and signed, suggesting that he wrote and published it for friends and family.

Lightly sunned; light chipping of extremities. Inscribed and signed “Mr. William G. & Lucy Rice Davies / Compliments of / Thos. A. Davies”.

Davies, Thomas A. THOMAS A. DAVIES, BREVET MAJOR GENERAL USV. N.P.: n.d. Assumed 1st edition, 41p., frontispiece.