Augustus P. Davis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Augustus P. Davis
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| Born | May 10, 1835 |
| Died | May 21, 1899 (aged 64) |
Augustus Plummer Davis (born May 10, 1835 – died May 21, 1899) was an important officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is most famous for starting the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, an organization for descendants of Civil War soldiers.
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Early Life and Adventures
Augustus Davis was born in Gardiner, Maine. His family had a history of serving in important American wars, like the American Revolution and the War of 1812.
When he was just 14, Davis went on an adventure to San Francisco during the 1849 California Gold Rush. He hoped to find gold and become rich, but it didn't happen. So, in 1850, he became a sailor. He worked on different ships for five years. He even joined the British Royal Navy for four years during the Crimean War. After leaving the Royal Navy in 1860, he returned home to Maine.
Serving in the Civil War
Soon after the Civil War began in April 1861, Davis volunteered to join the Union Army. On May 11, 1861, he became a captain in the 11th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment. His unit was sent to serve with the Army of the James in the South.
In April 1862, Captain Davis was given a special job as a Provost Marshal, which meant he was like a military police chief for a division. He was hurt during the Battle of Fair Oaks and needed time to recover in the hospital.
Davis left the Army in March 1863 because of health issues. However, he quickly rejoined the Army in Maine in April 1863. He became a captain again and served as a Provost Marshal for his home district. He stayed in this role until he was honorably discharged in August 1865.
In 1867, Davis received an honorary promotion to the rank of major. This was a special recognition for his service during the war.
Joining Veteran Groups
After the war, Major Davis joined several groups for veterans. One important group was the Grand Army of the Republic, or GAR, which was for Union Civil War veterans. He also became a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS).
Life After the War
In 1866, Davis married Mary Ann Gilpatrick, and they had a son named Herbert. Sadly, Mary Ann passed away suddenly in 1872. A few months later, Davis married Lizzie E. Parks.
Soon after his second marriage, Davis moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His doctor suggested a drier climate might be better for his health. In Pittsburgh, Davis worked as an insurance executive. He had another son, Charles, in Pittsburgh.
Davis and his second wife divorced in 1876.
Founding the Sons of Union Veterans
On November 12, 1881, Augustus Davis started the first local group, called a "camp," of the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America. This organization later became known as the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW).
Davis wanted the Sons of Veterans to be a program that taught young men, aged 14 and older, about military training. He hoped it would teach them discipline and patriotism. He also imagined it could be a group of trained citizens ready to help if the country ever needed a military reserve force.
Even though Davis himself was not eligible to be a member (because he was a veteran, not a son of one), the organization honored him. In 1884, he was given the special title of "Past Commander-in-Chief."
The Sons of Veterans grew quickly. By 1904, it had about 200,000 members across many states. The group had strong ties with the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). In 1954, Albert Woolson, who was the very last surviving member of the GAR, officially gave all of the GAR's remaining property to the SUVCW. This showed how much the older veterans trusted the Sons of Union Veterans to carry on their legacy.
Later Life and Legacy
Augustus Davis passed away in Pittsburgh in 1899. He was buried at Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh.
Memberships
Augustus Davis was a member of many different military, veteran, and patriotic groups. These included:
- Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
- Grand Army of the Republic
- Sons of Veterans
- Knights of Pythias
- Society of the Army of the Potomac
- Society of the Army of the James
- Union Veteran League
- Union Veteran Union
- Sons of the American Revolution
- Military Order of Foreign Wars
