Benjamin Franklin "Grimes" Davis: Some Family Secrets Revealed

It has been common knowledge for years that renowned 1st U. S. Cavalry Captain and Colonel of the 8th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, Benjamin Franklin "Grimes" Davis, who lost his life to a rebel bullet on June 9, 1863 at Beverly Ford, Virginia was born in Alabama and appointed to West Point from Mississippi.  Little else was known about his youth or his family until recently.  With  modern technology and internet access to historic records at the click of a mouse long lost secrets about Davis's family have come to light.

                               Benjamin Franklin "Grimes" Davis


A review of papers supporting Davis's application to the United States Military Academy note he was the grandson of Captain Benjamin W. Holladay and a nephew of Captain John Abbott and William Taylor.  All three men lived in Monroe County, Mississippi in 1850.  William Taylor and John Abbott both wrote letters supporting young Davis's application to West Point.

Benjamin Holladay, the son of John Marshall Holladay III who died August 16, 1780 at the Revolutionary War Battle of Camden in South Carolina, was born in Spottsylvania, Virginia April 11, 1777.  He moved to Wilkes County, Georgia,  Perry County, Alabama and later Mississippi where he died on October 15, 1850.

Many of Benjamin Holladay and his wife Elizabeth numerous daughters were born in Wilkes County, Georgia before the family moved to Perry County, Alabama in late 1819 or early 1820. Holladay purchased public lands that were opened to entry after the Treaty of Fort Jackson was signed August 9, 1814.  Three of these daughters, Nancy, Agnes Portatier, and Matilda are important to our story.

Agnes, who is often referred to in the census records as Portatier, was born in Wilkes County, Georgia about 1806.  She married William Taylor September 18, 1828 in Perry County, Alabama.  By 1850 the family was living in Monroe County, Mississippi where Taylor was a planter.  According to a descendent, Elaine Coffman, he also operated a Stagecoach Inn in the Southern Crossroads Area south of Aberdeen on the Aberdeen-Columbus stage route.

Nancy M. Holladay was born in Wilkes County about 1808.  She married Wiley Howell, April 3, 1823 in Perry County, Alabama.  By 1850 the Howell family was also living in Monroe County, Mississippi where Wiley was a planter.

Matilda is the most illusive of the Holladay daughter but also the most important.  According to family trees and census records she was born in Georgia sometime before 1813.  On January 1, 1831 Matilda and Benjamin E. Davis were married in Perry County, Alabama.  Benjamin purchased 79.81 acres of public land in Perry County as a cash sale on February 4, 1832  according to Government Land Office records.  Benjamin E. and Matilda E. Davis would have 6 sons before leaving Alabama in late 1840.

Benjamin Franklin Davis was born to this union on October 24, 1831.  Next in line was William Owen Davis (born about 1833), followed by Thomas Jefferson, (born about 1834) Francis Marion (born about 1837) Christopher Columbus (born about 1839) and finally Augustus Romalus Davis (born about 1840).

The October 1840 Perry County, Alabama Census records show Benjamin E. Davis as head of household with 3 free white males under 5, 3 free white males age 5-9, 3 free white males age 30-39, 1 free white female age 20-29 and 5 slaves.

In the fall of 1840 the Davis family left Perry County, Alabama  and headed to northern Louisiana where they settled in eastern Union Parish, probably on a 317 acre tract purchased by Benjamin on November 12, 1839.  Benjamin E. Davis purchased several other parcels of public land and opened a store near his home.   Matilda Davis passed away in early 1843.  On May 2, 1843 Benjamin E. Davis married Malinda Kelly. Benjamin and Malinda added two more sons to the family, Walter and John, before Benjamin E's untimely death on or about June 26, 1846.

After their fathers death the 6 boys from Benjamin E. Davis's 1st marriage went to live with relatives of their mother in Monroe County, Mississippi.  Walter Taylor became the boys guardian.  Union Parish probate court records indicate they were in Mississippi  in 1847.   By 1850, according to the  federal census records and the letters mentioned above, the brothers were all still living in Monroe County, Mississippi.

In December 1849 Benjamin Franklin was a ward of William Taylor.   He was described as being "about 18 years of age, 5' 9 or 10" high and will weigh about 130 lbs., a fine looking fellow" "of unblemished reputation" and  "of very superior mental endowment". He had served in the 1st Battalion Mississippi Rifle Volunteers commanded by Lt. Colonel James Patton Anderson, at Tampico in the Mexican War and was "one of its best soldiers".

In 1850 William, Francis Marion and Augustus were living with Taylor and his wife Portatier, an older sister of Matilda Holladay Davis.  Thomas Jefferson Davis lived with another sister Nancy Holladay and her husband Wiley Howell. Christopher Columbus lived with his cousin Sarah Elizabeth Abbott Clopton and her husband Dr. John Hales Clopton in Monroe County.  In a letter written by E. Abbott supporting Benjamin's West Point application Abbott notes:  "Mr Davis has lost both his father and mother and has 5 brothers, all fine, strong, well behaved boys".

 Benjamin Franklin Davis was admitted to West Point July 1, 1850 and graduated in 1854 ranking 32nd out of 46 cadets.  Upon graduation he was assigned to the 5th U. S. Infantry. He transferred to the 1st U. S. Dragoons March 3, 1855.  Davis spent time in Texas and New Mexico, where he distinguished himself and was wounded fighting Coyotero and Mogollon Apache on the Gila River, June 27, 1857.  By 1858 he was in California  where he would be commissioned a Captain in the 1st U. S. Dragoons (renamed the 1st U. S. Cavalry August 3, 1861) and a Lt. Colonel of the 1st California Cavalry Volunteers.  He came east in 1861 to join the Union War effort.  Davis is best known for advocating and leading a daring escape of Union cavalry from Harpers Ferry on September 14, 1862 in conjunction with  Lt. Colonel Hasbrouck Davis of the 12th Illinois Cavalry.  He would be breveted Major in the regular army, September 15, 1862 for "Meritorious Service in the Withdrawal of the Cavalry Forces from Harpers Ferry, VA., at the Surrender of the Place", on the recommendation of Major General George B. McClellan.  On November 14, 1862  Brigadier General Alfred Pleasonton recommended John Farnsworth, David Gregg and  Davis for promotion to Brigadier General noting "their judgement, experience and energy fully entitled them to the position of Brigadier General."  This request was not acted upon prior to Davis's untimely death.

As noted in Half Century Record of the Class at West Point 1850-1854, written by Henry L. Abbott, Davis "served in the battles and skirmishes of the Army of the Potomac, after that of South Mountain always with so much credit to himself as to be regarded as having very few equals and no superiors in the cavalry branch of the service".

At least 3 of Benjamin's brothers, Francis Marion, Christopher Columbus and Augustus fought for the Confederacy. Marion and Augustus were with Company I,  11th Mississippi Infantry Regiment.   Marion would be missing on June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill, Virginia during the Peninsula Campaign and Augustus would be killed  at Weldon Railroad August 18, 1864.  Christopher served with Company D, 2nd Mississippi Infantry Regiment. He was wounded at Sharpsburg, Maryland on September 17, 1862 and at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863.  He would spend time as a POW at Point Lookout, Maryland.  He galvanized and later deserted to rejoin the 2nd Mississippi.  Christopher survived the civil war, returned to Mississippi and became a teacher but died by suicide several years after returning home.

A cousin of the Davis brothers James H. Taylor, son of William Taylor and his wife Agnes enlisted with the 20th Mississippi Infantry Regiment on June 25, 1861.  He was captured at Fort Donelson in February 1862 and later exchanged.  Taylor was captured again on May 16, 1863 at Edward's Station (Brownsville) during the Vicksburg Campaign.  James Taylor was sent to Fort Delaware and later Point Lookout, Maryland where he died on August 22, 1864.  He is buried at the Confederate Cemetery associated with the Point Lookout Prison Camp.

Update:  If you are interested in seeing a family tree of Benjamin Franklin Davis and his immediate family go to this link:  https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/157816700/person/322071946456/facts  All the information in the tree is tied to extant public records.