John H. Davis (1841)

Born 1841 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States

Died [date unknown] in United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: K Raymoure [send private message]

Biography

John Davis is a part of US Black heritage.

Cpl. John Davis served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 29 Apr 1863
Mustered out: 20 Aug 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Co. H, 54th Mass. Inf.

John H. Davis was born about 1841 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.^[1][2] He served with the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War.

He stood about 5 feet and 10 inches tall with light skin, brown eyes, and black hair when he enlisted in 1863.^[1][3]

Occupations

• 1863: Waiter

Residences

• 1863: Chicago, Illinois (military enlistment)

Military Service

During the Civil War, he served as a Corporal in Company H of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the second^[4] regiment in the United States made up entirely of enlisted men of color. He was about 22 years old, single and working as a waiter when he enlisted on 29 April 1863 from Chicago, Illinois. He was wounded in action on 16 July 1863 on James Island in South Carolina in a skirmish two days before the Second Battle of Fort Wagner.^[5]

He was promoted to Corporal on 1 July 1865 and mustered out 20 August 1865 with his regiment.^[1]

Research Notes

There are several John Davises who served in either the 54th or 55th Massachusetts:

• John E. Davis of Company D, 54th MA and Company A, 55th
• John Davis, Company H, 54th Massachusetts
• Cpl. John H. Davis, Company H, 54th Massachusetts (this profile)
• John Davis, Company H, 55th Massachusetts

☑ Emilio - nothing besides his entry in the McKay roster Raymoure-1 21:40, 19 March 2019 (UTC)

☑ Redkey - no letters written by or mentioning him Raymoure-1 22:31, 19 March 2019 (UTC)

Projects

• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
• James Island Skirmish 16 July 1863

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Compiled Military Service Record: Davis, John H., 54th Massachusetts Infantry, Compiled Military Service Record. Images available on Fold3.
2. ↑ regimental descriptive book
3. ↑ regimental descriptive book
4. ↑ and the first with federal recognition; the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry regiment was against the wishes of the Secretary of War and filled only six companies, but did see action a full year before the 54th
5. ↑ Emilio, McKay Roster

• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Book Co., 1891 (1st ed.) and 1894 (2nd ed.)
• National Archives. Catalog #577134. Regimental and Company Books of Civil War Volunteer Union Organizations, compiled 1861 - 1865. Fold3.com. Company Descriptive Books, Co H-K.