John Davidson (general)

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John Wynn Davidson (Black Jack) (August 14, 1825 – June 26, 1881) was a major general in the U.S. Army and an American Indian fighter.

Contents 1 Background 2 See also 3 References 4 Notes 5 External links

[edit] Background

Davidson was born in Fairfax County, Virginia. He graduated from West Point in 1845. He later participated in many battles of the Mexican-American War, seeing considerable action at the San Pasqual and the Rio San Gabriel battles.^[1]

Davidson was active in the Union Army during the American Civil War, leading a brigade in the Western Theater.

Following the war, he resumed his Regular Army rank and was assigned to the Western frontier. He led the 1st Cavalry Regiment against the Jicarilla Apaches in the Battle of Cieneguilla on March 30, 1854.^[2]

Following the end of the Civil War Davidson was again posted on the Western frontier, this time as a lieutenant colonel of the 10th Cavalry, known as the Buffalo Soldiers. It was there that he acquired the nickname "Black Jack."^[3]

In 1879 he was transferred to the 2nd Cavalry, to Fort Custer in the Montana Territory.^[4] Davidson died in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1881 after being seriously injured during an inspection tour. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.^[5]

[edit] See also

• Notable graduates of West Point

[edit] References

• Davidson, Homer K. (1974). Black Jack Davidson, a Cavalry Commander on the Western Frontier: The Life of General John W. Davidson. A. H. Clark Co., 273. ISBN 0-8706-2109-2. 

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• A letter by Davidson - (Official Records of the Rebellion: Volume Eleven, Chapter 23, Part 1: Peninsular Campaign: Reports, pp.306-307)
• Pictures of John Wynn Davidson