Albert F. Davis

By Dylan Davis

Albert F. Davis was born sometime in the year 1831 in Virginia. He was a father of three boys, a husband, and a soldier. His wife’s name was Mary C. Davis. and his boys’ names were George, Charles, and George. George was the oldest, Charles was the middle child, and George was the youngest. In 1860, he was a farmer with five thousand dollars worth of real estate (land) and three thousand dollars worth of personal estate (items) and he lived in Jefferson, Virginia.

Albert F. Davis was about thirty one years old when he enlisted on October 12, 1862 to the Sixth Regiment Virginia Cavalry in Berryville, Virginia. When he enlisted he signed a contract which stated that he would serve for three years or for the remainder of the war. During his service he was a P.O.W. (prisoner of war). He was captured by the General Sheridan’s Forces in the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry at Charlestown, West Virginia on January 12, 1865. While he was a P.O.W. the Union forces transferred him from West Virginia to the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C. on January 24, 1865. Soon after he was received from Cumberland, Maryland. He had to take an oath of allegiance to the United States, not the Confederacy, on June 27, 1865 in Elmira, New York in order to be released because the war ended. He was received at Elmira, New York, from Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D.C.. He was released June 27, 1865 too. When Davis enlisted, the contract he signed stated that he had to serve in the military for a minimum of three years or until the remainder of the war. The war ended May 9, 1865, therefore he was no longer in the military once he was released.

During Rosser’s Raid on January 12, 1865, Albert F. Davis was captured. He was one of the eight hundred prisoners taken during the battle. He was fighting under General Thomas Rosser. Despite many soldiers being taken, the Confederate forces won the battle.

Albert F. Davis was a part of the Sixth Regiment Virginia Cavalry for three years. He was a prisoner of war, a father, and a husband. He also owned land; even though he was of a dark complexion he still owned land and fought for the Confederacy. He passed away sometime before 1870.

Works Cited

“Albert F. Davis.” Ancestry. Ancestry, 2009. Web. 3 June 2016. . 1860 Census\

Arnold, Thomas J. “A Battle Fought in the Streets.” Historic Beverly Preservation Inc. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2016. . Battle Details