George E Davis

George Davis received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Monocacy.

Quick Facts

Significance:

Medal of Honor Recipient

Place of Birth:

Dunstable, Massachusettes

Date of Birth:

December 26, 1839

Place of Death:

Bennington, Vermont

Date of Death:

June 28, 1926

Place of Burial:

Burlington Vermont

Cemetery Name:

Lakeview Cemetery

George Davis was born December 26, 1839, in Dunstable, Massachusetts. In 1861 Davis was working as a clerk in a store in Burlington, Vermont when he enlisted in the 1st Vermont Infantry for three months. At the end of its three months the 1st Vermont was mustered out. Now a civilian, Davis returned to his clerk position in Vermont. Davis later enlisted in the 10th Vermont Infantry Regiment and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant.  

At the Battle of Monocacy on July 9, 1864, Davis commanded a small Union detachment at Monocacy Junction. His job was to defend the covered bridges across the river, which carried the Georgetown Pike, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Bridge. Davis and his men held their position throughout the day against repeated Confederate assaults.
 
Davis recounted his experiences in the battle in a post-war letter: 

 I was sent to General Wallace’s headquarters for orders, which were to hold the two bridges across the river at all hazards, and prevent the enemy from crossing…I knew nothing of the situation, or plan of battle except as apparent to the eye. The natural advantages of cover and position were in our favor.

 In the early part of the noon attack, the wooden bridge over the Monocacy River was burned without notice to me…I received no orders from any source after the first gun was fired in the morning. Being only a First Lieutenant, it was a new experience to be thus suddenly thrown into such a responsible position, where authority must be used and great risk taken.

Our noble band of Vermonters stood by me till I gave the order to retreat, when we kept together and crossed the railroad bridge, stepping upon the ties, there being no floor. The enemy were at our heels, and before we could get away from the bridge had laid violent hands upon five of my own company close around me and taken them prisoners.

Davis served with the 10th Vermont through the fall campaign in the Shenandoah Valley and was promoted to captain. While at winter quarters in Petersburg, Virginia, Davis was injured when the log cabin he was in collapsed, and he was discharged from the army and returned home to Vermont. 

On May 27, 1892, George E. Davis received the Medal of Honor for his valiant defense of the bridges at the Battle of Monocacy.  Davis later visited the Monocacy Battlefield with fellow Vermont soldier and Medal of Honor recipient Alexander Scott. Davis died on June 28, 1926, in Bennington, Vermont.