Grand Army of the Republic. P. Stearns Davis Post 57 (East Cambridge, Mass.)

Grand Army of the Republic Post 57 held its first preliminary meeting on the evening of 19 June 1868 at the Sons of Temperance Hall in East Cambridge. Alphonso M. Lunt called together a meeting of members of different GAR posts for the purpose of establishing a post in East Cambridge. On the evening of 16 Nov. 1868, Comrade Lunt put forth the suggestion to secure the name P. Stearns Davis for Post 57, and the motion was unanimously adopted. P. Stearns Davis was a colonel in the 39th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, mustered in on 4 Sept. 1862. The 39th regiment was recruited in the late summer of 1862 from the eastern towns and cities in Massachusetts. The regiment first went into camp at Lynnfield, but was eventually transferred to Camp Standton, Boxford, where Col. Davis took command. The 39th spent time guarding the north bank of the Potomac River from Seneca Creek to Conrad's Ferry. On 14 Oct. 1862, the 39th was assigned to Grover's Brigade at Seneca Creek. Col. Davis commanded the brigade from 11 Nov. 1862 until 5 Jan. 1863. He died in battle at Petersburg, Va., on 11 July 1864.