Davies, Henry Eugene, 1836-1894

Henry Eugene Davies was born in New York City, the eldest son of Judge Henry E. Davies. He was educated at Harvard, Williams, and Columbia colleges, and was admitted to the bar in 1857. On August 10, 1858, he married Julia Rich, daughter of John T. Rich and Julia Van Voorhies, at Fishkill-on-Hudson, New York. They had one son, Henry Eugene. Henry Davies was the nephew of Union Army Brigadier General and Brevet Major General Thomas Alfred Davies.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Henry E. Davies became a captain of the 5th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment and fought in one of the first battles of the war, the Battle of Big Bethel, Virginia on June 10, 1861. In August 1861, Davies was appointed major of the 2nd New York Cavalry Regiment. The regiment was attached to Major General Irvin McDowell's corps on the Rappahannock River line during the Peninsula Campaign. The regiment was heavily engaged in the campaign of Second Manassas. Davies was promoted to lieutenant colonel in December 1862 and to colonel in June 1863. In June 1863, the 2d New York Cavalry suffered heavy casualties at Beverly's Ford, Virginia during the Battle of Brandy Station on June 9, 1863 and at the Battle of Aldie, Virginia on June 17, 1863. The regiment was stationed at the Union Army supply base at Westminster, Maryland during the Battle of Gettysburg.

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