I have long viewed Col. Benjamin Franklin ‘Grimes’ Davis as a bit of an enigma or a mystery. Davis was a Southerner, who honored his oath and remained loyal to the country, a cavalryman who showed defiance and courage at Harpers Ferry, and a Regular Army officer in the mold of his friend John Buford. All proved glimmers of hope for the often-floundering Federal cavalry. Then, on June 9, 1863, in the early moments of the fight at Brandy Station, Davis received a mortal wound and the hope quickly died. All that remained as the armies marched toward Gettysburg were questions, what might have been but for the fateful pistol shot?
I am happy to announce that Sharon Murray’s book An Ornament to His Country, The Life and Military Career of Benjamin Franklin Davis is now available. I have never met Sharon, but we have corresponded over the last few years as she worked to, in a manner of speaking, bring Davis back to life.
Trying to bring a man like Davis to life can be a near Herculean task, especially in the absence of personal letters or other papers. Sharon’s book is the product of seven years of research. I received my copy this week and I look forward to seeing all that she has unearthed.
A hardcover book with an attractive dust jacket, 293 pages of narrative and an appendix, footnotes rather than endnotes, ten maps, 32 photos and illustrations, as well as a bibliography and index, An Ornament to His Country sells on Amazon and other outlets for $34.95. Sharon will sell you a copy for $25 plus $5 for shipping and handling.
You may reach Sharon via her email, smurray2013@comcast.net. You might also visit her website The Epitaph: Tombstones, Mausoleums, Monuments and Memorials to Civil War Soldiers here.
Small But Important Riots 
I already have this book and I’m looking forward to reading it. He commanded the 8th New York Cavalry which was from around my area. Rochester, NY.
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Let me know what you think, Terry. And I’m sure Sharon would be happy to hear from you or see a review as well. Hope winter is treating you well up there.
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Yes I would be happy to hear what you think of the book.
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Oh, yeah, I want one! As a kid, reading about his escape from Harpers Ferry and his cunning with Longstreet’s train in Mr. Lincoln’s Army, I was shocked to read of his death in Glory Road. I even looked through other books in the hope that Bruce Catton was wrong, but alas!
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Good to hear from you, Larry. How goes your own mapping project?
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I’m not sure that I haven’t maxed it out. After Lee gets back across the Potomac, it gets sort of esoteric, but this G-burg trip, I will be visiting and photographing the battle sites around Falling Waters and a side trip to Monocacy, just because. If a tour of Brandy Station to be organized, count me in.
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Thanks! The more people who have an opportunity to learn about Davis the happier I am. He has been an enigma too long!!
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Indeed, and I wish you luck, Sharon.
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I look forward to reading your book, Sharon. My great-grandfather, Pvt. Isaac Campbell was with the 4th NY and entrusted with guarding the river crossing at Kelly’s Ford along with the rest of regiment during the slugfest at Brandy Station. Bob Moran
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Hope you enjoy it!
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