Friend, author and historian, Arnold Blumberg, has, for many years provided book reviews to a host of media outlets. In recent years, however, the number of outlets, especially for Civil War related content, has rapidly diminished. Arnold recently offered to continue writing reviews and offering them to me. I happily accepted and will post his reviews here from time to time. Though I should note, the books reviewed here will only be cavalry related.

An Ornament to His Country: The Life and Military Career of Benjamin Franklin Davis. By Sharon A. Murray. ISBN 979-8-218-28081-9. West Virginia: Self Published, 2023. Maps. Photos. Bibliography. Index. Pp.334. $29.60 (hardcover).

Around 5:am on June 9, 1863, in column of fours, elements of the 8^th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, Colonel Benjamin F. Davis’s 1st   Brigade, Brigadier John Buford’s First Cavalry Division, Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, splashed across the Rappahannock River at Beverly’s Ford. They were the lead element of the Union cavalry corps’ northern pincer designed to capture Brandy Station, Virginia, and whip Major General JEB Stuart’s Southern horsemen reported to be in that area.

    Leading from the front, as was his custom, Davis and his men first encountered enemy pickets which fired into the Federal column. Very soon after, Davis’s troopers became engaged in a mounted melee with their Confederate counterparts. After pushing his gray opponents back a short distance, the colonel sought to encourage his disorganized men and get them to continue their movement upon the enemy that sought to bar their advance.

    Moving 75 yards ahead of his men, he shouted to his 8^th New York and 8^th Illinois troopers to “Come on boys and Stand firm…” As Davis attempted to rally his command, Lieutenant Robert O. Allen, 6^th Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, approached the distracted Union officer from behind. Upon sensing the close presence of Allen, Davis turned and attempted to sabre his assailant. But it was too late; Allen avoided the sabre blow and fired a pistol ball which entered Davis’s head mortally wounding him. Davis died two hours later.

   Most American Civil War cavalry enthusiasts know of Benjamin F. “Grimes” Davis, based on his escape with the Union cavalry from Harper’s Ferry during the Antietam Campaign, as well as his dramatic demise during the opening stage of the Battle of Brandy Station-the largest cavalry fight ever fought on the North American Continent-at the start of the Gettysburg Campaign. Other than those well-known episodes, little up to the present has been published about his early life and military career prior to the War Between the States, or during the early stages of the Civil War. Thanks to author Sharon. A. Murray this neglect has been remedied.

    Ms. Murray, a native of Idaho, earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, and a Master of Science in Mining Engineering from the University of Idaho. She is a volunteer and certified battlefield guide at the Antietam Military National Park.

    Murray starts her biography of “Grimes” Davis with an in-depth rendition of her subject’s family and early upbringing. This is followed by a detailed description of Davis’s time at The United States Military Academy at West Point, and goes on to describe his early United States Army military career during the 1850s in Texas, New Mexico Territory and California as a lieutenant assigned to the 5^th US Infantry Regiment and then the 1^st Regiment of Dragoons, later redesignated the US 1^st Cavalry Regiment at the start of the Civil War.

    Davis’s story continues with his service in the opening phases of the Civil War when he shone bright in the Peninsular Campaign’s Battle of Williamsburg in May 1862. After joining the 8^th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, and taking command of the unit in mid-1862, Davis showed his penchant for command by his fine leadership of his regiment in mounted actions during that period, as well his strict, but fair, management of the 8^th New York off the battlefield.

    With the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac’s Cavalry Corps during February 1863, Davis was given command of the 1^st Brigade of Brigadier General Alfred Pleasonton’s First Cavalry Division. His actions for the rest of that year, leading up to the Battle of Brandy Station, again proved his prowess as a cavalry commander.

   The author weaves her story about her subject with fine writing, and great verve, especially when relating the combat actions Davis and his command endured. She supports her effort with many primary sources, including 34 contemporary newspaper publications, and numerous state and local accounts, as well as a ton of secondary sources.  These sources clearly show the solid research that is one of the hallmarks of Murray’s work.

    In her account of “Grimes” Davis, the author makes a good argument that the subject of her book was a rising star in the Union cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. As revealed at Brandy Station, his command style influenced the growing effectiveness of the blue horsemen, leading one Confederate officer to famously claim, the battle “Made the Union Cavalry”.

    Ms. Murray’s biography is a fine addition to the study of the Union cavalry. The reader will grow to appreciate the story of an officer whose military career was unfortunately cut short and whose impact on the future positive performance of the blue mounted arm can only be imagined.

Reviewed by Arnold Blumberg