[Photo by Michael Colbruno]Plot 6
Captain Murray Davis (18??-1877) was a member of the 8th United States Cavalry, Company A. Along with Lieutenant John Lafferty, his second in command, he established Camp Winfield Scott, on December 12, 1866 in Paradise Valley. The camp was created to protect travelers and settlers from the Native Americans, who were feuding with new arrivals. The camp was abandoned in February 1871.
This is from a June 1867 Secretary of War report:
On the 17th of January, 1867, in accordance with post orders issued by Captain Murray Davis, at Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada, Second Lieutenant John Lafferty, Sergeants J. Kelley and Edward Flanigan, and twelve privates of the eighth United States cavalry, started on a scout after Indians. On the 18th two Indians were killed and a rancheria and some provisions destroyed. On the 21st the command returned to Camp Scott. During the expedition severe storms of snow and rain were encountered and much suffering endured by the men, the cold being extreme. Sargeant Kelley was wounded in the hand by and arrow. Lieutenant Lafferty and the non-commissioned officers and men of his detachment are much commended by Captain Davis for their energy and perseverance, and for the faithful manner in which they carried out the instructions given them.
There are also records of a Captain Murray Davis who was involved in the investigation of the treatment of former slaves after their emancipation following the Civil War. I have not been able to confirm if he is the same person who was at Camp Scott.
2 comments:
Hello Michael
I am doing some family history. My GG Grandfather lived in Paradise Valley from 1864 until 1898, his name was Mark Haviland. I found numerous newpaper articles about the US Cavalry at Camp Scott (Camp Winfield Scott). My GG Grandfather advertised his ranch as Camp Scott. I am searching the National Archives for letters/reports between the field commanders at Camp Scott and Major Charles McDermit at Fort Churchill. If I find anything I could notify you.
Best Regard Kevin
email kevin_allec@hotmail.com
Hi Michael and whoever else might be researching Murray,
I am a fist cousin four times removed from Murray. In researching, I have found he was born in 1839 in Marion Co., Ohio, New York or Iowa. The records vary as to place of birth.His parents were the Reverend Austin Asher Davis and Jane M. Cushing.He joined the 95th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1862 as a private and was promoted several times. He was badly injured near Nashville in 1864, and as a result, was promoted to Assistant Adjutant General attached to Edward M. Stanton. This last fact I read in a passage from a book, "Olden Times in Colorado," written by his brother, Carlyle Channing Davis. He named his son, Stanton, after Edward M. Stanton. He was later in the 8th US Cavalry. If you subscribe to Newspapers dot com, there is a nice obit in one of the San Francisco papers from either July or August of 1877. It lists a small military summary. He married Julia Edith Kirkham, daughter of General R. W. Kirkham. They had one son, Stanton. Julia died in 1873, and he did remarry in 1876. Murray died in July of 1877. His son was adopted and raised by General Kirkham. The son's name can be found as Stanton Davis Kirkham. Also, I recently found an image of Murray on Flickr, but can not verify if this is actually him. If you want to see it, go to flickr and type Murray Davis in the search bar and the image should pop up. Hope this helps someone.
Julie
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