QUARTER-PLATE AMBROTYPE AND TWO LETTERS OF CONFEDERATE OFFICER RUNNELS DAVIS, WHO DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED AT THIRD WINCHESTER

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Originally $1,750.00

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Item Code: 846-521

Runnels Davis was born June 1, 1835. He was the first-born son of Alfred Ward Grayson Davis who was a roommate and third cousin, once removed, of future Confederate President Jefferson Davis at West Point. Alfred Davis left West Point before graduating but during the Civil War served the Confederacy as a major in the Quartermaster Department in Greenville, South Carolina.

At the start of the Civil War, Runnels Davis was commissioned 1st lieutenant in Company B of the 3rd Regiment Virginia State Line Infantry and then was made adjutant on September 20, 1862. The regiment served in the area of Bath Alum Springs in western Virginia. On April 11, 1863 many of the members of the regiment enlisted into the 19th Virginia Cavalry

Runnels Davis’s commission as a 1st lieutenant of Company B, 19th Virginia Cavalry dated from April 1, 1863. He was present seeing service at Mine Run and Spotsylvania before being wounded at 3rd Winchester on September 19, 1864. He died on September 26th at Woodstock, Virginia and is buried in the Davis family cemetery in Fort Spring, West Virginia.

The image is circa late 1850’s to just pre-war showing Davis in a dark civilian suit jacket with white shirt, large dark bowtie, and a double-breasted vest with a long descending “V” shaped front.

Contrast and clarity are good. Being an ambrotype, the back of the image is painted with a black japanning which helps the image to stand out on the front of the plate. Some of this japanning has flacked off the back. The affected area is limited to the bottom edge of the photo. Chest and face area are perfect showing all details. Davis cheeks are slightly tinted rose.

Image comes with a plain brass mat and decorative stamped brass frame all housed in a half leather case.

The ID is confirmed by a period label done in worn period ink tucked behind the image.

Both of the letters in the group were written by Runnels to his brother Charles L. Davis who was serving in the 27th Virginia Infantry of the Stonewall Brigade.

The first letter is dated February 29, 1864 from a place called Camp Cameron which is two miles from Warm Springs in western Virginia. Runnels begins by telling his brother that the report of his death at Droop Mountain was a mistake. He says “… I was not in the fight but placed on the left of the road to prevent being flanked and the Yankees did not get to us.” He then mentions that he is still in winter quarters. He says that he went home as soon as his father got sick and that he is now somewhat better. He talks about leaving his two horses at home for farm work but now that the winter is ending he will have to get one back for field service. Letter is written on white paper in ink that has begun to fade a bit.

The second letter is dated June 2, 1864 and written from Jackson’s River Depot which is located just east of the Kanawha Pass in the Allegheny Mountains. In the body of the letter Runnels says that he is having a “very hard time lately marching & countermarching on foot through a good deal of rain and mud.” He mentions skirmishing with Averell’s and Crooks units and talks about slipping home to visit their father who was ill. He goes on to say “The Yankees have torn up the people of Greenbrier considerably… they have taken everything Mrs. Curry had, took all Mark Jann’s negros, took bed clothes & killed all the fowls… I think they are playing this last card and as it is not a good trump they want to make it count as much as possible.” Runnels ends the letter by discussing casualties and promotions. Letter is written on both sides of a blue sheet in period ink. The back side of the letter has the address and Confederate stamp.

With the items is a binder of research on Runnels, his father and others mentioned in his letters.

This is a nice little Confederate archive from a young man who gave all he had for the South.   [ad] [ph:L]

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