Joseph Davis was born in Jackson County, Illinois, the son of John Davis and Mary Russell. After his mother's death when he was about fourteen, his father moved the family to Lawrence County, Arkansas and remarried. At age 19, Joseph enlisted in Company E, 21st Missouri Infantry in St. Louis on November 23, 1863. His enlistment papers describe him as 6'1" tall with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and light hair.
The 21st Missouri Infantry, formed in February 1862 from the consolidation of the 1st and 2nd Northeast Regiments Missouri Infantry, saw extensive action throughout the war. Joseph joined during the second call for volunteers and served during some of the regiment's most challenging campaigns. In July 1864, he participated in the Battle of Tupelo (Harrisburg), Mississippi, where Major General A. J. Smith's force of over 14,000 men defeated Confederate cavalry under General Nathan Bedford Forrest. This victory protected Sherman's vital supply lines during the Atlanta campaign. Joseph's letter describing the battle provides a remarkably accurate firsthand account of the engagement, noting the approximately 2,500 Confederate casualties against 400 Union losses.
In February 1865, Joseph's regiment embarked from Eastport, Mississippi, arriving in New Orleans on February 21st. From there, they moved to participate in the siege and assault on Fort Blakeley, Alabama. On the evening of April 9, 1865—the same day Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox—the 21st Missouri joined other Union forces in the final assault on the fort. At 6 o'clock p.m., the bugle sounded the charge. Within seven and a half minutes, the fort surrendered, but at a terrible cost: 2,000 Federal casualties, killed and wounded. Joseph Davis was among those who fell in this assault, one of the last major battles of the Civil War, fought just hours after the war had effectively ended in Virginia.
Joseph is buried in the Mobile National Cemetery. He was one of 68 enlisted men from the 21st Missouri Infantry killed in action during the war. His namesake, mentioned affectionately in his letters, was his first cousin Joseph Edward Russell, my great-grandfather. These letters, written in the final year of his life, offer a valuable glimpse into the experiences of a young soldier who gave his life in the war's closing days.
JSR.
Dear Uncle,
It is with much pleasure that I embrace this present opportunity of writing you a few lines in answer to yours bearing date July the 8th which come to hand a day or 2 ago. I was glad to hear that you all was alive and well. This leaves me well and I hope when these few lines comes to hand that they will find you all well and enjoying the best of Health. I haven't much to rite at the present I will say to you that we have had a very tiresome march, we have been marching about one month. We marched to a little town Tupelo in Mississippi about one hundred miles from here. We found the rebels there and we had a battle with them. We fought about 3 hours and then the enemy drew off and left their killed and wounded on the field. We took care of the wounded and buried their dead. The forces numbering about fifteen thousand on each side. The rebel force was commanded by Lt. General Lee and ours was commanded by Major General A. J. Smith. The rebels lost some of their officers, their loss was about 2500 hundred killed and wounded. Our loss was about four hundred so they the rebels completely defeated. Well, I will quit this subject, the weather is very dry and hot. You wanted to know what had become of the Smith boys, well I will tell you about them. Gabriel Wiley he joined the southern army and died on the Boston Mountain, Arch Smith he died at home, Ciss lives at Spurlock, Pap he's living in a place of his own about one mile from Spurlocks. Well uncle I want you to write to me as soon as you get this letter and let me no where all the connection is and what they are doing and give me the times generally. Well I will send a fifty dollar bill of confederate money to your son Joseph. So no more this time.
I remain your
Affectionate Nephew
Joseph Davis
To William D. Russell
Dear Uncle,
I embrace the present opportunity of dropping you a few lines to inform you that I am well and harty at this time. Hoping when these few lines come to hand that they will find you all well and doing the same. Well uncle I haven't anything of importance to communicate to you at the present more than we have orders to march tomorrow morning. I think we will take the cars to Legrange, Tennessee and I think that we will march from there to Holly Springs, Mississippi perhaps or somewhere in that section of country. Some thinks that we will repare the railroad coming from Columbus, Ky to Mobile. If we do we won't have such a hard march. Health is good in my Regt. generally speaking and the boys is all in good spirits. Well uncle my regiment will be mustered out of the service 14th of October next and I suppose that I will have to serve awhile longer as I did not join until the second call. I received a part of the 300 dollar bounty. Well uncle you wanted to know something about the Smith boys and when I answered your letter I forgot to tell you. Gabrel Wiley is dead, he died on Boston Mountain. He belonged to the southern army and Arch D. Smith is also dead, he died at home. Tell all of the old acquaintainces I would like to see them if I could, but it is impossible at the present and as I can't see them I would like for them to write to me. I like to hear from them all again. When you read this letter hand it to Uncle William Russell. I would rite him a letter but it is getting late and I have to march tomorrow. I will have to quit.
Dear Uncle,
It is with much pleasure that I write you these few lines in reply to yours bearing date March the 3rd which is at hand. I was glad to hear from you and truly glad to hear that you and family was well. You seem to want me to write a ____ well I am altogether unprepared to write much at the present as I have nothing new or strange. We have a large force close to Mobile and more going across. I believe they are fighting a little occasionally. My Regt. was left back at this place to load the supply train and as soon as that is done we will go also, though we may stay here a week or two and then we may have to go in a day or two. Health is good in my Regt. and we are seeing a fine time now as duty is light, none except Camp Guard once and a while. Well uncle you must excuse me for not writing no oftener and I will try to do better from this. You say that I ought to see my namesake, yes I would like to see him the best in the world. I would like to see all of you which I will I hope if we are permitted to live long. Give my best love to all the connection. I hope these lines will reach and find you well as they leave me. You say I don't receive all the letters you write, I have no idea if I do for I know you don't get all the letters I write to you. The weather is very warm in this part everything is green though it has been raining nearly ever since we've been at this place. Well uncle I think this rebellion is as you say about played out, I think it will play out before long. I think that I will not have to serve all my term of enlistment if our army proves successful which there is no doubt but they will. Well I will have to close by saying write soon and often.
I remain yours
Joseph Davis
To Wm. D. Russell
I wish you well.
