Jefferson C. Davis pistol on display
at Battle of Richmond History Center

Union Brig. Gen. Jefferson Columbus Davis forever will be the subject of a favorite Civil War trivia question.

Who was the officer who shot and killed his commanding officer?

Davis, an Indiana native, was reprimanded in 1862 by Major Gen. William (Bull) Nelson for what was regarded as poor organization of a Kentucky militia defensive assignment. Davis was so incensed that he borrowed a pistol and shot and mortally wounded Nelson at a Louisville hotel.

The search for that borrowed pistol continues. But the Battle of Richmond History Center now has and is displaying the side arm that Davis carried during his years as a Civil War officer.

The pistol is a .44-caliber Colt percussion revolver with “Col. Jff. Davis” inscribed on the inner grip handle. The weapon was obtained by a Madison Countian at auction, who made it available to the Center at the purchase price. Through the Madison County Civil War Roundtable, $5,000 was raised to reimburse the donor and the pistol officially was donated to the Center Sept. 17.

Davis, who was a private in the Mexican War, was a first lieutenant at Ft. Sumter during the April 1861 bombardment. He became a colonel of the 22nd Indiana in August of ’61, at which time he is believed to have obtained the pistol. He commanded the 4th division of the Army of Mississippi at Corinth and Booneville a year later and was named a brigadier general in May 1862.

Following his shooting of Nelson, Davis was placed under arrest with charges pending. However, war events in Kentucky heated up before a trial could be scheduled. With no formal charges pending against Davis for the murder, the event nearly was forgotten. Later, after appeal for field command, Davis returned to combat duty.

Davis spent the latter half of the war touring through Georgia and was a participant in Major Gen. W.T. Sherman’s march from Atlanta to the Atlantic Ocean. Although talented enough for higher command, the stained brigadier never rose in rank. Although he bitterly resented never attaining the rank of major general for which he was recommended, Davis never regretted killing Nelson.