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Citation:  [Identification of Item], James Davis Papers,  MC012,  San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston, Texas.

Creator Sketch:

Born in Virginia in 1790, James Davis moved to Texas in 1834 after serving as a major general in the Alabama Militia and as the United States consul at Santa Fe.  He joined General Sam Houston’s staff in 1836 and was asked by Houston in 1842 to help prevent attacks against the Alabama and Coushatta Indians in April of that year.  Along with Captain Ewen Cameron, Davis led the Army of the Republic of Texas to victory at the battle of Lipantitlán on July 7, 1842. 

Davis actively participated in Texas and national politics (1843 – 1853) while representing East Texas in the legislature during the Republic and after annexation.  Davis died on February 10, 1859 in Liberty County.

Bibliography:

“DAVIS, JAMES.”  The Handbook of Texas Online.  http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/DD/fda39.html

Other archival resources:

James Davis Collection, Sam Houston Regional Library, Liberty, Texas.

Scope and Content Note:

This small collection comprised of 3 letters received by James Davis deals with Sam Houston’s relationship with Davis (1842) and the annexation of Texas by the United States (1845).

Two letters written by Houston in 1842 document his reliance on Davis to assist him in carrying out his plans whether dealing with a mutinous army in Galveston or the replacement of Colonel Daingerfield in New Orleans.  A letter written on April 15, 1845 by A. J. Donelson, chargé d'affaires of the United States to the Republic of Texas, soon after presenting President Anson Jones with the terms of annexation, records Donelson’s views of annexation.

JAMES DAVIS PAPERS, 1842 - 1845

Manuscript Collection:  MC012

Size:  6 items

Boxes:  n/a

Inventory

     Series:  Correspondence