Black Jack Davidson, A Cavalry Commander On The Western Frontier, The Life Of General John W. Davidson

HOMER K DAVIDSON

Publication: The Arthur H Clark Company, 1974, Glendale

First edition. 8vo. Cloth, 273 pp., illustrations, folding map, career chronology, bibliography, index. A detailed account of John Wynn “Black Jack” Davidson’s extensive involvement in the Indian campaigns of the American West. His frontier military career included campaigns against the Pomo in California and the Jicarilla Apache in New Mexico, including the disastrous Battle of Cieneguilla of 1854, in which Davidson was wounded. Davidson commanded the 10th U.S. Cavalry, one of the Army’s African-American “Buffalo Soldier” regiments. He served with the regiment in Texas and Indian Territory and commanded six companies of the 10th Cavalry during the Red River War of 1874-75. Davidson led a large column from Fort Sill into the Texas Panhandle, conducting prolonged scouting, pursuit, and field operations against Kiowa, Comanche, and Cheyenne groups. The narrative describes the destruction of Indian camps, capture of prisoners and horses, difficult winter campaigning, and the Army's efforts to force Southern Plains Indians onto reservations. Also covers Davidson’s service at Fort Sill, Fort Griffin, Fort Richardson, Fort Elliott and other western posts. "Davidson was a contemporary of Custer, Miles, Crook, and the other well-known frontier military figures. Known as "Black Jack" because of his work with the black troops in the west, his activities were important and worthy of a biographical treatment. His service ranged from the conquest of California (with Kearny), the Indian wars in the southwest and northern Plains, and command of many frontier forts."---Clark/Brunet 57. A chapter is devoted to Davidson's active participation in the Apache campaigns. As New, in lightly rubbed dust jacket with some slight soiling.