Very bright and clear CDV of West Point graduate Francis A. Davies as a Captain in the 16^th US Infantry. Davies is posed next to a draped column with one hand resting on the column and the other on the hilt of his saber. He wears a dark frock coat with Captains shoulder straps and matching dark trousers. His sash is wrapped around his waist and passes over his right shoulder and across his chest signifying him as acting Officer Of The Day. Also at his waist is his sword belt with rectangular eagle belt plate. Attached to the belt is a Model 1860 Light Cavalry saber.

Image has good contrast with light surface dirt and a thin ink stain off to one side. The bottom of the mount is inscribed in strong period ink “FRANK DAVIES, CAPT. 16^TH U.S. INFANTRY.”

Reverse has collector information in pencil. There is no photographer’s back mark.

Francis Asbury Davies was born in Pennsylvania. He was an 1856 graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point graduating in 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was a 2^nd Lieutenant in the 2^nd US Light Artillery until May 17^th when he was promoted to 1^st Lieutenant. He served as Acting Aide-de‑Camp to Colonel Cameron, commanding 79th New York Volunteers, June‑July, 1861 and in the Defenses of Washington, D. C. He was present for the Manassas Campaign in July of 1861 and was engaged in the action of Blackburn's Ford, July 18, 1861, and Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. He was discharged for promotion September 27, 1861 and was commissioned Captain in the 16^th US Infantry. The record is not clear but it seems Davies ended up commanding a company in the 3^rd US Infantry in the Virginia Peninsula Campaign with the Army of the Potomac. He was engaged in the Siege of Yorktown, April 5 to May 4, 1862 and the Seven Days battles before Richmond, June 25 to July 1, 1862. He took part in the battle of 2^nd Manassas, August 29‑30, 1862 for which he received a brevet promotion to Major for gallant and meritorious service. He was also present at Antietam September 17, 1862.

After Antietam Davies was sent to be an instructor at West Point. While there it was his honor to direct the funeral of his former classmate, Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing after he was killed at Gettysburg. Davies remained at West Point until July of 1867. He resigned from the army on November 21, 1868 and went into the insurance business. He died in Philadelphia on January 22, 1889 and was buried there in Laurel Hill Cemetery.  [ad]

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