The Sinking Cane Massacre~Death of Lt. Robert S. “Robb” Davis and 5 Soldiers

 

Lieut: Robert S. Davis

BIRTH: 1838

DEATH: 15 Mar 1864

Overton County, Tennessee

BURIAL: Officer Cemetery

Overton County, Tennessee

A horrific event occurred in March 1864 in Overton County, Tennessee. Federal Troops consisting of about 200 men surprised a Lt and 6 Privates on a farm near Monterey, Tenn. One of the privates' was hidden in the loft before Federal Troops enters the house and killed the other 5 Privates. This act saved the life of Pvt. James H. Officer. Lt. Robert “Bob” Davis, of D Company 8th Texas Cavalry was wounded. Up until this point some would say that this incident was an “Act of War” but what happened next with Lt. Robert Davis is best told in the attached document.    

Document used Courtesy of Tim Burgess 

Lt. Robert S. Davis was born in 1838, a son of James C. Davis and his wife Rachel. He was the 6th of eight children born to this couple. He enlisted on 12 Sept 1861, elected 2nd Lt., 7 January 1862. The eyewitness statement of Pvt. John Holman Officer shows the killing taking place on 12 March 1864; but, the Civil War Records of Lt. Robert S. Davis shows he was Killed on 15 March 1864.  

Lt. Robert S. Davis is my 1st cousin 4X Removed

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[1] My thanks to Tim Burgess for granting permission to use the above document related to the incident detailed above. 

[2] Mercer Verner Tilson, The Tilson Genealogy: from Edmond Tilson at Plymouth, N. E., 1638 to 1911 (Plymouth, England: The Memorial Press, 1911), page 167.

[3] 1850 U. S. Census, Washington County, Tennessee, population schedule, Subdivision 4, Washington, Tennessee, Page: 193(Stamped); Line 35, Dwelling 1270, Family 1298, Household of James C. DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 16 February 2022); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 898.

[4] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 June 2022); Memorial page for Lt. Robert S. Davis; (1838–15 March 1864); Find a Grave memorial # 6842803, Citing Officer Cemetery; Overton County, Tennessee, USA.

[5] "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (https://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 2 June 2022), entry for LT. Robert S. Davis, 2nd Lt.; D Company 8th Texas Cavalry; Confederate.