Mexican War and Senate

(1846-52)

Brackets indicate dates and entries that follow logically from information in primary sources but are not explicitly stated.

1846

May 11

Votes in favor of bill declaring that a state of war exists between the United States and Mexico

May 12

Writes statement concerning the Oregon Territory

June 18

Elected colonel of the 1st Mississippi Regiment

July 4

Leaves Washington

July 18

Assumes command in New Orleans

July 26

Sails from New Orleans

August-September

Regiment moves into Mexico

September 21-23

Commands regiment in Battle of Monterrey (see Zachary Taylor's official reports of the 22d, 23d, and 25th)

September 24-25

Helps negotiate capitulation of Monterrey (battle and surrender are described in Davis' letter to Joseph E. Davis, Sept. 25, 1846)

October 18

Brother forwards Davis' letter of resignation from Congress

October [19 or 20]

Leaves for U.S. on sixty-day furlough

November 10

Speaks at Vicksburg

December [25]

Meets Zachary Taylor near Montemorelos; proceeds with him to Victoria

1847

January 4

Rejoins 1st Mississippi in Victoria

February 23

Wounded while leading the 1st Mississippi in the Battle of Buena Vista (see also Zachary Taylor's report, in which Davis and the regiment are praised)

March [25 or 26]

Leaves Saltillo, where he had been recuperating, for Monterrey, arriving on the 27th

May 17

Appointed brigadier general

May-June

Briefly rejoins regiment before leaving for U.S.

June 6

Arrives at New Orleans

June [16]

Returns to Brierfield

June 20

Declines appointment as brigadier general

August 10

Appointed interim United States senator by Governor Albert G. Brown

September 19

Writes Charles J. Searles on the political situation in the nation

November 11

Leaves Davis Bend for Washington

December 6

Takes seat in Senate

1848

January 11

Elected U.S. senator by Mississippi legislature

August-November

Visits Kentucky, Mississippi, and Louisiana between sessions; tends to Brierfield business

December 4

Present for opening of second session of Congress

1849

Serves in Senate; visits Mississippi between sessions (see Davis' letter to John J. Crittenden, Jan. 30, and his Speech at Jackson, May 7, for his general views at the time)

1850

January 29

Speaks against Henry Clay's compromise resolutions on the day they are presented (will speak often against them in 1850-51)

February 12

Reelected to Senate; speaks on extension of slavery into the territories

[cFebruary 15]

Meets with Narciso López; declines command of Cuban expeditionary force; recommends Robert E. Lee

April

Appointed to Senate committee that accompanies the body of John C. Calhoun to South Carolina

July 9, 13

Present at death of Zachary Taylor; seated with family at funeral

August 13

Votes against admission of California

August 23

Votes for fugitive slave bill

September 16

Votes against bill to abolish slave trade in the District of Columbia

September 30

Congress adjourns

October-November

Speaks in central Mississippi (see his letter to Lowndes County citizens, Nov. 22); tends to Brierfield business

December 5

Takes seat in Senate

1851

September 17

Accepts nomination as gubernatorial candidate

September 23

Resigns as senator

November 3-4

Narrowly defeated by Henry S. Foote in election

1852

July 30

Son Samuel Emory Davis born