Confederatevets.com

Ludwell Rector Davis died at his home, near San Augustine, Tex., on October 28, 1915. He was born August 10, 1838, the son of Elias Kinchloe Davis, a native of Kentucky, who was an early settler of Eastern Texas and helped to capture the old stone fort at Nacogdoches from the Mexicans. In 1836, when a boy of about eight years of age, Ludwell Davos participated in the famous escape from the Mexicans, rendering valuable assistance in caring for the women and children when they crossed the Texas border into Louisiana. He lived and died on the farm on which he was born. In 1852 he went to California and spent seven years as a gold miner. Returning to his home a short time before the War between the States broke out, he was one of the first to enlist in April, 1861, for the Confederate service. His command was Granbury's Brigade, Cleburne's Division, Hardee's Corps, serving under Generals Johnston and Hood, and he took part in many campaigns through Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia. In the battle of Franklin, Tenn., he received seven wounds and carried a Minie ball for a long time as a memento of that battle. He was taken off the field as a prisoner and sent to Camp Chase, later sent to Point Lookout, Md., where he was discharged some time after the war.

Beginning life anew, he returned to the old place west of San Augustine and was a farmer and planter for the rest of his life. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Polk, daughter of the laste Judge Alfred Polk, who settled in San Augustine County in 1836 and was a descendant from the same original stock of President James K. Polk. Of their nine children, eight survive him, five sons and three daughters. Very early in life he became a Christian and lived that life consistently.