Sergeant Martin K. Davis was born on March 12, 1843, in Marion, Williamson County, Illinois. According to some records he was orphaned at an early age, which might explain his enlistment at age 19. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 and became part of the 116th Illinois Infantry. Sergeant Davis is the second Medal of Honor recipient from the Battle of Vicksburg we have found that died and was buried in Georgia.
Although listed as an invalid, he became a plasterer. He married Sarah Elizabeth Turner on August 28, 1867. Together, they had nine children, seven of whom were still living by 1900.
By June 5, 1900, Martin had relocated his family to the Cornelia area of Habersham County, Georgia, where he worked as a plasterer. That year’s census recorded his birthdate as March 12, 1843 in Illinois, while Sarah’s was listed as December 30, 1852, also in Illinois. The children still living in the household were Clara, an artist born in November 1868; Bell, a seamstress born in July 1876; Jesse, a student born in September 1887; and Winnie, another student born in July 1890. All of the children were born in Illinois.
By January 1920, the family had settled in the Demorest area of Habersham County, residing on a farm. Martin reported having no occupation at that time, and Clara and Jesse remained single and part of the household. The 1930 census of the Clarkesville, Georgia area showed that 87-year-old Martin K. Davis was a widower living on Lake Burton Road. His son, Jesse, still lived with him and worked as a plasterer as Martin had earlier.
He died on December 14, 1936, in Demorest, Habersham County, Georgia. In 1936 he would have been 93 years old. He is buried in the Demorest Memorial Cemetery.
In modern vernacular his official citation might have read:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Martin K. Davis, United States Army, for gallantry in the charge of the volunteer storming party on 22 May 1863, while serving with Company H, 116th Illinois Infantry, in action at Vicksburg, Mississippi.
His Medal of Honor event related to storming Confederate works on May 22, 1863, during the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The mission was made up of only single men because it was considered a “forlorn hope” mission.
The assault began at dawn, signaled by the thunderous roar of a naval bombardment. Union soldiers were immediately met with a hail of enemy fire, forcing them to take cover in the ditch they aimed to cross. Despite numerous efforts by the main Union forces, the soldiers on the forlorn hope mission remained pinned down, unable to retreat until nightfall. Of the hundred brave men in the assault party, nearly half perished. Seventy-nine of the survivors would be awarded the Medal of Honor for their valor.
His Medal of Honor was awarded on July 26, 1894, and is attributed to Mount Pleasant, Doddridge County, West Virginia. He was mustered out of the Army in June, 1865.
Shown here is the medal Sergeant Davis earned during his career.
Medal of Honor
Sergeant Davis is buried in Demorest, Georgia, in the Demorest Memorial Cemetery. His tombstone and official military grave marker note his Medal of Honor status.
