William Davis Thesis

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The American Revolutionary War has been well documented by historians, especially the lives and feats of well-known patriots like George Washington and Paul Revere. However, an under researched topic is the study of the average soldiers who fought the battles and lived through the Revolution. This is an analytical biography of one of those soldiers, twenty eight- year old William Davis. William Davis enlisted in the Virginian militia “previous to the landing of British Gen. Thomas Gage at Boston.” He served for eighteen months in the Company of Capt. Maddison in the 9th Va. Regiment, Commanded by Col. Davis. During this eighteen month service he fought at the battle of Bunker Hill in June of 1775. After his militia conscription ended in 1776, he enlisted into the Continental army at Chesterfield Courthouse, VA in 1777. His Continental service was relatively uneventful. He mentions that his regiment (unstated) marched to Petersburg where they remained for three years until he was discharged at Winchester, VA in …show more content…
William Davis is a unique solider to analyze because he not only served in both the Continental Army and militia, but he was also an eyewitness and participant to several key events during the Revolution. He expierenced the rage militaire that swept the colonies after the battles of Lexington and Concord. He fought at the historic battle of Bunker Hill, and also took part in the siege of Yorktown; the decisive victory that would force the British to surrender. William Davis fought in two hugely critical and symbolic battles in the war, a deed not many ordinary soldiers can claim. This biography will follow William Davis through his war time service and analyze relevant topics including troop mobilization in Virginia, the battle of Bunker Hill, and finally the siege of

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