Everything about Joseph Hamilton Daviess totally explained
Major
Joseph Hamilton Daveiss (
March 4,
1774–
November 6,
1811), commanded the
Dragoons of the
Indiana Militia at the
Battle of Tippecanoe. Although the correct spelling of his name appears to be "Daveiss", it's uniformly spelled "Daviess" in places named for him.
Daveiss was born on
March 4,
1774, in
Bedford County, Virginia. He moved at a young age with his parents to Kentucky, eventually setlling near
Danville, Kentucky. Admitted to the Kentucky bar in
1795, he appeared in court dressed as a backwoodsman. He served as a second in a duel in
1799, and was for a time a fugitive. Daveiss eventually defended his principal in court, and achieved an acquittal.
Daveiss is said to have been the first lawyer west of the Appalacian Mountains to argue a case before the
United States Supreme Court. He married Chief Justice
John Marshall's sister, and returned to Kentucky.
Daveiss served as
United States District Attorney for Kentucky. He has been described as a "Kentucky
Federalist". In February and March,
1806, he wrote President
Thomas Jefferson several letters warning him of possible conspiratorial activities by
Aaron Burr. Daveiss's
July 14 letter to Jefferson stated flatly that Burr planned to provoke a rebellion in Spanish-held parts of the West in order to join them to areas in the Southwest to form an independent nation under his rule. Similar accusations were appearing against local Republicans in a
Frankfort, Kentucky newspaper,
Western World, and Jefferson dismissed Daveiss's accusations against Burr, a Republican, as politically motivated.
In
1806, Daveiss brought treason charges against Burr in Kentucky. The charges were, however, dismissed thanks to the help of Burr's attorney,
Henry Clay.
In
1811, Daveiss volunteered to serve in the Indiana militia, answering Governor
Harrison's call for troops to march against
Tecumseh's village at
Prophetstown. He was placed in command of two companies of dragoons, and all the cavalry in Harrison's army.
On the night of
November 6,
1811, Harrison's army made camp near
Prophetstown. Major Daveiss' dragoons occupied a position in the rear of the left flank. The dragoons were instructed to fight dismounted, with pistols, as a reserve in the event of a night attack. When the Indians attacked, Major Daveiss advanced toward the heaviest fire with a small detachment. He was driven back, and mortally wounded in the process. He died soon after.
At the time of the Battle of Tippecanoe, Daveiss was serving as the eighth
Grand Master of
Masons of the
Grand Lodge of
Kentucky. He was a member of
Lexington Lodge #1.
Places named after Daveiss
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