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James L. Davis, Private, Company E, 18th Regiment Missouri Infantry, drafted for one year, and mustered in at St. Louis, Mo. December 27, 1864, on detached service with 17th Army Corps. January 1, 1865, remaining so through February, sick in hospital at Raleigh, N. C. April 16, 1865, admitted to Mt. Pleasant Hospital, Washington, D. C., May 29, 1865, Chronic Rheumatism, mustered out June 6, 1865 at Washington, D. C., discharged from hospital, June 10, 1865,
description on enlistment, single, 25 year old Farmer, born in Jefferson County, Mo., hazel eyes, brown hair, dark complexion, 5’ 6”, drafted in 8th Sub. District, 2nd District, Mo.

M405: Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Missouri.

………….

Eighteenth Infantry
MISSOURI
(3-YEARS)

Eighteenth Infantry. -- Cols., Madison Miller,. Charles S.
Sheldon; Lieut.- Cols., I. V. Pratt, C. S. Sheldon, W. H.
Minter, W. M. Edgar.

In his report for 1863 the adjutant-general of Missouri says:
"This regiment was formed in Aug., 1861, and has taken part in
many of the most important engagements of the war in the West.
The want of regimental reports prevents this office from
giving that complete statement of its doings that is desired.

It has lost largely in officers and men, especially at the
battle of Shiloh, but has been steadily recruited, and now has
a good aggregate for a regiment that has been so depleted."

During the first two months of 1864 it was mounted and
employed in scouting the country about Florence, Ala. It then
joined the army of Gen. Sherman, where it was assigned to the
17th corps, and began the advance upon Atlanta, taking part in
the engagements at Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, Kingston, Dallas,
Big Shanty, Kennesaw Mountain, along the Chattahoochee River
in front of Atlanta and at Jonesboro.

When Gen. Hood evacuated Atlanta and started north this
regiment was one of those in pursuit, drove the rear-guard of
the enemy through Snake Creek gap and skirmished with him at
various other points. It then rejoined the main body of the
army and was in the famous march to the sea, participating in
all the engagements in which the 17th corps was brought into
action.

In the early part of 1865 the regiment marched with Sherman
across the Carolinas. It was the 18th Mo. that forced the
crossing of Whippy's swamp and the Pedee River at Cheraw; was
present at the capture of Columbia and Fayetteville, S. C.;
fought with its customary valor in the battle of Bentonville,
N. C., and was present when Gen. Johnston surrendered to
Sherman at Goldsboro.

It then moved to Washington, D. C. where it took part in the
grand review in May, after which it went by rail and river via
Louisville, Ky., to St. Louis, where it was mustered out on
July 18, 1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 263