Made up of companies from Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia; it fought primarily in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.

Davis Legion was organized as the 2d Battalion, Mississippi Cavalry, consisting of five companies on October 24, 1861, at Camp Cooper, Virginia.

In December 1861, Company F, from Georgia, was attached to the battalion by order of the Secretary of War, when Major William T. Martin was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

It fought in the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862; doing surveillance of Union movements and gaining knowledge of their dispositions.

On September 5, during the Maryland campaign, Wade Hampton's brigade crossed the Potomac in order to retake a battery captured by the Union.

The composition of the unit changed several times during the war and in March 1864 it was augmented into a full regiment of 10 companies.

Serving as part of the Army of Tennessee it fought in the Carolinas and surrendered with the rest of General Joseph E. Johnston's forces in April 1865.