Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-21
Execution of Rebel sry'' at Pulaski, Tenn.

a Rebel Spy Pulaski, Tenn.
We take the following account of the execution of
an alleged Confederate spy from the Pulaski Chanti
ceer," OF December lst paper edited by q. w. Hill
dreh and devoted to the interest OF the left wing OF
the Sixteenth (Yankee) Army Corps:
Last Friday the citizens and soldiers of Pulaski wit
messed of those painful executions OF stern justice
which makes the so terrible and thoug sanction
ed by the usages of war, ls no more than In the
service of their country themselves to every day
Samuel Davis of General Coemans scouts, having
been found within the Federal lines with dispatches
aud mails destined for the enemy, was tried on the
charge Of being spy; and being found guilty, was
condemned to be hung between the hours of 10 O'clock
A NJ, and o'clock, P. M, on Friday, November 81
1868. The prisoner apprised of his sentence by
Captain Armstrong, local Provost Marshal, and though
somewhat surprised at the sentence OF DEATH did
manifest any outward signs of agitation.
Captain Young of the 8lst OHIO infantry visited the
prisoner and administered spiritual consolation. The
prisoner expressed himself resigned to his fate end per
fectly prepared to die He exhibited frmness unusual
for of his age, and to the last showed lively inter
in the of the day, expressing regret when too
of the defeat of Gen. Bragg.
The ecaffold Or the execution of the prisoner was
built upon the ridge east of town. the seminary,
position which could be seen from any part y the town
at precisely 10 o'clock, A. NJ, the prisoner was
taken from his CELL his hands tied behind him. and &C
companied by the chaplain of the 8lst Ohio, WAS
placed in wagon seated upon his cofn and conveyed
to the scaffJld. Provost Marshal Armstrong con.
Quoted the proceedings AT precise five mnutts past
20 o'clock the wagon containing the prisoner and the
guards entered the hollow square, in the centre OF
which was the scafold The prisoner then stepped
from the wagon and seated himself upon bench at the
foot of the scaOld He displayed great rmness, glau-
cling casually at the cCfin as it was taken from the
wagon. Turning to Captain Armstrong, he inquired
how long be had live, and told that he had ust
fifteen minutes he then remarked, we would have to
fight the rest OF our battles alone"
Capt. Armstrong am sorry to be compelled to
perform this painful duty"
T'risoEer-with smile" 1t does not hurt me, Cap
tain l am innocent, though prepared to die and
do not think hard Of it,"
Captain Chickasaw then asked the prisoner if il
would not have baen better for him to have accepted
the offer of e upon the disclosure of facts in his pos
session when the prisoner answered, with much In
dignation:
Do you suppose I would betray friend 2 No
sir | would die thoussri times frst!'
He was then questioned upon other matters, but re
fused to give any information which could be service
The prisoner then mounted the scafold accompanied
by the chaplain, James Young, whom he requested Il
pray with him at his execution. The prisoner theI
stepped upon the trap the rope was adjusted abou
his neck and the cap drawn over his head. In a mo
ment the trap sprung, and the prisoner fell sus
pended in the air. For a few moments ne struggled
with his hands and feet this succeeded by
slight quverng of the body which ceased at three anC
O halt minutes from the time he fell. After being
suspended seventeen and half minutes tn
officiating surgeon ID. w. Voyles 66th Indana) pro
nounced the prisoner dead, and he cut down AT
placed in his coffin. Il was supposed~fron the pro
tracted animation which the prisoner exhibited, tha
the fsl had not broken his neck and that ne died b
strangulation but, upon subsequent examination, hi
neck was found to be entirely broken.
So fell one whom the fate of war cut down in earl
south, and who exhibited traits of character which
under other circumstances, might have made him
valuable friend and member of society.