The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1866-09-21
From the Mufreesboro AIonitOr.]
THE EXECUTION OF SAM. DAVIS,
An Anedged Rebel Spy.
WRITTEN BY HIS FRIEND.

J.
We think, some worthy friend of a fallen
cause to transmit to Posterity the principal
events of its actors as episodes in her ma
tons history. If we fail in this resort, our
worthy deeds, like other down-trodden
powers. will be engrossed in the record Of
triumphing party, and claimed by them
as among their wonderful feats.
Although we give little Importance to
the faVOring schemes of a partial writer,
and have but little faith in the authen-
ticity of partial history, yet there are
circumstances connected with the events of
a down-trodden country, which, when
rightly considered. force more reason than.
one would suppose, because Of a disposition
on the paEt of the victors to traduce and de-
fame the character of captives.
The subject of my story is Samuel Davis,
formerly a member of the 1st Tennessee
regiment, but more recently promoted to
the dangerous post Of secret scout, by rea-
son of display of remarkable GOODNESS and
bravery on the battlefield, and discretion
and prudence when in dangerous places
His conduct, from the time ofa his enlist
ment in the Confederate cause, was marked
by that noble and upright principle charac-
teristic of his previous life. fairly delinea-
ting the special qualities of the Southern
soldier, and developing the pride Of the
Southern heart.
In better days and fairer fortunes, when
boyhood's hours were spent in "creeping
like the snail'' unwillingly to school, or
sporting o'er the wild wood with gun and
dog" it was joyful delight to me to know
myself his warmest friend; and association
has enabled me better to appreciate the high
moral worth and excellent qualities that
ever distinguished one so young. Generous
and kind to all, open-hearted and free to
friends, brave and intrepid in battle-"none
knew him but to love him, none named him
but to praise
After the Federal defeat at Chickamauga
| our authorities believed that retrograde
/ step, on the part of Rosecranz to Nashville,
would be taken, and thought it would be
valuable. accession to the good of their
/ cause to be furnished with an outline Of the
commanding positions thereto and dia-
gram of the works thereat. Accordingly
Davis, the most reliable, ready and fearless
man, was selected for the mission-so ter
rible, SO trying,.s so bold.
Through field and wood, o'er hill and
dale, with slow and cautious step, he wend
ed his way on the outskirts of beaten army,
whose sad mishaps had caused such depres-
sion of spirits as to thoroughly disorganize
and oyerawe their ranks, which necessitated
him to extreme vigilance to prevent cap
ture. The tramp of the footmen, the sound
of horses, the rattling Of sabers, and all the
other deathly, dreadful sounds of an excit-
ed Imagination, broke upon his ear, until,
as precautionary step, he came to a care
ful halt preceding the approach of every
cross road, and anxiously gazed around for
the sight of blue coats.
At length half of his heavy task was
done. After lonely, long aud weary ride,
disturbed by anxious solcitude and annoy
ed by constant apprehension, the Brent
wood hills, near the city of Nashville, were
gained, and, as imagination pictured, he
stood upon "Pisgah and viewed the prom
sed land"
Here. composedly cloaking amid the
woodland shelter of a group of hills soon to
be made classic as noted spot, upon which
had been sealed, red with his blood, many
a soldiers doom, he began to devise and
plan deep laid schemes accessory to the ac-
complishment Of the important mission.
III IL. e 3
being, whose awful responsibilities are
fraught with such pregnant importance that
we are apt 10 shut our eyes for a time
against true probity, and institute schemes
by craft and cunning for efecting ouF own
good.
In lonely solitude Davis sat conf juring uF
expedients Of resort for obtaining the da
gram, and devising ways and means to ere
ate less suspicion and excite less remark II
the prosecution of the great work
What access he had to the city of Nash
Vile it is not well TO state, further than tha
he succeeded, through the fundamentally
of friends, in procuring the diagram, and il
having it placed as a precautionary step II
the padding Of his saddle.
Information now reached him that Sher-
man was marching from Mississippi to the
support of Rosecranz at Chattanooga, and
that without hasty retreat on his part, be
(Sherman) would cross his path, hem him
in, and render his capture certain.
This sad news, alasl came too late, and
instead Of being beneficial, as was intended
acted as a foreruhuer to the dreadful truth
of the chase near Pulaski, Tennessee, and
his ultimate capture. 4 short time there
after, when the threats and abjuratioDs of &
brutal foe had ceased, the search Of his per
son was ordered, after the execution o
! which, bis baggaged also, aud being not
81 ratisfad the EedaraI nantain nnlnoaer