Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-11
SAM DAVIs's HEROIC END.
Death Rather Than the Betrayal of
Friend.
(Courier-Journal.)

(Courer-J ournal)
The bust of Sam Davis. the Confederate
hero who met death on the scaffod at
Pulaski. Tenn. TO save the life Of a
comrade, is one Of the best pieces Of
sculpture in the Nashville Parthenon. 1t
is the work Of George Julian Zolnay, is
heroic I'm size. noble In conception, and
absolutely true TO the original. Joshua
Brown, now of New York city, who be
longed TO the Second Kentucky Cavalry
of the Confederate army, and was fell
low scout with Samuel Davis. tells the
thrilling and awful story Of his fate IN
an article in the Veteran:
General Bragg had sent us, few men
who knew the country. into Middle Ten
nessee 10 get all the information posi-
Bile concerning the movements of the
Federal army. to find out IL It was NOV
ing from Nashville and Corinth TO re-
inforce Chattanooga. We were TO re-
port to Colonel Shaw or Captain Cole
man, who commanded Coleman's scouts.
We were to go south to Decatur, and
send our reports by courier line to
General Bragg at Missionary Ridge.
When we received our orders we We're
told that the duty was very dangerous,
and that they did not expect but few of
us TO return; that we would probably
be captured or killed. and We were eau
toned against exposing ourselves I'M
necessarily.
After we had been in Tennessee about
ten days we watched the Sixteenth Army
Corps, commanded by General Dodge,
move up from Corinth TO Pulaski We
agreed that we would leave for the south
on Friday the 18th Of November. 1893. A
number had been captured and several
killed. We were 20 start that night each
man for himself; each Of US bad his own
information. but did not write il down
or make any memorandum OF II. for fear
of being captured. I had counted almost
every regiment and all the artillery in
the Sixteenth Corps and found out that
they were moving on Chattanooga. Late
in the afternoon we started out and ran
into the Seventh Kansas Cavalry. known
as the kansas Jayhawllers." and when
we were told that regiment had captured
us we thought our time had come. We
were taken TO Pulaski, about fifteen miles
away. and put into jail. where several
other prisoners had been sent. and
among whom was sam Davis. | talked
win MIN over our prospects Of imprison-
ment ana escape, which were very
gloomy. Davis said they had searched
him that day and found some paners
upon him. and that he had been taken 10
General Dodge's headquarters. They also
had found i'm his saddle seat mans and
descriptions Of the Notifications at Nash
Vile and other points. and an exact re-
port Of the Federal army I'm Tennessee
They found in HIS boot a letter with
other papers, which was intended for
General Bragg.
Davis was taken TO General Dodce's
headquarters, and this IS what took nlaco
between them, which General Dodge told
me recently:
Il took him TO my private Office" said
General Dodge. land 7 told him II was
very serious charge brought against
MN; That he was spy. and from what
round upon his person he had accurate
information in regard 10 my army and
l must know whore he obtained il. told
him he was a young man. and did NOT
seem TO realize the danger he was in. In
to that time he said nothing. but then no
replied in most respectful and dignifed
manner:
General Dodge know the danger Of
my situation and am willing to take the
consequences
Il asked him then to give the name OF
the person from whom he got the infor-
nation; that knew It must be some one
near headquarters who had given him tbe
plans of the Federal army He renlieh:
I know that l will have to die but
] will not tell where | got the informa-
tion. and there IS no power on earth that
can make me tell. You are doing your
duty as n soldier, and am doing mine.
II / have 10 die. do so feeling that I
am doing my duty to God and my coun-
try
81 pleaded with and urged him with all
the power 7 possessed to give me some
chance to save his life. for l discovered
that he was most admirable young
fellow. with the highest character and
strictest integrity. He then said 1T
is useless 10 talk TO me- / do not intend
TO do 1t. You can court martial me. but
I will not betray the trust reposed In me-
''He thanked me for the interest I had
taken in him. and / sent him back TO
prison. l Immediately called a court
martial to try him.
The night before he was hanged he
wrote the following letter to his mother |
and father:
pulaski, Giles county. Tenn.
November 26. 1868.
Dear Mother.-Oh how painful 1t is to |
write 10 you'll ] have got to die to- |
morrow morning-to be hanged by the \
Federals. Mother. do not grieve for me. |
must bid you good-by forevermore. |
Mother, / do not fear to die Give my |
owe 10 all. Your son.
SAMUEL DAVIS.
Mother, tell the children all to be good.
wish / could see you all once more, but
never Will any more. Mother and |
ather, do not forget me. Think OF me
when am dead but do not grieve for
ne. 1t will not do any good. Father.
'ou can send after my remains II you
want TO DO so. They Will be at Pulaski,
Tenn. i will leave some things, too.
With the hotel keeper for you. Pulaski
5 in Giles county. Tenn, south OF Co
umba. .. ~.
After his sentence. he was put into
ell In the jail and we did not see any
hing OF him until Thursday morning the
lay before the execution. We were or
erred 10 get ready. as we were going 10
70 removed TO the courthouse on the
ublic square about 100 feet from the jan.
- -. ....s A.,IruFaI md WAS BrOuXlt |