Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-11

gave him piece OF meat that had been
cooking. and he. being handcuffed. wss
compelled 10 eat II with both hands. lie
thanked me. and we all babe him good
By, and were sent 10 the courthouse
and the guard was doubled.
The next morning. Friday, November
9th, at 10 O'Clock, we heard the drums
and regiment OF infantry marching
down TO the jail. and a wagon with
coffin In II was driven up. and the pro-
vost marshal went into the jail and
brought Davis out. He got Into the
wagon and stood up ans looked around
at the court-housc and seeing us at the
windows. bowed 10 Us his last farewell.
He was dressed in a dark brown over
coat with n cape to II, which had been
a blue Federal coat, such as many Of us
had captured and then dyed brown. 1
note this because II has been stated that
he was dressed IN citizens clothes. / do
not remember exactly, but think he had
on a gray Jacket underneath. He then
sat down upon HIS coffin. and the regi-
ment moved of 10 the suburbs or the
town, where the gallows WAS built.
Upon reaching the gallows. he got out
of the wagon and took his seat on
bench under a tree. He asked Cap-.in
Armstrong how long he had TO live. He
replied Fifteen minutes" lie then asked
Captain Armstrong the news. He told
him OF the battle OF Missionary Ridge
and that our army had been defeated. Re
expressed much regret and said:
THE boys will have to fight without
me-"
Armstrong said: ~ regret very much
having to do this; j feel that / would
almost rather die myself than to DO
what | have to do" Davis replied:
81 DO not think hard Of you; you are
doing your duty"
General Dodge still had hopes that Davis
would recant when he saw that death
was staring him in the face, and that
he would reveal ne name Of the traitor
In his camp. He sent Captain Chicka-
saw, OF his STAFF. TO Davis. He rapidly
approached the scaffold jumped from
his horse, and went directly TO
Davis and asked If It would not be
better for him to speak the naTc CT
the one from whom he had received tie
contents OF the document found upon
him. adding: ct is not 10 late yet"
And then in his last extremity, Davis
turned upon him and said:
IF I had q thousand lives. / would
lose them all here before ! would he
tray my friends or the con1ien,e of my
informer."
He then requested him 10 thank
General Dodge for his efforts to save
him. but to repeat that he could not
accept the terms. Turning to the chap
lain. he gave nm few keepsakrs 10
send to his mother. lie then saii TO
the provost marshal. 81 am ready"
ascended the scaffold and stepped upon
the trap.
Thus passed away one OF tho subli-
NEST and noblest characters known IN
history. and in future ages his act viii
be pointed TO as worthy OF emulation.
The bust in the Parthenon. ~ the
sculptor George Julian Zolnay is
heroic figure, and one Of the most adj
Inred works Of art in the building. Mr..
Zonay has given the work a nobeness.
a frmness. that. while 1t appeals to the
masses on account Of its strength, also
has a softness that impresses every
visitor. II Is one of Mr.. Zolnays best
productions.
A number Of leading Confederates are
now raising a fund TO erect monument
over the spot where he was executed.
a large amount has already been con-
tributed for the purpose.