Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-08-17

he wrote the following letter to his
II other and father:
Pulaski. GIDEs Co.. TENK-
November 26fb- IS6S-


November. 26,h. 1863.
DEAR MoTHER-Oh. how painful it is to
write to you! l hare got to die tomorrow
morning-bc hanged by the Federals. Mother,
bye for cvermorc. Mother. DO not fear to
die. Give my love TO all. Your son.
SAMUEL DAVIS.
Mother, tell the children all to be good
wish I could see You all once more, but 1
never will any more Mother and father do
not forget me. Think of me when aui dead,
but do not grieve for me. II will not do any
good, Father, You can send after my remains
Tenn. will leave some things. too. with the
hotel keeper for You. Pulaski is in Giles Co,
Tennessee, south of Columbia. s. D.
After his sentence he was put into
cell in the Jail and we did not see
anything of him untilThursday morn
ing, the day before the execution
We were ordered to get ready, as we
we're going to be removed to the
court-house on the public square,
about 100 yards from the Jail. Davis
was handcuffed, and was brought in
just as we were eating breakfast. /
gave him piece of meat that 1 had
been cooking, and he, being hand
cuffed, had 10 cat it with both hands.
nc lu1uhGd shld We al
goodbye, and were sent to the court
house and the guard was doubled.
The next morning, Friday, Nov.
27th, at 10 O'Clock. we heard the
drums and a regiment of infantry
marching down to the Jail, and n
wagon with q coffin in it was driven
up, and the provost marshal went
into the Jail and brought Davis out.
He got into the wagon and stood up,
looked around at the courthouse,
and seeing us-at the windows, bowed
to US his last farewell. He was
dressed in a dark brown overcoat
with cape TO it. which ha6 been
blue Federal coat, such as many of
us had captured and then dyed
brown. / note this because it has
been stated that he was dressed in
citizens clothes. I do not remember
exactly, but think he had on gray
jacket underneath. He then sat
down upon his coffin. and the regi-
ment moved off to the suburbs of the
town, where the gallows was built.
Upon reaching the gallows, he got
out of wagon and took seat under
a tree. He asked Captain Armstrong
how long he had to live. Hereplied:
Fifteen minutes" He then asked
Captain Armstrong the news. He told
him of the battle of MissionaryRidge,
and that our army had been defeated
He expressed much regret and said /:
T" The boys will have to fight with
out me-
Armstrong said: 81 regret very
much having to do this; l feel that
L would almost rather die myself
than to do what / have to do" Da-
Wis replied:
I" L do not think hard of you; you
are doing your duty"
General Dodge still had hopes that
Davis would recaut when he saw
death staring him in the face, and
that he would reveal the name of the
traitor in his camp. He sent Captain
Chickasaw to Davis. He rapidly |
the scaffold, jumped |
from his horse and went TO Davis and
asked if it would not be better for
him to speak the name of the one
from whom he had received the con-
tents of the document found upon
him, adding ''Iti is not too late yet.
Then, in his last extremity, Davis |
turned upon him and said: e
- If l had n thousand lives, |
would lose them all here before 1
would betray my friends or the con-
fidence of my informer." aa5
He then requested them to thank
General Dodge for his efforts to save
him but to repeat that he could not
accept the terms. Turning to the
chaplain he gave him few keepsakes
to send TO his mother. He then said
to the provost marshol, al am
ready" asce1ded the scaffold and
stepped upon the trap.
Thus passed away one of the sub
limest and noblest characters known
in history, and in future ages his act
will be pointed to as worthy Of emu
lation. 7sf5 a f.s
Was Soon Feeling Better.