The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-04

nothing, but then he replied In the most
respectful and diGuined manner:
" Con Dodge, / know the danger of my
situation, ana l am willing to take the
consequences.
Il asked him then to give me the name
OF he person from whom he got the infor-
nation; chat ! knew it must be some one
near headquarters who had given him
the plans of che federal army. lie replied
know that ] Will have to die, but !
will not tell where | got the Information,
and there Is no power on earth that can
make me tell. You are doing your duty a.
a soldier. and / am doing mine II J have
to die, ! do so feeling that l am doing my
duty TO God and my country.
II pleaded with and urged him with al,
power possessed to give me some
chance to save his life, for l discovered
that he was a most admirable young fell
low, with the highest character and strict
est integrity. He then said: II is useless 20
talk to me. 1 do not intend to do 1t. You
can court-martial me. or do anything else
you like, but l will not betray the trust
imposed in one
HE thanked me for the interest had
taken in him. and l sent him back to
prison. Immediately called a court-mar-
tial to try him"
The night before he was hanged he
wrote the following letter to his mother
and father:
Pulaski, Giles County, Tennessee, Nov.
26, 1s63.--Dear Mother: Oh how painful it
is to write you! l have got to die to-
morrow morning-to be hanged by the fed
erals. Mother, do not grieve for me. /
must bid you good-by forevermore. Moth
err do not fear to die Give my love to
all, Your son, Samuel Davis.
Mother, tell the children al to be good.
I wish / could see you all once more. but
II
ther, do not forget me- Think of me
when l am dead, but do not grieve for me.
II will not do any good. Father, you can
send after my remains If you want to do
so. They will be at Pulaski. Tenn. l will
leave some things, too, with the hotel
keeper for you. Pulaski Is In Giles county,
Tennessee, south of Columbia. s. D."
After his sentence he was put into a cell
in the Jail and we did not see anything OF
him until Thursday morning, the day be-
fore the execution. We were ordered to
get ready, as we were going to be removed
to the court house on the public square
about 100 feet from the Sail. Davis was
handcuffed ana was brought In Just as We
were eating breakfast. l gave him a piece
of meat that had been cooking. and he
being handcuffed was compelled to eat II
with both hands. He thanked me and we
all babe him good-by, and were sent to the
court house and the guard was doubled
around the jail.
The next morning, Friday Nov. a. at Il
O'Clock. we heard the drums, and a regl-
ment of infantry marching down 20 the
jail, and wagon with a coffin In II was
driven up, and the provost marshal went
into the jail and brought Davis out. He
got Into the wagon and stood up and
looked around at the courthouse, and, see
ing us at the windows, bowed to us his last
farewell. He was dressed in a dark brown
overcoat with a cape to II, which had
been a blue federal coat such as many Of
us had captured and then dyed brown. |
note this because II has been stated that
he was dressed In citizens clothes do not
remember exactly, but / think he had on
gray Jacket underneath. He then sat
down upon his coffin. and the regiment
moved off to the suburbs Of the town,
where the gallows was built.
Upon reaching the gallows he got out of
the wagon and took his seat on a bench
under a tree He asked Capt Armstrong
how long he had TO live. He replied, Eff
teen minutes" He then asked Capt. Arm
strong the news. He told him Of the battle
Of Missionary Ridge, and that our army
had been defeated. He expressed much re-
greet, and said:
The boys will have to fight the battles
without me-"
Armstrong said: II regret very much
having to do this feel that l would al
most rather die myself than TO do what /
have to do" Davis replied;
II do not think hard of you; you are
doing your duty"
Gen. Dodge still had hopes that Davis
would recant when he saw that death was
staring him In the face, and that he would
reveal the name OF the traitor In his camp.
He sent Capt Chickasaw OF his staff 10
Davis. He rapidly approached the scat
fold, jumped from his horse and went d.
rectly TO Davis and asked II Il would not
be better for him TO speak the name Of the
one from whom he received the contents
of the document found upon him, adding
1T Is not too late yet" And then, IN his
last extremity Davis turned upon him and
said
IF had thousand lives would lose
them all here before I would betray my
friends or the confidence of my informer."
He then requested him 10 thank Gen.
Dodge for his efforts 10 save him, but 10
repeat that he could not accept the terms.
Turning to the chaplain. he gave him few
keepsakes 20 send his mother. He then
said 10 the provost marshal: II am
ready" assembled the scaffold and step
ped upon the trap.
Thus passed away one OF the subllmest
and noblest characters known in history.
and In future ages Will be pointed to as
an act worthy OF emulation
The bust IN the parthenon BY the
sculptor George Julian Zolnay Is a heroic
figure, and one OF the most admired works
Of art In the building
Mr. zolnay has given the work noble
ness, "a flrmness that, while Il appeals TO
the masses on account OF les strength.
also has a soflness that impresseH every
visitor. II is one OF Mr.. zolnays best pro-
auctions.
a number Of leading confederates arc
over the spot where he was executed. A
large amount has already been contributed
for the purpose.
-e-aN-s------