The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-14


of a comradc, is one of the best pieces
of sculpture in the Nashville Parthe-
non. 1t is the work of George Julian
zolnay, is heroic In size, noble in con-
ception, and absolutely true to the
original. Joshua Brown, now of New
York city, who belonged to the Second
Kentucky Cavalry of the Confederate
army, and was fellow scout with
Samuel Davis, tells the thrilling and
awful story of his fate in an article In
the Veteran:
Gen. Bragg has sent us, a few men
who knew the country, into middle
Tennessee to get all the information
possible concerning the movements of
the Federal army, to find out If it was
moving from Nashville and Corinth
to reinforce Chattanooga. We were
to report to Col. Shaw or Capt. Cole
man, who commanded Coleman's
scouts. We were to go south to De-
catur, and send our reports by a cou-
rier line to Gen Bragg at Missionary
Ridge. When we received our orders
we We're told that the duty was very
dangerous, and that they did not ex-
pett but few of us would return; that
we would probably be captured or
killed, and we were cautioned against
exposing ourselves unnecessarily.
After we had been in Tennessee
about ten days, we watched the Six
teenth army corps commanded by Gen.
Dodge, move up fom Cornith to Pulas-
XII. We agreed that we would leave
for the south on Friday, the 18th of
November. 1868. A number had been
captured and several killed. We were
to start that night, each man for him
self; each of us had his own informa =
tion, but 1 did not write 1t down or
make any memorandum of it, for fear
of being captured. l had counted al
most every regiment and all the artil-
lery in the Sixteenth corps, and found
out that they were moving on Chatta-
nooga.
CAPTURED.
Late in the afternoon we started out,
and ran into the Seventh Kansas cav
airy, known as the kansas Jay
hawkers," 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 pris-
oners had been sent, and among them
was Sam Davis. 1 talked with him
over our prospects of Imprisonment
and escape, which were very gloomy
Davis said they had searched him that
day and found some papers upon him.
and that he had been taken to Gen
Dodge's headquarters. They also had
found in his saddle seat maps and de-
scriptions of the fortifications at Nash
vile and other points, and an exact
report Of the Federal army in Ten
nessee. They found in his boot let
ter, with other papers, which was in.
tended for Gen. Bragg.
Davis was taken to Gen. Dodge's
headquarters, and this is what took
place between them, which Gen. Dodge
| told me recently:
II took him to my private office,
said Gen. Dodge, "and l told him II
was a very serious charge brought
| against him; that he was a spy, anG
| from what l found upon his person, ht
| had accurate information in regard tc
my army, and i must know where h,
| obtained it. told him he was a youne
man and did not seem to realize the
danger he was in. Up to that time h,
said nothing, but then he replied in 6
most respectful and dignified manner
Gen. Dodge, / know the danger
of my situation, and 1 am willing t.
| take the consequences
'I asked him then to give the nam.
of the person from whom he got the in
formation; that knew it must be som,
one near headquarters who had givei
him the plans Of the Federal army. H
replied:
I know that l will have to die, bu
/ will not tell where l got the informa
tion, and there is no power on eartl
that can make me tell. You are doinl
your duty as a soldier, and am doinI
mine. If 1 have to die, do so feeling
that I am doing my duty to God an,
my country
II pleaded with and urged him wit
all the power l possessed to give m
some chance to save his life, for l dis
covered that he was a most admirabl
fellow with the highest character am
strictest integrity. He then said: II
is useless to talk to me. / do not in
tend to do it. You can court-martia
me, but l will not betray the trust re
posed in me-
HE thanked me for the interest
had taken in him, and / sent him bac
to prison. Immediately called a cour
martial to try him."
WROTE TO HIS MOTHER.
The night before he was hanged h
wrote the following letter to his mothe
and father:
pulaski, Giles County, Tenn, NOV
26, 1868.
"Dear Mother: Oh, how painful
is to write to you! have got to die tC
morrow morning-to be hanged by til
Federals. Mother do not grieve fo
me. l must bid you good-by forever
more. Mother, ] do not fear to di,
Give my love to all. Your son.
SAMUEL DAVIS.
Mother, tell the children all to /
good. l wish I could see you all ono
more, but / never will any more. Motf
er and father, do not forget me. Thin
of me when / am dead, but do M
grieVe for me. 1t will not do any goo
Father, you can send after my remair
If you want to do so. They will be
Pulaski, Tenn. l will leave some thing
too, with the hotel keeper for you. Pl
/, lasd is in Giles county Tenn, south
Columbia. S. D."
, After his sentence he was put into
r cell in the Jail and we did not see an
thing of him until Thursday n;ornin
the day before the execution. We we
ordered to get ready as we were goiI
to be removed TO the court house on 4
public square. about 100 feet from 4
d Jail. Davis was handcuffed and W
brought in just as We were eatir
s breakfast. 1 gave him a piece of me
: that had been cooking, and he, bell
: handcuffed, was compelled to eat
e with both hands. He thanked me, al
we all bade him good-by. and were Sc
: to the court house and the guard w