The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-03-30
Davis, the Confederate Scout.

A splendid monument is about to be
erected in the capital Of Tennessee to
the memory Of Sam Davis, the Con-
fedcrate scout.
On the 9th day of November, 1868,
this soldier, at the age Of only l9
years, was hanged as spy at Pulaski,
Tennessee, by the Federals' court
martial sentence. He was under the
orders Of Gen. Bragg, and was to re-
port by courier line to him at Mis-
sionary Ridge. When Davis and a
number of others received their or
ders Shey were told Of the hazardous
duty that confronted them. Several
had already been captured. Joshua
Brown, one of his comrades, now of
New York. was shrewd enough to Sc
cure all the information he could with
out making memorandum Of it.
They had not gone far before they rau
into the 7th Kansas cavalry, known
as the ssKansas Jayhawkers.' They
were lodged in jail at Pulaski that
night. Sam Davis had been searched,
and it was found that he had some
very important papers upon him. In
the seat of his saddle they found
maps and descriptions Of the fortii-
cations at Nashville and other points,
and an exact report Of the Federal
army in Tennessee. In his boot they
found this letter and others intended
for Gen. Bragg:
GILES COUNTY, Tenn, Nov. 18, 1868.
Col. n. McKinstry, Provost Mar
shal, the Army'of Tennessee, Chatta-
nooga-Dear Sir: 1 send you seven
Nashville, three Louisville, and one
Cincinnati papers. The Yankees are
still camped on the line Of the Ten
nessee and Alabama Railroad. Gen.
Dodge's 8 headquarters at Pulaski; his
main force is eamped from that place
to Lyonsville, some at Elk River, and
two regiments at Athens. Gen.
Dodge has issued an order to the peo-
pie in those counties on the road to
report all stock, game and forage to
him, and he says he will pay or give
vouchers for it. Upon refusal to re-
port he will take it without pay.
They are now taking all they can find.
Dodge says he knows all the people
are Southern, and does not ask them
to swear to lie. All the spare
forces around Nashville and vicinity
are being sent to McMinnville. Six
batteries and twelve Parrott guns
were sent forward on the 18th, 18th
and 18th. It is understood that there
is hot work in front somewhere.
Telegsams suppressed.
Davis has returned. Gregg has
gone below. Everything is beginning
to work better. I do not think the
Feds mean to stay. They are not re-
pairing the main parts on the road. l
understand that part Of the forces
have reached Shelbyville. l think a
part Of some other than Dodge's di-
vision came to Lyonsville from the
direction of Fayetteville. I.am, with
regard, COLEMAN,
Captain Commanding Scouts.
When Davis was taken before Gen.
Dodge he was told. that it was very
serious charge brought against him;
that he had in his possession accurate
information in regard to the Federal
army, and he must confess where he
obtained it; that he was very young
and evidently did not realize the dan
ger he was in. But Davis replied in
the frlnest voice:
"Gen. Dodge, I know the danger Of
nv situation and am willing to take
the consequences"
The General then asked him to give
the name of the person from whom he
got his information, assuring him
| there was no chance of his life unless
he revealed the name. He replied:
II know that will have to die, bat |
will not tell where l got my informa-
ton, and there is no power on earth
| that can make me tell. You are do
| ing your duty as soldier and am
doing mine. If I have to die ] feel
that I am doing my duty to God and
my country ~
Repeatedly the Federal general
urged him to reveal the name, for he
felt that it was far more dangerous
man than this boy.
The next day Davis was informed of
the sentence Of the court-martial. He
was surprised at the severe punish
ment of hanging, rather expecting to
be shot. Col. Shaw, the man who de-