The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-04-13
4 Monument TO 8 Rcro.

II should hli the heart OF every pa
triotic Southerner that a splendid
monument is soon to be erected at
Nash vile, Tern TO Sam. DAVIS, thu
brave Confederate scsut who died
rather than betray TIE one who hsd
given him important information ,e-
garding the Federal army. On the
9th day of November, 1868, this sci.
der, at the age of only 10 years, was
hanged as spy at Pulaski, Tenn, By
the Federals' Court t,martial sentence.
He was under the orders OF General
Bragg, and was to report by q courier
line to him at Missionary Ridge.
When Davis and q number of Others
received their orders they were told OF
the hsz srdous duty that confronted
them. Several had already been cap,
tured. Joshua Brown, one OF his COM
rades, now Of New York, was snrewd
enough to secure all the information
he could without making memoraa.
dunn of it. They had not gone far oe-
fore they ran into the 7th Kansas cav,
airy, known as the kansas JsYhaw-
Kers." They were lodged in ilil at
Pulaski that night. Sam DAVIS had
been searched, and it was found thai
he had some very important papers
upon him. In the seat of MS saddle
they found maps and descriptions Of
the forti6cations at Nashville and
other points, and an exact report of
the Federal army in Tennesse. In
/ his boot they found this letter and
others intended for Gen Bragg:
Giles County, Tenn, NV. lS, 1868
| Col H. McKinstry, Proves Mar.
shsl, the Army of Tennessee, Chatta.
nooga-Dear Sir: Isend you seven
| Nashville, three Louisville, and one
Cincinnati papers The Yankees are
| still camped on the line of the Tennes
sea and Alabama Railroad. Gen.
Dodge's headquarters at Pulaski; his
main force is camped from that plac.
to LyonsViile, some at Elk River,
aud two regiments at Athens. Gen.
Dodge has issued an order to the peo.
pie 10 those counties on the road to
report all stock, grain and forage to
him, and ne says ne will pay or give
vouchers Ior 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 peope
are Southern, md does not ask them
to swear to lie. Ali the spare for.
ces around Nashville and vicII y are
being sent to McMiunville. Six bat.
teries and twelve Parrott guns Wers
sent forward on the 14;n, 15.h and
18th. It is understood that there is
hot work in front somewhere. Tele
grams suppressed. Davis has re.
turned, Gregg has gone below. Every.
thing is beginning to work better. [
do not think the Feds mean to stay.
They are not repairing the main parts
on the road, understand that part
of the forces have reached Shelby7lIle.
I think q part OF some other than
|Dodge's division came to Lyonsville
from the direction of Fayetteville, I
am, with high regard. Coleman,
Captain commanding scouls.
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, tkat he was very your e
ard evidently did not realizs the dan-
| ger he was in. But Davis replied IN
| Inc 6rmest voice: Gen. Dodge, I
know the danger OF my 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: L
know that I will have to die, but
will not tell there I got my informa-
tion, and there is no power on earth
that can make me tell. You are doing
your duty as s)loierauu | am DONG
mine. If ! have to die | feel that /
sm doing my duty to God and my
| country y
Repeatedly the Federal general
| urged him to reveal the name, for he
felt it was far more dangerous and
important man than this boy.
The next morning Davis Vssinform
ed OF the sentence of the court marital.
He was surprised at the severe pun.
| ishment OF hanging, rather expecting
so be shot. Col. Snaw, the man who
had furnished the information was in
jail with Davis, and was greatly
alarmed lest the boy should at tne last
moment confess. Bl. his Loyalty
| never faltered.
At the gallows Capt. Armstrong
told him that he had 6f.een minutes 10
live. He then asked the news OF the
field, and was told that bis ArmV ssd
been defeated at Missionary Ride
He expressed regret, saying: TIE
boys will have to fight the os!tl.s
without me-" Armstrong vas moved
to say, II regret very much to have to
do tn:s. feel that | woIld almost
rather die myself than to do what
have to do" The young man an.
swered: 81 do not think hard OF you;
YOU are doing your duty.
Thus passed out OF lie Sam DAVIS,
one OF the many Southern heroes who
died for his country during the var
between the States. 1t is rigfAabd
fitting that monuments should be
erectrd to such NOBLE heroes He d ed
but his memory still lives, and Will
continue olive as long as true hero.
ism has place among the sons Of
men. The monument IS to be 8 very
handsome one. The money tn erect
it was raised through the eff ,rts OF
Mr.. Cunningham, E1itor CT Inc Cos
iederate Veteran. Among the con-
tributorS to thefurd are many Federal
soldiers. All hooor to the memory OF