The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-03-05

When the Lord calls up earth's heroes
TO stand before his face
On many n name unknown 10 fame
shall ring from that high plaee
And out Of grave IL the southland
Al the inst Coils call and beck
Shall one man rise with fearless eyes
And rope ar JuBd his neck.
For men have swung from gaIlows
" those souls were white BLOW,
kot how they die nor where, but Why,
l. Shat God : records show,
Aud on thai mighty ledger
IL writ sam Davis lame
For hOBor's sake he would not make
4 compromise with shame.
The great world lay before him,
FOR be aas In bis youth
With love Of life Young hearts are rife,
Bnt better be loved truth.
lie fought for his convictions.
And sheH he stood at bay
He would not fineh nor stir one inch
Prom h0iors narrow way.
They offered life and freedom
II he would speak the word;
In siIeut pride be gazed aside
A one who had not heard.
They argued pleaded threatened
II was bat wasted BREATH
Let come what must keep my truct,"
lie said, and laughed at death
he would moi sell his manhood
To purchase priceless hope.
Whore kings esst d5wn a name aud crown
lie diEnihed a rope.
An. grave where Bas your triumph
Aud DEATH where gas yOur sting
H. showed you how fnan could bow
To doom and STAY king.
And God. who loves the loyal
Because they are Ike him,
doubt not yet that senl shall set
Among his cberubims
Oh. southland fling yonr lanrcls
And add your wreath, oh North
Let glsry claim the heroes name
And tell the world his worth.
The bronze head Of Sam Davis was
one Of the most admired works of art
In the Parthenon Of the Tennessee
Centennial.
This bust, executed by Julian Zolling
represents nobly formed head the
boyish face conveys an impression of
courage, strength and sweetness Many
visitors were attracted to this bit of
bronze singularly enough. many Of
them had never before heard Of Sam
Davis and his tragic death. Here is
the story:
In 1853 Gen. Bragg sent a number of
picked men "a scouts among them
Sam Davis, into Middle Tennessee. In
order 10 gain information concerning
the Federal army he wished to know il
the Union army was enforcing
Chattanooga. The men were to 90
South and send their reports by courier
line to Gen. Bragg at Missionary Ridge.
The expedition was attended with great
danger
The scouts had seen the Sixteenth
Army Corps, commanded by General
Dodge, move from Corinth to Pulaski
and on Friday, November 10. they
started to return TO their own camp,
each man for himself, aud bearing his
own information.
Late that afternoon they were cap.
tured by the Seventh Kansas Cavalry
known ~ the Kansas Jayhaw kers, -
taken to Pulaski and put In prison.
Important papers were found upon
the person Of Sam Davis. In his
saddle. bags the plans and fortifcation
as well IA an exact report Of the Federal
army in Tennessee were found.
A letter intended for General Bragg
was also found.
General Dodge sent for Davis and
told him that he had serious charge to
make that he was spy and did not
seem to realize the danger he was in
The General also remarked kindly that
Davis was young man, and that II
would be well for him to tell from what
source his accurate information con.
corning the Federal army was obtained.
Davis had made no reply until this time.
Then be said:
General Dodge. know the danger
OF my situation, and am willing to take
the consequences.
He was ready TO die rather than
betray his friends
General Dodge demonstrated with the
young prisoner. and insisted that he
tell the name of his informer. Davis
answered steadfastly;
II will not tell You are doing your
duty rs a soldier, and | am doing mine.
II ] have TO die. do 80 feeling that /
am doing my duty TO God and my
country.
Pleading was useless Tie thanked