The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-10

1865, this soldier, at the age of only nine
teen years, was hanged as a spy at Pulaski
Tenn, by the federals' court-martial SEN
tence. He was under the orders of General
Bragg, and was to report by a courier line
to him at Missionary Ridge. When Davis
and a number of others received their or
ders they were told of the hazardous duty
that confronted them. Several had al
ready been captured. Joshua Brown, one
Of his comrades, now OF New York, was
shrewd enough to secure all the informa-
ton he could without making a men,
orandum of it. They had not gone far be-
fore they ran into the Seventh Kansas Cav
They were lodged in Jail at Pulaski that
night. Sam Davis had been searched, and
it was found that he had some very inn
portant papers upon him. In the seat of his
saddle they found maps and descriptions of
the Notifications at Nashville and other
army in Tennessee. In his boot they found
this letter and others intended for General
Bragg:
Giles County, Tennessee, Nov. Is, 1863.
Col. II. McKinstry, Provost Marshal, the
Army of Tennessee, Chattanooga:
Dear Sir-I send you seven Nashville,
three Louisville and one Cincinnati papers.
The Yankees are still camped on the line of
Dodge's headquarters at Pulaski; his main
force is camped from that place to Lyons
vile, some at Elk river, and two regiments
at Athens. General Dodge has issued an
order to the people in those counties on the
road to report all stock, grain and forage to
him, and he says he will pay or give
vouchers for it. Upon refusal to report. he
will take it without pay. They are now TAX
ing all they can find.
Dodge says he knows all the people are
Southern, and does not ask them to swear
a lie. All the spare forces around Nash
vile and vicinity are being sent to Nc
Minnville. Six batteries and twelve Parrot
guns We're sent forward on the 18th, 18th and
18th. 1t is understood that there is hot
work in front somewhere. kilograms sup
pressed
low Everything is beginning to work better
/ do not think the Feds mean to stay. They
are not repairing the main parts of the
road. / understand that part of the forces
lave reached Shelbyyille. think part
of some other than Dodge's division came
to Lyonsvlle from the direction of Fayette-
'-' "'''' -''0- COLEMAN,
Captain Commanding Scouts"
When Davis was taken before General
Dodge he was told that 1t was a very Sc
rious charge brought against MIN; That he
had in his possession accurate information
in regard to the federal army. ana ne must
very young and evidently did not realize
the danger he was in. But Davis replied in
the tirmest voice:
General Dodge.sI know the danger of my
situation and am willing 10 take the conse-
Quences.H
The general then asked him to give the
name OF the person from Wnom he got his
information assuring him there was no
chance for his life unless he revealed the
name. He replied: II know that will have
10 die, but will not tell where got my in
FORMATION, and there Is no mower on earth
that can make me tell. You are doing your
duty as a soldier and am doing mine. If
have to die / feel that am doing my duty
TO Cod and my country.
Repeatedly the federal general urged him
TO reveal the name, for ne ieit IT was q