The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-13
BRAVE SOUL OF SAN DAVIS
Story of a Spy Who Was Silent on the
Confession Would Have
Saved Him

From the New Voice
One of the purest and bravest men i
knew, says Rev. c. E. W. Dobbs, dur
ing the war for the Union was Sam
Davis, a famous Confederate scout,
who met his death on the ScanOld at
Pulaski, Tenn, in the summer of 1864
His memory is cherished in middle
Tennessee as that Of a martyr patriot
Davis was one of the most reliable and
daring scouts in the Southern ranks,
and to him were committed some of the
most dangerous missions within the
Federal lines In executing one of
these peculiarly hazardous expeditions
he was captured and thrown into
military prison. Some discriminating
papers were found upon him-paperS
the author of which it was quite i'm
portant to ascertain. He was sum
marily tried by court martial and SEN
fenced to die upon the scaffold-
Davis was placed in charge Of
young captain of about the same age
as his prisoner. Between the two there
developed a congeniality which rapidly
ripened into mutual esteem and friend
ship. The young captain was author
lied to offer life and freedom TO Davis
If he would reveal the source OF the
Information contained in the incrim-
mating papers.
7 cannot be false to my comrades or
to friends of our cause within the Union
1ines,' was his UNMARRIED and decided
answer.
Again and again was he importuned
to save his life by divulging the names
tunity he heroically turned a deaf ear,
declaring his determination to die with
the secret buried in his bosom Per
haps the severest test of his courage
was when his afianced. a lovely young
woman of North Alabama, found her
way through the Union lines and was
accorded an interview with her con-
demned lover. They were permitted a
private interview. Even to the loved
one he positively refused to yield the
coveted information. She pleaded:
Sam, if you love me and your dear
old mother weeping for you at home
beg you to save your life
For a moment Sam trembled with un-
concealed emotion, and then taking the
girl by the hand, he slowly replied:
Il do love you. jamie, and my heart
is breaking almost as I think of moth
er but His voice quivered and
utterance almost failed him, but he
quickly recovered his compOsure and
firmly finished his sentence; There
are occasions and circumstances when
ones duty to God and country rises
above every other motive can not
be traitor"
To the credit Of the woman he loved
be it said that she ceased to urge him
and soon passed from his presence with
eye undimmed, after assuring him of
her increased admiration for him in
view of his evident devotion to his
duty. The day of execution was not
! long delayed. To the young captain
was assfgned the sad duty of pulling
the lever which was to send the soul of
his new found friend into eternity To
gether they stood upon the fatal scat
fold. Once again the captain, with
voice tremulouS with emotion, urged
Davis to give the desired information
and save his life. The doomed man
hung his head a moment and his lips
We're seen to move in silent prayer.
Then raising his head he firmly an
sWered:
If I had a thousand lives I would
lose them all here before I would be-
tray my friends or the confidence of
my infOrmer"
Stout hearts were moved by the he
roisrn of the man, and tears stole un-
/ hidden into eyes of strong men Reluc-
| tantly the lever was sprung and the
| brave soul of Sam Davis went to meet
his God