Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-07-12
Sam Davis, an American Hero.


The Legislature of the State Of Ten
nessee by resolution authorized the
location of monument to Sam Davis
within the capitol grounds, and com
mittee clothed with proper power was
designated to carry out the provisions
Of this resolution.
This committee has selected the site
on the most fitting and unique promon-
tory Of this magnificent area near the
southwest entrance at Vine and Cedar
Streets, and marker now designates
the spot.
The zolnay bust of Davis, exhibited
to a million of people at the Tennessee
Centennial, is the accepted personif-
cation of the hero, and the artist is de-
signing the full figure of heroic size,
clothed in his Confederate gray jacket,
with trousers tucked in cavalry boots,
just as worn by the martyr when he so
heroically met his death.
All who are familiar with this sad
story and have observed the pose, fea-
lures, expression, and air of this con-
ception of Sam Davis will be gratifed
to anticipate its perfection in complete
heroic figure of bronze. 1t will give
increased sympathy and admiration for
the patriotic hero-awakening emo
tions akin to worship,
Sam Davis was a youth of Tennes-
see who, like many another Of her boys,
went to war in 1861 for home and
friends, except that he was tried as
never soldier was, and through his
trial lives, and the wonderful story of
his life will, regardless Of sectional
lines, stimulate men and women to
sacrifice for truth and principle.
Young Davis belonged to Shaw's
Scouts, who, under orders from Gen.
Cheatham, were operating in Tennes-
see around their very homes, when
they were nearly all, including Capt
Shaw himself, captured by the Federals
of Gen. Dodge's command. Valuable
papers were found on the person Of
Davis, clearly duplicating him. Shaw
was in the prison also at the time, but
escaped detection through having been
known by the name of Coleman.
Davis was tried by court-martial.
The evidence being clear, he was con-
victed and sentenced to be hanged.
The same death for the violation of
the same rule of war was met by Ma
than Hale eighty years before, when
acting under Gen. Washington's order,
the difference, giving Davis the great
er distinction, being that he was offered
life and liberty under conditions which
he, regarding as dishonorable, de-
clined.
As Davis went to his death immu-
nifty was offered him if he would tell
who gave him the papers found on his
person. His captain, Shaw, had given
them to him, and was then in the same
prison at Pulaski. He refused to pur-
chase his own life at the price Of an
others. The Son Of Man says, Great
er love hath 10 man than this, that
man lay down his life for his friends :"
Sam Davis said, "If l had thousand
lives, l would leave them all here and
now before l would betray my friends
or the confidence of my infOrmer )"
Nathan Hale said, 81 regret have but
one life to give to my country" Mon
uments erected by the American peo-
pie to Nathan Hale stand in numer-
Gus places, and now after thirty-seven
years We, encouraged by nearly every
State in the Union, have come to build
a monument to Sam Dayis's memory.
Let us make it so suitable, so beau
tiful, SO suggestive, SO true, that those
living who knew him and his record
for truth and honor, and those who