The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1902-05-16

Tennessee. He had upon his person
incriminating documents containing
information of great value to the Con
federate army. He was tried at Pu-
laski as spy, found guilty and SEN
fenced to be hanged
1t was deemed by the Federal author
tiles Of the highest degree of import
ance that they should learn the sources
Of his information.
They directed the young Captain who
had him in custody to offer him his
life if he would divulge the names of
his informers.
He heard the communication i'll 81
lence, and upon its conclusion replied:
Il connot be false to-the cause Of my
country nor to its friends within the
the Union lines.
A harder trial awaited him. There
was dear girl down in Alabama who
loved him and was soon to become his
bride. When she learned Of his cap
ture and sentence she made her way
through the lines and fastened to him.
She endeavored to persuade him to
save his life in the only way possible.
Sam if you love me, if you love youl
old mother who sits weeping for you at
home, you will save your life. She
begs it; I emplore it. He replied: Il
do love you, and my heart is almost
breaking as I think Of mother; but
there are occasions when duty to ones
country rises above every other motive.
cannot be traitor. She understood
him and urged him no longer, but told
him she loved and hOnOred him all the
more for his determination.
But the hardest trial of all came last
He stood upon the scaffold, the hated
moose around his neck. The young
Captain, whose hard duty it was to sup
erintend his execution, had come to
love him as brother. In a voice chOk-
ed with sobs she begged him to save
himself He heard the plea with bow
ed head, and his lips were seen to move
in prayer When his friend had ceased
speaking he drew himself erect and
with an mistaken voice replied: eff
had a thousand lives to lose 7 would
give them all before I would prove
false to my country or betray the con
fdence of its friends" And then the
trap was sprung and Sam Davis stepped
from the scaffold to a place among
fames immortal.
Saving always the tragedy Of the
crucifction, I know Of no sublimer self
sacrifice in history.
The value Of the incident consists
not in the fact that men like Sam Da
Wis were rare, but that in the ranks O.
the Confederacy they were common
There we're thousands who, under the
same circumstances, would have born,
themselves as nobIy. Your husband
dear madam, would have done it; o.
your father, fair daughter of the Con
federacy.
Another incident to show that thi
splended sentiment of honor and loyalty
was not confined to the men in the
ranks, but burned brightest in the heart
of the women Of the South.
A young soldier in Virginia, toward
the close Of the war, was tried for deser
ton. He had made splendid record
for courage and the faithful discharg,
Of every duty but he had been fount
missing at roll call on the eve of a grea
battle. Not many days after he was
taken by scouting party out side the
lines, charges we're preferred and ht
was put on trial for his life The prooI
OF his guilt was clear He was asked il
he had anything to say He handed th
Judge advocate letter and requested
him to read it to the court. 1t ran Oh
this wise Dear Frank: If possible
you must get furlough and com
home. Sheridans last raid has stripped
us Of everything. There is no mea
nor -four on the place, and the children
have been without bread for days The,
are growing thin and pale from hunger
Last night little Mary walked me cry
ing. When I asked what was the mat
ter, she said, "Oh Mama, am so hun
cry" To day Johnny came to me anC
said, Mama, please write to papa an(
tell him to come home and get us some
thing to eat, and Frank, unless yol
come soon, we will starve." 1t wa
signed Your devoted Mary"
The young soldier then said: "Whel
l received that letter | applied at one
for furlough It was refused becaus