The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-05-21
Sam Davis.

T cQcId l OOiOlCiS, 90 ANN'eA
by the Late Rufus McLain
Fields.
AS all the world loves lover, so
all the world admires a hero.
Men OF wealth and education and
soldierly qualities have lived died and
passed into -forgetfulness within a
few years to all save their Immediate
relatives and friends. On the other
hand, men of poverty, slight educa-
tional advantages and no big mill
tary or other title, have gone their
WAYS, died and had their names to
grow brighter as the years 60 by.
Col. Isaac Hayne. the South Caro-
lima patriot of the Revolution, is not
recalled because he was OF fine family
connections, but because his life WAS
given for his country.
Nathan Hale did not live long
enough after Joining the revolution
airy forces from New England to win
a generalship in the service OF his
country, but he is one who is most
readily recalled of the patriots from
his State. This is because he risked
his life for the public good land found
martyrdom for his sacrifice.
One of the latest OF the heroes made
of such stuff as Hayne and Hale was
Sam Davis, the Tennessee boy whose
life was freely given for a principle in
1868. His fame is still growing,and
bids fair to grow in lustre through
the future years.
Artists have made him a subject;
he is perpetuated in sculpture; the
poets have sung his life and glorious
death; history has found him a char
acter deserving more than passing
comment.
BIRTH OF THE BOY SCOUT.
In November, 1907, it was forty
three years since Sam Davis, a hero
alike in the eyes OF Confederates and
Federals, died on the scaffold; and
brief notice OF his career seems perth
nent at this time.
Davis was born October 6, 1912,
near Smyrna, Rutherford county. of
poor but honorable parentage. His
| parents had come to this country
from Virginia, and the Lees and
| Washingtons had no more patriotic
blood in 'their veins than the Davises.
When war came on between the
| North and South the young man was
| attending a military school at Nash
| Vile, then under the direction Of two
men destined to become distinguished
chieftains-GensE Kirby Smith and
Bushrod r. Johnson The teachers
were given commissions in the organ
ization of the Confederate army. and
Davis enlisted as private in the
| First Tennessee Regiment of infant
ry.
| His record was excellent during the
first two years of the war-he was
soon recognized as gallant and coura-
geous; and in 1868, when Gen. For
rest needed a company of reliable
scouts, he selected the youth as a
member. This company was placed
under the leadership of Col. H. B..
| Shaw
Shaw was n born scotland no one
ever took more interest in the dan
gerous life of the secret service than
he. Well acquainted with the section
in which he worked, he was successful
in bringing to his chief valuable in
formation as to the movements of
the Northern forces. He generally
went disguised, adopting the name OF
Coleman, and posed as an herb doc
tor; but his followers wore the gray
with pride and independence" as
some one has said. 1t should be
further stated that this command OF
scouts was organized by Gen. B. F.
Cheatham. who took first into his
confidence Shaw and John Davis, the
elder brother OF Sam, the hero
IN THE SECRET SERVICE.
For some months the scouts pur.
sued their undertakings safely. They
slept in thickets, encouraged by the
Southern sympathizers, especially
the women, who fed them and gave
them all the information possible
Gen. G. NJ. Dodge of the Union army
with 16, 900 troops, had headquarters
at Pulaski. He was troubled no lit
tie by the scouts, and determined al
last to run them down if it could bt
done; so that while the Confederates
were at work he had men making
every effort to counterfeit their move
ments.
About November 20, 1868, Davis
had gained some unusually import
ant news-nOt alone from Southern
citizens, but from a Federal officer
who had turned traitor to his side
With his reports and a note signed
by Coleman he began his perilou
r and adventurous Journey through tn
Federal lines to the Confederate head
) quarters.
: Riding generally by night, Davi
l seemed certain of success. We cal
5 see him in imagination on his trusted
: steed picking his way through tn
: woods-pausing at the stir of SOM
! wild animal in the forest to be Ger
+. tain no enemy was near; listening t,
4 the boot OF the owls; cutting through
4 the country from one lonely road t,
r another to escape discovery; dashin.
at breakneck speed along the whit
t roadway, now in the moonlight, tbel
: in the shadows, of the trees; ever try
n ing to dodge the Kansas Jayhawk
] ers who were seeking to capture him
r THE CAPTURE.
But he was destined to be capture,
i, despite his intrepidity and caution
: The Jayhawkers overlook him an
- found upon his person the incrim
u mating papers which led to his cor
viction as a. Confederate spy. Eve
u Capt. Shaw was taken, though h
>. kept his identity concealed so we
; that he was sent to prison at Johr
= sons Island with other Confederat
soldiers.
{ The mission of the scouts on thi
q occasion was to get all the informs
!, ton possible as to whether the Fec
= erals were moving from Nashvill
= and COrinth to reinforce those a
= Chattanooga. The reports We're t