The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-28

who were here and there, watching every movement of the Federals. and by persistent and accurate reports to Bragg were making havoc of Dcdge's peace and plans, so much So that the General put on its mettle the famous Kansas Seventh Cavalry, nicknAmed the "Jayhawkers," to run to earth and capture Coleman and his scouts. So active and alert was the entire corps that capture was at most a matter of few days only.
 Captain Shaw. alias Coleman, sum- moned Davis. and committed to his care certain papers, letters. reports. and maps, giving late and import news to General Bragg. In his shoes and in the saddleseat were hidden the dan erous documents. and Sam. with Cole mans pass. started southward to De- catur. thence to take the scout line' to the headquarters of Bragg. His last route began and ended Thursday, November 19. Run down and rested at the Tennessee River by the Jay hawkers." along with other prisoners. he was hurried to Pulaski. and by night was in jail. Elsewhere. on the same day, Captain Shaw himself was captured and imprisoned also in the town. Davis papers and reports were placed in the hands of General Dodge who twice had him brought to his headquarters, urging him in strong but kindly way to disclose the name of the one who had committed to him the captured papers.
 As shown throughout the Davis tragedy, General Dodge was and Is man of unusually kindly spirit. Some thing about the Tennessee boy evil dently touched the Generals heart. Only recently he wrote at length to The Confederate Veteran. paying long cherished tribute to Davis memory He says of him that he was fine. soldierly-looking young man. dressed In faded Federal coat, an army soft hat and topboots; he had a fresh, open face. which was inclined to brightness; in all things he showed himself a true soldier; 1t was known by all the command that I desired to save him. I appreciate fully that the people of the South and Davis com rades understood his soldierly quail ties. and propose to honor his memory I take pleasure in contributing to a monument to his memory,"-and with 1t came the Generals personal check.
 Of Davis arrest and trail he further writes: "I was very anxious to cap- ture Coleman and break up his com- mand." Dodge did not know, nor did any Confederate prisoner in the Pull aski jail give slightest hint. that the "H. B. Shaw" captured the same day as Davis and probably prisoner In the same building with him was the veri- table Coleman" himself.
 'T- had Davis brought before me. His captors knew that he was a member of Coleman's Scouts. and I knew what was found upon him, and desired to locate Coleman and ascertain If possi- ble who was furnishing information so accurate and valuable to Bragg. Davis met me modestly. I tried to i'm press on him the danger he was in. and as only a messenger I held out to him the hope of lenient treatment If he would answer truthfully my ques- tions. I informed him that he would be tried as a spy and the evidence would surely convict him, and I made a direct appeal to him to give me the information I knew he had. He very quietly but firmly refused to do 1t. I pleaded with him with all the. power I possessed to give me some chance to