The Washington herald., 1909-05-05
Sam Davis. Of Tennessee

H 0~HA0a " AN1hNolLN-
Down in Nashville they have Just IN
veiled with somewhat elaborate cere-
mony. a statue erected TO the memory
OF sam Davis. a hero Of the civil war.
who dared TO die an iguominious death
on the gibbet rather than betray a trust.
Sam Davis was a Confederate soldier.
scarcely twenty-one years Of age. He
was sent BY Gen Bragg into the enemy's
lines as a spy. and was captured and car
ried before Gen Dodge. On his person
were found drawings and descriptions of
Union fortihcations so accurate and Of
so detailed a nature that the conclusion
was forced upon Gen. Dodge that Davis
had received his information only through
the assistance Of some party or parties
treaeherous 10 the Union cause. Gen.
Dodge after examination OF Davis. Of
fered him his freedom provided he told
the names OF those implicated and fur
nished sufficient evidence 10 make the
truth apparent I know my danger"
said Davis. 7 will abide the consequences
Of my act I had rather die a thousand
deaths than betray a friend" On the
scanold further effort was made TO get
from Davis the information so anxiously
desired He refused 10 say a word. and
was accordingly hanged as a spy-an
fair and square enough. as those things
go when a nation is in a state OF war.
Service 10 ones country in the guise
OF spy is not attractive work primarily,
We think Doubtless Davis would greatly
have preferred 10 die at the caunon's
mouth-even as Nathan Hale would. To
be caught spying means hangiag-the
most ingiorious death that can come 10
a soldier in the discharge Of his duty.
Perhaps this ought not to be so-but It
is so. And then there were thousands
and thousands Of men on both sides
who died for their country; and, after
al. that is the service Davis performed
for his. in so far as il was concerned in
the civil war.
The fine thing about Davis. &c our way
OF thinking, was his simple, unfaItering.
immovable hdelity 70 the dictates OF his
conscience. even in the very face Of
death He would not divuIge a secret
conhded 10 him and safeguarded by his
honor slone-not 10 save his very life.
And life was sweet 10 Davis: ne cannot
conceive II otherwise Not vet were the
days Of his youth numbered; 70 have
broken faith meant but to have exposed
a questionable transaction at worst.
some viii say. Having embarked on such
q mission as that in which he was de-
tected. and having associated himself
with unworthy soldiers on the other
side. Davis might, In the philosophy Of
many. vel have told the truth OF the
matter, accepted his reward Of freedom,
and left the guilty in Gen. Dodge's ranks
to suffer the consequences Of their own
acts But that was not Davis way.
and it would not have been the honor
able. upright, decent way; and BY re-
fusing 70 take it Davis showed himself
a gentleman unafraid, and died a hero.
though strangled to death as a SPY at
the end Of rope.
And so it is fitting that he be honored
bS his people whom he died in serving
as his commanding general ordered. He
was an American Of the Nathan Hale
type, and deserves to be remembered as
true seldier. But the virtue he vim
diCsted when he chose a martyrs death
rather than dishonor and loss Of his self
respect Is as old as the hills and as real
as the stars. but almost as rare, We
fear, as the saints themselves
Significantly enough. and splendidly
enough. too. We think. has come. in
connection with the unveIling Of the
statue. fine tribute 10 Davis from Gen.
Dodge. VINO is still living. and who was
profoundly impressed by the manly bear
ing and fine courage OF this young Con-
federate soldier.