The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1916-01-06
SAM DAVIS, c. S. A., the Boy Spy, 90
~ 1861

| ivy Win huS eyes anu OIL course was
the pride and joy of the mother and
sisters.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A SPY?
In answer to the above the writer
will give a little personal experience
on the matter.
While the Army of the Cumberland,
under the command of Gen. william
Rosecrans, lay at Triune, Tenn, dur
ing 1868, just previous to the Tulla-
homa campaign, the writer's regi-
ment, the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry,
was encamped at Franklin, Tenn.
The duties of the writer at this time
were very arduous. One day after
coming off outpost duty on the pike
toward Spring HILL where the Con-
federates under Van Dorm were To-
Gated, being sergeant of his post he
retired to his tent for some needed
rest but could not sleep. About 5 or
8 p. m. he was seated on cracker
box outside his tent gazing down a
slope toward Harpeth River. The
camp was perfectly quiet. While
doing so, his attention was attracted
by two white objects approaching,
which when near enough proved to
be two mounted men, each wearing
a head-gear not known or universally
worn in the Western Army, but very
common in the Army of the Potomac,
called "havalocks," covering for
the cap with curtain or cape at the
back to shield the head from the
sun, all made of white linen.
The fact that these men were pass
ing through the street of our camp,
and wearing this peculiar head-gear
seemed strange, and, upon the inn
pulse of the moment concluded they
were spies-rushing to Colonel Wat
kins tent. communicated his suspic-
ions to the colonel's orderly, who in
formed the colonel who Immediately
ordered his horse, and he and the
orderly proceeded toward Nashville
and overlook these individuals and
brought them to Post Headquarters
in Fort Granger, Col. Absolom Baird
commanding. Here they were close
ly examined by a corps of officers,
who had assembled at the fort.
They claimed to be United States
Army inspection officers from the
War Department, Washington, d. c.,
and had documents to all intents
and purposes to prove it. After a
long parley it was concluded they
were all o. K, and the talk had turn
ed somewhat socially, just previous
to their expected departure. At this
point Major VIM. H. Fiddler, of the
Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, in a some
what careless manner picked up the
sword of one of these men, and drew
the blade from the scabbard, and, as
he did so, gave one prolonged whis-
tie and exclaimed: What does this
mean?" holding the blade to the
light, on which there was inscribed
the name of a person with the in
itials-"C. S. A." At this, the coun-
tenances of both these men blanched
and their whole manner betrayed
them-so much SO, they admitted
they were spies, and all their docu-
ments proved to be forgeries, and in
their effects were found maps.
sketches and memoranda, fund of
general information of Rosecrans'
Army. They had been all through
the army at Triune, and were making
their way to Nashville with their in
formation, which would have been
exceedingly valuable to General
Bragg at this particular time.
A drum-head court-martial was
held at midnight, and by General
Rosecrans' orders they were hanged
at daylight next morning.
One of these men proved to be
colonel on General Bragg's staff and
the other, a lieutenant of the C. S.
A. They both died bravely in the
presence of the Federal troops loca-
ted at Fort Granger, Franklin, Tenn.
These men were legitimate spies
and deserved the fate which cruel
war eXacts in all such cases.
SAM DAVIS NOT A SPY,
Now, in contrast of what has been
said of the two spies executed at
Franklin, we will show by "Official
Records" Sam Davis was not a spy.
On November 20, 1863, Sam was
captured in the vicinity of Pulaski,
Tenn, by Kansas regiment known
as the Jay Hawkers." He was
thrown into prison in Pulaski, with
some other prisoners.
The discriminating" papers, etc,
found upon his person, in his boot
and under the seat of his saddle, etc.
THE "INCRIMINATING ~ PA
PERS.
The Official Records" as in many
other cases in the experience of the
author of Veterans Column-these
old rusty documents, throw some new
light on this interesting subject
which have never been published be-
fore. Some of the literature cap
tured with Sam was of very inter-
esting nature, and gives some idea
of war times in Tennessee. One man
is mentioned in the Record, and ff
Sam had only mentioned it at the
time, probably he would not have
been executed. Strange to say, this
man was prisoner at the same
time with our hero. He was too cow
ardly to tell his name but shielded
himself behind this noble boy.
Sam was only a messenger of the
underground mail" and Captain e.
Coleman was the man who furnished
the documents which Sam was con-
veying through the blockade" He
was not acting in the capacity Of a