The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1916-01-06

ETC., as being found on sam Davis.
These extracts from the Records
are the only ones to be found of the
matter of Sam Davis. In the general
index of the records, page 23S Sam
uel Davis name appears referring TO
series l. Vol 81, part 8, pages 20S,
2O9, 210 and 211 of the Records of
the Rebellion" MAPS, plans" ETC.,
are not mentioned.
SAM DAVIS AND GEN. DODGE.
After Sam Davis was captured, he
was brought before Gen. Dodge, who
questioned him closely and demanded
| to know from whom sam got the
newspapers, letters, etc.
This information Sam refused to
divulge and was remanded to jail.
The next morning he was again
brought before Gen. Dodge, who
| took him into his private office and
| told him that very serious charge
had been brought against him; that
he was a spy and from what source
accurate information came in regard
to the federal army, and that he
must know where he obtained them,
and that he did not seem to realize
the danger of his position. up to
this time Sam had remained silent,
when he replied in most dignitied
manner: Gen. Dodge, know the
danger of my situation and am
willing to take the consequences and
l know that l will have to die but
there is no power on earth that can
make me tell
AND WHAT WERE THE "INCRIMI-
MATING PAPERS"
The spies captured and executed at
Franklin had maps, sketches ana
memoranda, a fund of general 1nfor-
nation of Rosecrans' army, but no
soap, blank books, toothbrushes and
newspapers for the general informa-
ton OF the people south.
In the two Enclosures as given
above, sfound on Sam Davis, no
other mention is made of any more
dangerous documents. And what are
they? Cosby news, letters from
soldiers to their wives, newspapers
for the general public to read, soap
etc. Sam Davis personally had not
inspected any camp, had no maps,
diagrams, ETC., of forts and breast
works; in fact, scarcely nothing OF a
military nature that would be of any
use to the Confederates. A man who
is a SPY does not burden himself with
such things as found on this boy.
What a spy. carries is legitimate in
formation of his enemy as to posi-
ton, numbers of troops, forts, breast
works, the lay of the land, ETC., and
this information is put into as COM
pact form as posslble-even pre-
pared to be swallowed and hidden
in the stomach if captured.
The writer does not believe Sam
Davis ever thought himself to be a
SPY or considered himself as such, no
more so than any other boy at his
age in either army, any of whom
would Jump at the chance to carry
the underground mail" He would
have done it himself, as he was then
about Sans age %.
GENERAL DODGE PLEADS WITH
General Dodge plead with and
urged him with all his power to
give him some chance to save his
| life. for he discovered that he was
"a most admirable young fellow with
the highest character and strictest
| integrity" When Davis gave him to
understand that he would not betray
the trust imposed upon him General
| Dodge ordered a court martial.
In such a case there is but one YER
dict-death--a to this awful penal
| ty was added the ignominy of the
rope.
Alas, what savage cruelties are en-
gendered in such times.
SANS LETTER TO HIS MOTHER.
On November rs Sam wrote to his
mother:
Pulaski, Giles Co., Tenn.
November 26, 1868.
Dear Mother-Oh, how painful it
is to write to you: | have got to die
tomorrow morning-to be hanged by
the Federals. Mother, do not grieve
for me- l must bid you goodbye
forevermore. Mother, l do not fear
TO die.
Give my love to all. Your son,
SAMUEL DAVIS"
Mother tell the children all to be
good. l wish l could see you all
once more, but l never will any
more. Mother and father, do not
forget me. Think of me when l am
dead but do not grieve for me. 1t
will not do any good. Father, you
can send after my remains if you
want to do SO. They will be at Pu-
laski, Tenn. l will leave some