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Confederate Hero 1842-1863
“History is the essence of innumerable biog¬ raphies teaching by experience ”
“History of a voice forever sounding across the century the laws of right and wrong”
— FROUDE.
By
EDYTHE JOHNS RUCKER WHITLEY
1947
Copyright 1947
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“Not to know what has been transacted in former times is to continue always a child. If no use is made of the labors of past ages, the world must remain always in the infancy of knowledge.”
THE SAM DAVIS MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION
Sam Davis Home Smyrna, Tennessee
Published under S fecial Act of T ennessee Legislature , 1947.
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Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2018
https://archive.org/details/samdavisconfederOOwhit
A Note from the Author
Dear Friends:
The compiling and execution of this book has been a labor of love; a story about a Southern boy; a story of truth and loyalty to principles instilled by parents, inherited from noble ancestors; and, a story carrying a moral well to be emulated by any child, boy or girl, whether from the South, the North, the East, or the West. It carries with it a message of undying trustworthiness which every child, in his or her youth, should embed into their minds and hearts. It is not fiction — it is a true story; it is not the character of one lad, but, a story, no doubt, which could be written about many a youth, had the facts been recorded in by-gone days.
Edythe Johns Rucker Whitley.
Illustrations
Entrance to Sam Davis Shrine
Sam Davis Home Before Restoration
Sam Davis Home Hallway
Sam Davis, Confederate Soldier
Parlor, Sam Davis Home
Family Room, Sam Davis Home
Map Showing Route Taken on Visit Home
Map Showing Route and Place Captured
Tomb of Sam Davis
Davis Home As a Shrine
Where Sam Davis Hitched His Horse on Visit Home Slave Quarters
Chest Used by Sam Davis in School Jane Simmons Davis Charles Lewis Davis Media Davis Sinnott
Subject Index
Sam Davis, As a Child . . 13
Enters Confederacy . 16
Joins the Scouts . 21
Visits Home . 23
The Papers and the Capture . 27
The Trial . 32
The Battle of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge . 39
The Burial of Sam Davis . ,.. 55
A Comrade’s Story . 59
Pewter Canteen Used by Sam Davis . 65
Tribute to Sam Davis . 66
Epitaphs . 69
Sam Davis’ Home — A Shrine . 70
Monuments to Sam Davis . 73
Genealogy :
Davis’ Family . 83
Simmons Family . 107
Collier Family . 115
Gee Family . 123
Ingram Family . 134
Pressley Family . 135
Thweatt Family
.. 137
~S)atn 2)auiJ ~~Mome — i^e^ore {Restoration
Sa m Davis As a Child
The pages of history reveal that in every war there appears a man whose courage and zeal stands out from all other. This man may be a general or he may be of the lowest rank and file.
During the War Between the States, 1861-1865, there lived in Tennessee a lad named Sam Davis, who was born on a farm near Smyrna in Rutherford County, October 6, 1842, the eldest son of Charles Lewis Davis and his second wife, Jane Simmons. His ancestors were of good, steady Virginia and North Carolina stock — the kind of people who through hard work and many struggles, laid the foundation for the American way of life.
It was a comfortable home, nestled beneath the oaks and elms which spread above and the songs of the babbling creek nearby; but, for the sternness of the father, Charles Lewis Davis, whose thought was only that his children should grow into the best citizens, it was a quiet, peaceful home. This stern¬ ness was often overcome by the gentle nature of a mother’s love for her children, for Jane Simmons Davis was just such a mother.
When Sam was quite young, five or six years old, his father purchased a tract of rich land in the same community where he had lived for many years and where Sam was born; there he built a more modern and commodious residence, that his sons and daughters might find comfort and pleasure.
It was in these surroundings the boy Sam grew to the age of nineteen years in the loving companionship with the mother he so closely resembled; the father he did not fear, but respected his every command; and his brothers and sisters with whom his leisure hours were spent in play.
Young Sam had very distinctive traits of character, even as a small child; he was quiet and refined; these traits he inherited from his mother, whose soft black eyes seemed ever moist with unshed tears, as if nature had forecast in her features the tragic fate of her first born, whom she so idolized.
After completing such education as was afforded in their home community, then a boy of nineteen, the stern father thought the time had arrived for his son to be sent elsewhere to complete his education. Talking the matter over with his ever-wise wife, they decided that Sam should be sent to the Military Academy at Nashville under the able management of Bushrod R. Johnson (later Brig-Genl. in the Confederate Army, who commanded Buckner’s division) and Kirby Smith (later General in the Confederate Army and active at Cum¬ berland Gap and in the Kentucky campaign).
This school, although having gone through some trials and tribulations, was the oldest in Middle Tennessee. The Military Academy had originated with the University of Nashville during the pioneer days, when General James Robertson was representing the new County of Davidson in the Legislature of North Carolina. General Robertson had formed an idea of establishing an Academy at Nashville and while attending the Legislature made the acquaint¬ ance of the Rev. Thomas B. Craighead, a Presbyterian Clergyman and teacher of excellent qualifications, whom he interested in the scheme. In December, 1785, they procured the passage of a bill by the Legislature of North Caro¬ lina entitled, “An act for the Promotion of Learning in Davidson County.”
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Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
This was the original act which laid the foundation for an institution of learn¬ ing at Nashville known first as Davidson Academy, then as Cumberland College, and lastly as the University of Nashville. The conversion of the Academy into a College was brought about by a petition to the Legislature on July 19, 1806.
By an act of Congress passed in April, the State of Tennessee was authorized to issue and perfect title to certain lands therein mentioned and the General Assembly of the State, by an act to establish a college in West Tennessee in¬ corporated a body of nineteen trustees, placing Rev. Thomas B. Craighead, as the first named in the list. “By the name of the trustees of Davidson College.”
Rev. Mr. Craighead served as President of the College two years and three months or until October 24, 1809, when Dr. James Priestly was unanimously elected and took his seat as President of the Board of Trustees, January 30, 1810.
The progress of Davidson Academy is a matter of especial interest to Nash¬ ville. As the impretending Academy and as Davidson College under Craighead, as the more ambitious Cumberland College under the wise management of Dr. Priestly it grew with the progress of society and gave form, tone, cohesion, lustre, and the means of nobler growth to the society around it.
The college was revived and reorganized at the close of 1824.
In 1850 after having passed through a career of brillant prosperity, the university was compelled to suspend its work for want of funds. At this period a few distinguished gentlemen of the medical profession, organized the Medical Department of the University of Nashville and then the buildings were used for that purpose.
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The buildings for the Literary Department were erected, 1853-4, a short distance from the old college.
The Literary Department was again opened in 1855 and General Bushrod R. Johnson made superintendent. It was conducted on the military plan until the breaking out of the Civil War (War Between the States) when the buildings were used as a hospital.
After the war the trustees of the University located the Montgomery Bell Academy in the buildings of the Literary Department of the University. The funds for this were derived from a bequest of twenty thousand dollars by the then late Montgomery Bell, a man whose name is inseparably connected with the development of the iron interests of the state, and who had the honor of furnishing to General Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans all the cannon balls used in that famous conflict.
Sam Davis, therefore, was entered upon the rolls of the most distinctive institution of learning in Middle Tennessee. Sam left home in the early fall of 1860 to embark upon the ship of education. He soon became a favorite at the Academy. His teachers found in him the elements of an excellent student; his schoolmates found a true, trustworthy friend. Young Sam had an attitude of directness of purpose and fine sense of honor, two outstanding traits which bound him to all who knew him. In later years his schoolmates spoke en¬ dearingly of him: “He was a friend and could be trusted implicitly.”
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
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Enters the Confederacy
Before the end of the school term in April, 1861, were heard the thud of soldiers, the rumble of the drums, through the land.
Mr. Lincoln had been inaugurated President on March 4, 1861; affairs in the Nation’s Capitol were in a turmoil; there was talk of Southern Independence; Centralization and States Rights; Slavery Recognition by the Constitution. These outcries, especially that of the slavery question, had made the Southern people consider the subject, and they had reached the deliberate conclusion that it was not contrary to the law of God. Mr. Lincoln himself was, in the beginning, averse to having the question of slavery considered as one of superior importance among the causes of the War. He admitted that the right to hold slaves was expressly guaranteed by the Constitution, which he declared himself most anxious to uphold. Later on he proclaimed the emancipation had become ‘"a military necessity” on which ground he proceeded to act.
Not so much to preserve or extend slavery, nor to have more power to reclaim their fugitive slaves — which must be more difficult to do from a foreign country than from sister states — did the Southern States secede from the Union. They took the momentous step, because for years they had striven in vain to secure and maintain the rights assured to them under the Constitution. The Northern States had taken their stand against the equal rights of all the states in the possession of the Territories. They were not shaken in their opposition by the decision of the Supreme Court against them, and proceeded to manifest their utter disregard of it or anything contrary to their determination to control the government according to their own will. The election of Mr. Lincoln by a party, formed on the ground of hostility to them, brought these differences to a crisis, and the South took her affairs into her own hands and left the Union. Even her enemies are constrained to acknowledge that the rights she claimed were hers under the Constitution and to justify their own action by an appeal to what they call “the Higher Law.”
In April, Mr. Lincoln calling upon the several states to furnish 75,000 troops, “to suppress combinations in the seceded states too powerful for the law to contend with” thus, broke out what is more often termed in history as the “Civil War” or the “War Between the States,” which lasted from 1861 to 1865. The two factions being designated in terms of the “Federals” meaning the Northern States, and the “Confederates” a term used by the Southern States.
In April, 1861, when the outburst came, young Sam Davis, barely twenty years of age, felt the call to duty. Being descended from men of valor and courage it is no wonder that he immediately answered by joining the Con¬ federacy, attached to the Rutherford Rifles, recruited in Rutherford County, under Capt. Ledbetter of Murfreesboro, which became Company I, of the First Tennessee Infantry, commanded by Colonel George Maney, in the early days of the conflict, being among the first to Volunteer.
His father, then beyond the age to endure war hardships, sent Sam away with his blessings. His mother, although with a heavy heart and a lump in her throat, encouraged the vigorous lad as he entered upon the final chapter of his career.
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Sam Davis — Confederate Hero 17
The regiment was in camp for some months, being trained in discipline and the duties of the service, and was then ordered to Virginia.
In the mountains of West Virginia, under that matchless leader, General Robert E. Lee, Sam Davis had his baptism of war, his command, in the sum¬ mer and fall of 1861, taking part in that unsuccessful campaign to hold the western area of the Old Diminion.
Life in the Alleganies was delightful until the fall passed into winter, the rain, the cold and the snow, with the Soldiers from the South clad in clothing suitable only to a Southern climate. With General Lee they fought at “Cheat Mountain'5 and against “Big Sewell Mountain,” also several severe skirmishes.
Later in December the Lirst Tennessee was ordered to “Stonewall” Jackson (General T. J. Jackson) at Winchester, in the Virginia Valley, which he was ordered to defend against the Lederal advance from the north and west, and on “Christmas Day” of 1861, Sam Davis and his comrades tramped down the valley turnpike through Virginia snow and bitter cold to join the new Com¬ mander.
Under the command of Jackson, in January, 1862, they made the advance on Bath and Romney, suffering severely from the blizzard weather of sleet and snow, but their endurances embursed, by the enemy being driven across the Potomac to a refuge in Maryland.
This was the beginning of the year 1862. Jackson advanced from Win¬ chester to the north and northwest. The ice and snow covered rocky roads cutting their feet; never hesitating they trudged onward. But, knowing that on account of the difficulty of moving an army he would not be expected, Jackson began the series of rapid marches which afterwards gave his soldiers the title of “Loot Cavalry.” He first moved to the Potomac where he de¬ stroyed some dams of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, tore up the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and so frightened the people of Maryland with a threat of invasion that reinforcements were speedily sent to oppose him. Having accomplished his object, Jackson moved in the night, turned his course west¬ ward, and, crossing two mountain ranges, struck the Lederal camp at Romney and drove all the enemy from that region, making some important captures. He then returned to Winchester with his soldiers in fine spirits, notwithstanding the hardships of their brief campaign, their suffering from hunger and cold, and their frost-bitten ears, fingers and toes.
Then came the word of the disasters in Tennessee. Port Henry and Port Donelson, on the Tennessee River, fell into the hands of the enemy, thus open¬ ing the middle section of the state to the occupancy of the Lederal troops.
At the same time the affairs in Western Kentucky went badly for the Southern cause. General Polk still held control of the Mississippi River from his strong position at Columbus; General Albert Sidney Johnston, commander of all the Confederate forces in the West, had his headquarters at Bowling Green. Between him and Polk ran the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. The Lederals held the mouths of these rivers, and had collected a fleet of ironclad gunboats and transports for troops, with which ihey hoped to penetrate the heart of the Confederacy. To prevent this, Port Henry had been built on the
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
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eastern bank of the Tennessee River, and Fort Donelson on the western bank of the Cumberland, in Tennessee, just below the Kentucky line, where the rivers are not more than twelve miles apart. Both were earthworks pretty strong on the water front but weak on the land side. Fort Henry was much the smaller, and was held by about 2,200 men with seventeen cannons.
On February 6th, Commodore Foote with seven gunboats steamed up the Tennessee and attacked Fort Henry. The torpedoes placed in the stream, on which the Confederates had relied to destroy the Federal fleet, proved defective. The gunboats halted at a convenient distance and poured a storm of cannon shot and shell into the fort. Several of the larger guns defending it burst, and General Tilghman found it impossible to continue the fight. The attacking land forces which were expected to cooperate with the gunboats could not do so on account of swollen creeks, and most of the garrison made its escape to Fort Donelson before General Tilghman lowered his flag and surrendered himself and sixty men. The opening of the Tennessee River was a tremendous blow to the South. Several of the gunboats proceeded up the river as far as Florence, Alabama, destroying bridges and Confederate property, and making it clear that the way would soon be open for the advance of the Union Army into the Gulf States.
Nashville, Tennessee, was of vast importance to the Confederates, for valuable stores of all sorts had been collected there. Its capture would be disastrous to them and of great encouragement to the Union cause. But, before that, Fort Donelson must be overcome. General Albert Sidney John¬ ston was, therefore, most anxious to hold it, and sent thither reinforcements to the number of 14,000 under Generals E. B. Buckner, Pillow, and Floyd, the last having brought his force from western Virginia, after finding himself unable to hold out against General Rosecrans. Fort Donelson was much larger and stronger than Fort Henry, and was well defended by earthworks and heavy batteries. On the land side there was also, at some distance, an encircling line of breastworks and rifle-pits, the interval between them and the fort being made difficult with an abatis — forest trees cut down and falling one upon another with their branches pointing outward. Against this strong position General Ulysses Simpson Grant moved, on February 12th, with some 17,000 men. He found it too formidable to be taken by assault, and waited during the 13th for reinforcements, and the cooperation of the gunboats, but kept up a harassing and destructive artillery fire in the meantime, the sharp¬ shooters on both sides picking off every man they could reach. Late in the day, an attempt was made to capture the batteries on the extremities of the line, which was defeated by the Confederates with heavy Union loss. The weather now became very cold, and a severe storm of snow and sleet set in. The soldiers on both sides suffered greatly from exposure, and many of the wounded were frozen to death during the night.
On the 14th, the Federal reinforcements and gunboats both reached the scene of action. The fort was invested, and an attack by the fleet was first determined upon. The Confederate water batteries were powerful and ably served, and they beat off the gunboats in an hour and a half, striking them one hundred and fifty times and severely wounding Commodore Foote. Assaults
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Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
on the breastworks were also repulsed, and General Grant seemed no nearer success than before. But the Confederate commanders knew that it would be impossible for them to maintain their position long against the heavy force which could be brought to attack them, both on the river and the land. Floyd, the ranking officer, thought it their way to Nashville. They held a council on the night of the 14th, at which they adopted a plan.
At early dawn of the 15th, Pillow s men and Forrest s cavalry advanced upon McClernand, who held the Federal right and the principal road to Nash¬ ville. Buckner moved from their left and also attacked the Federal centre. The fighting was gallant on both sides, but inch by inch, the Northern line was forced back. By nine o’clock their whole right wing was driven from its position, and the road to Nashville was cleared.
Fresh troops of General Lew Wallace came to the aid of McClernand’s forces, and General Grant, who had gone to consult with Foote on his vessel, returned to the field, took command and ordered an advance all along his line. In this second encounter of the troops, the superior numbers of the besiegers proved the stronger; Smith, on their left, carried the breastworks in his front, and the Confederates were driven back to the shelter of their works. Again, a night of intense cold; both sides slept on their arms, and suffered from cold, hunger and fatigue. General Grant determined to renew the assault on the next morning, Sunday, the 16th.
Floyd thought it necessary, but, determined to save himself and his Vir¬ ginia brigade, turned over the command to Pillow, and crossing the river in the darkness, made his escape with his command. Pillow followed his example. Forrest’s cavalry also moved off during the night, General Buckner upon whom the responsibility devolved by his superior officers deserting their posts, felt that he could no longer hold his beleaguered position; and before the Federal attack could be renewed, on the morning of the 16th, he sent a flag of truce to General Grant, asking what terms of surrender would be accorded the garrison. To this Grant replied that “Unconditional surrender” alone would prevent a re-opening of the fight. Buckner was forced to submit to this demand, and Donelson with from 10,000 to 14,000 prisoners, all the guns, several thousand horses and considerable stores, passed into Grant’s hands.
About this time reinforcements were needed to help drive out the invaders, and the First Tennessee was called back to its native soil. Young Sam Davis tired and worn from battle, stuck to his duty and when the First Tennessee was rushed to Corinth, Mississippi, to join the Confederate forces concentrated there, he was with them.
By April 3rd, General Grant with 38,000 troops was well posted at Pitts¬ burg Landing on the south bank of the Tennessee River, where they were protected by their gunboats. General Buell was known to be coming to join Grant with a force equal to his own. General Johnston determined to attack Grant on the early morning of the 5th. General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, a Frenchman from Louisiana, was second in command, while the army corps were led by Generals Braxton, Bragg, William J. Hardee, Leonidas Polk of Louisiana, and Breckinridge of Kentucky.
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Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
Heavy rains swelled the streams and made the marching so difficult that the attacking forces could not get into positions until the night of the 5th. On the morning of the 6th, the Confederate army moved upon General Grant and his subordinate generals, Sherman, McClernand, Hurlbut, Prentiss, and W. H. L. Wallace, who held positions around Shiloh Church. The front line was soon carried. Prentiss with 3,000 men was captured, General W. H. L. Wallace was killed, and the Confederates everywhere pressed back the Federals, notwith¬ standing a stout resistance. By two o’clock the victory seemed assured, but at this important moment, General A. S. Johnston, of Texas, who had exposed himself constantly in the hottest part of the fight, was struck in the thigh with a minie-ball while leading his troops. A great artery was cut. There was no surgeon near, and the gallant soldier was lifted from his horse and carried to the shelter of a ravine where he died in a little while. His loss was irretrievable to the Army of the South. The Southern troops were kept in ignorance of the death of the commander in whom they had the greatest confidence, and General Beauregard, of Louisiana, for a while carried on the contest, but he was sick and could not press his advantage to the utmost before his enemy could receive reinforcements. The Federals had been driven to the bank of the river and the shelter of their gunboats; but there was still an hour of daylight, the Southern army was flushed with victory, and only another vigorous assault upon the demoralized enemy was necessary to drive him into the water to compel him to surrender. At this time, when absolute victory seemed within the Confederate grasp, the gunboats opend fire with cannon shot and shell. The Confederates were sheltered from this bv the height of the bluff, and became less and less exposed as they neared the enemy; but Beauregard took the position that his men were in an exhausted condition, and exposed to murderous fire, and ordered them to be withdrawn from the field. They had captured most of Grant’s artillery, a number of flags, and thousands of prisoners, and they oc¬ cupied the camp from which the Federals had been driven. On the strength of this, Beauregard telegraphed to Richmond that he had “gained a complete victory.” During the night Buell came up with as many fresh troops as the Southern army contained, so that he outnumbered them nearly two to one. The fight was renewed by an attack upon the Southerners, who were gradually driven from the position they had taken the day before to their original place. This was the bloodiest battle that had yet been fought. The Confederates lost 10,699 men, and the Federals 13,573.
Less than twelve months, after Sam Davis entered service, the young Ten¬ nessee Soldier had served under four of the ablest generals of the Confederacy, and such examples of the highest type of soldier well may have inspired the boy to emulate their patriotic devotion.
From time to time good reports of the bravery of the boy reached his home.
Joins the Scouts
After General Braxton Bragg was placed in command of the Army of Tennessee, operating in territory overrun by the enemy, a company of scouts was organized to be the “eyes and ears” of the army in discovering plans of the Federals. These men were selected for their known loyalty and courage, and Sam Davis, notwithstanding his youth, was chosen as one of the number because of “his coolness and daring and power of endurance.”
This news reached his home in the autumn of 1863. It was received with a silent smile yet a prayer unheard, for his safety, by his mother who did not have to be told that her son was all that her heart wanted him to be, courageous and discrete.
These scouts were commanded by Captain H. B. Shaw, but were designated as “Coleman’s Scouts,” for Captain Shaw had assumed that name to hide his real identity, as his operations were within the enemy lines; ordinarily he posed as an itinerant doctor, but to Confederate officials and to his scouts he ^ was known as “Captain E. Coleman, Commander of Scouts.” All communica¬ tions to and from him were so addressed and signed, in order that he might be protected should any of the papers fall into the hands of the enemy. Through this disguise his life was saved.
The scouts worked more or less openly since they wore their Confederate uniforms and were never disguised. They could not stay or safely stop at their homes in the territory, but had to get needed rest and sleep in thickets or other hiding places, where friends and relatives would visit them with food and clothing, and often report information of great value as to the enemy. The danger was great and outnumbered the possibilities of good luck so greatly that they dared not be seen for fear of being reported on by the slaves or “home-made Yankees.” Especially helpful in every way were their brave women friends.
Capt. Shaw, disguised as a wandering herb doctor, and using the assumed name of E. Coleman, operated unsuspected through the country surrounding Nashville, Franklin, Columbia, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Pulaski and other Tennessee towns then in possession of the Federals. The private scouts, not like Coleman or Shaw, were not supplied with any disguise and wore “the gray” with daring pride even when operating inside the Federal lines.
In the fall of 1863, Davis and five other scouts were detailed to get positive information as to the plan of action of General Grant's army in Tennessee. They were not to fail; the information must be had at any cost. The assign¬ ment was a perilous one. The sight of “the gray” meant only one thing, an attack by overwhelming numbers. Young Davis well knew the spot he was placed in, but he did not falter; he entered this service without fear or hesita¬ tion.
During the same time General G. M. Dodge, U. S. A., was moving his 16th Army Corps, from Corinth, Mississippi, to reinforce General Grant at Chatta¬ nooga, and had reached Pulaski on the way. For some reason he thought fit to fortify the place. General Bragg was, of course, on the alert to intercept
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Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
the juncture of Federal troops, and the Confederate scouts were particularily keen “eyes and ears” in reporting their every move. Their activity and alert¬ ness in learning the secrets of the Federal operations became most irritating, and General Dodge ordered his men to wipe out the band if possible.
The 7th Kansas Cavalry, called “Jay Hawkers,” were scouting the country in this effort and captured a number of the scouts.
Having learned that information was seemingly leaking into the hands of the enemy, General Dodge was especially anxious to capture their leader. The General knew that such information could be obtained only through a traitor in his official household, and he set out to find that traitor.
All this time the scouts continued to have the dangers, which grew more and more hazardous as the enemy pressed them closely.
Since Sam Davis had been given a place of peculiar difficulty and re¬ sponsibility, having been chosen by his captain who knew the lad “had learned as a boy and soldier to fear nothing and to obey orders, and his known courage and winning personality fitted him for the dangers and difficulties of his position.” The Feclerals knowing of the fearless scouts and their operations in the vicinity, became more and more alert and eager to destroy the band which watched their every movement and reported it to their general, therefore, the life of a scout hung on a slender thread, for they were considered as spies. Sam Davis found many and dangerous encounters with the enemy but was fortunate in escaping capture or death, the fate of many of his comrades, until that fatal day in November, 1863.
Visits Home
While engaged on his dangerous mission he found himself in the vicinity of Smyrna, and overcome with the nearness to home, and the desire to see the home folks, he decided to slip into the house at the first opportunity, no matter the great risk of being captured.
At that very moment he had in his possession papers, which he well knew would mean his death, if captured. He knew that he would be at the mercy of his foes should he be discovered.
Yes, he had credentials, his pass read as follows:
“Headquarters General Bragg’s Scouts, Middle Tennessee, Sept. 25, 1863.
Samuel Davis has permission to pass on scouting duty any where in Middle Tennessee or north of the Tennessee River he may think proper.
By order of General Bragg,
E. Coleman, Commanding Scouts.”
With caution Davis approached his home one night in November, 1863; gently tapped on the window. Those ever watching and listening within under¬ stood. Softly the door opened and he was clasped in the arms of his dear mother; his head on her bosom, he surveyed the familiar family room, mean¬ while talking in very low tone in order not to attract attention or create undue excitement from the younger children, already retired for the night. Young Sam was so happy to see his mother’s sweet smile and understanding expres¬ sion once again.
Sam’s home, unlike many an old Southern house, was a large two-storied frame building with broad verandas on the sides and a typical front with mas¬ sive columns. To the west flow the blue waters of Stewart’s Creek, which a mile or so further down empties into Stones River. The history of the village of old Jefferson is pregnant with events associated with the lives of men who afterwards attained national prominence in war and affairs of state. No doubt, Davis, while passing a glance about the familiar room in which he stood, could hear the echo, as he had heard as a small boy, the deeds and actions of those recounted at the village stores and then determined that life to him should not move in the narrow circle of rural quietude and inaction.
While he was resting in the arms of his mother in the quiet and still of the night, young Davis knew that he must be going on to his destination and duty. His two young sisters supposedly asleep, were watching out of the corner of an eye, with ears perked on every word, though they understood little of what was said. He arose to leave, turned and bent above the low bed as he said im¬ pulsively: “Mother, I must look at the children.” “Sh-h! Be careful,” whispered Mrs. Davis, in terror lest the little ones should learn of their brother’s return and by some incautious word to the servants be the means of betraying him to the Federals. She was nervously alarmed, therefore, when Sam’s dark head bent still lower to snatch a kiss from the lips of each childish slumberer. The one who feigned sleep, battling with her longing to throw her arms around her soldier brother’s neck, managed still to keep quiet while he
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Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
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Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
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was hurried from the room by the apprehensive mother, who sped him on his errand and danger, once more with a fervid "'God Bless My Son.""
During these few brief moments, telling his mother he must hurry to secure some valuable papers awaiting him, Davis left his Smyrna home to return shortly.
The papers in hand, he returned home to get the overcoat which his mother had dyed during his absence, and a pair of boots which had been repaired by his father, the kind of boots worn by both civilians and soldiers, in general use until the later eighties. His saddle pockets were filled with food (possibly Tennessee country ham) to sustain him on his return journey to Alabama.
Clad in the blue Federal overcoat dyed with the only coloring available at the time — the hulls of the butternut, or white walnut, which abounded in Tennessee — Davis again said “good-bye” to the mother and father he cherished for the last time, and headed for the rendezvous with other members of Coleman’s scouts, at or near Pulaski, Giles County, Tennessee.
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Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
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The Papers and the Capture
It was agreed that all should leave for Alabama on Friday night, November 19th, each man for himself. It was at this rendezvous that Shaw (Coleman) gave Davis a letter he had written to the provost marshal of the Confederate Army of Tennessee. He also, gave him seven Nashville, three Louisville, and one Cincinnati newspapers, some toilet articles and two small blank books for General Bragg, after which Davis and some comrades started to Decatur, Ala¬ bama, there to take the “scout line” to Bragg’s headquarters. Captain Cole¬ man had committed to his care certain papers giving late and important news to General Bragg.
The scattered scouts set out. Sam Davis was captured at Minor Hill, Giles County, Tennessee, on the Lamb’s Ferry Road, the next day — November 20th. Captain Shaw, Joshua Brown and W. J. Moore, three others of the band, were all captured that day or the following day at separate places. They were in- ^ carcerated in the jail at Pulaski with Sam Davis.
At the Tennessee River they had encountered the “Jayhawkers"' by whom they were captured. His captors knew that he was a member of Coleman’s Scouts.
Brown had counted every infantry regiment and piece of artillery in the Sixteenth Corps and committed the information to memory, for he knew there was danger before he could cross the Tennessee River. Brown, who was a successful broker in New York after the war, talked with Davis in the jail. He says, over his own signature, that Shaw gave Davis the papers near Nash¬ ville and that the only paper of any value that came from Pulaski was Shaw’s letter dated November 18th.
Sam Davis, his commander, Capt. H. B. Shaw (E. Coleman) and others of the detachment of Bragg’s scouts had had a very successful but very hazardous sojourn in Middle Tennessee. They had watched General G. M.
27
28
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
Dodge’s command of the Union Army, a part of the Sixteenth Corps, march from Corinth, Mississippi, to Pulaski, Tennessee, and had accurate information as to the strength of the Federal forces in Tennessee, their movements and description of the work at Nashville and other points. The Scouts had agreed to begin their journey to rejoin Bragg’s Army on the night of November 19th.
Among Davis’ papers are said to have been one showing accurately the numbers and disposition of the federal troops in Tennessee north of Duck River, because General Rousseau’s authority extended only to Duck River. This information may have come from some federal officer, but there is nothing but hearsay to support this statement, and there is direct and positive evidence that the papers were handed to Davis by his chief, Capt. H. B. Shaw, whose use of a nom-de-guerre, Capt. E. Coleman, was to save his life when he was captured. Some writers have made the statement that Davis obtained the papers in or near Nashville, but no supporting evidence has been found, except the story of Mr. Joe Smith, given elsewhere in this story.
One can imagine the earnest whispered conversations among Shaw, Brown, Moore and Davis in the jail at Pulaski. Brown says, Davis told of the papers found on him and in his saddle seat and of Shaw’s letter and the newspapers found in his boots. He also says that Davis was dressed in a dark blue Federal > army overcoat which had been dyed brown, such as many Confederates had captured and converted to their use. After the war, Brown, made a thorough study of the affair, receiving the assistance of General Dodge, saying that he thought Davis had on a gray uniform, under the captured overcoat. General Dodge, however, writing forty-three years after the event, says that Davis wore a faded blue coat, army boots and a black hat.
Articles in early 1870’s in the Nashville Union American , daily newspaper, and in the “Annals of the Army of Tennessee” by Col. J. B. Killebrew, an accurate historian, who had the benefit of information from a number of residents of Pulaski who were there when Davis was executed, say that Davis wore no disguise.
Upon reaching Pulaski, Davis was questioned by Dodge’s provost marshal, Captain W. F. Armstrong, who, gaining no information, sent him to the general’s headquarters at once.
The general and the scout had another interview the next morning in which the former told the boy soldier that the charge against him, of being a spy was very serious, that he had obtained possession of very accurate information of the Federal Army and he (Dodge) must know how he obtained it.
\ oung Davis realized the seriousness of the situation but he declared he was willing to take the consequences. General Dodge insisted on knowing the name of the person from whom he had gotten the information expressing the belief that it must have come from one near headquarters, or one who had the con¬ fidence of his staff. A refusal to give the name, General Dodge said, would necessitate the calling of a court-martial and from the proof in the commanders hands there could be but one verdict — DEATH.
1 he young soldier resolutely refused to tell the source of the information. The court-martial was forthwith called.
29
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
On July 22, 1926, the citizens of Giles County, aided by a contribution of $2,500 by the State Monument Commission of Tennessee, erected a marble tablet marking the spot where Sam Davis, the Confederate Hero, was captured in 1863. This is located near Minor Hill in Giles County, Tennessee, about fourteen miles southwest of Pulaski.
Possibly the best information regarding the documents carried by Davis from Nashville, came to light in an article by Christine Sadler, published in the Nashville Banner, of March 13, 1932, which reads as follows:
“Out of the Southland — region of poetry and song, though it is — have come no more stirringly beautiful words than those immortalized by the youthful martyr, Sam Davis, when he declared at Pulaski in 1863, ‘I would die a thou¬ sand deaths before I would betray a friend or be false to a duty.’
“As Nathan Hale’s T regret that I have but one life to lose for my country’ typifies American patriotism at one of its most ardent moments, so do these words typify Confederate loyalty at its best — -the loyalty which wrote itself in four years’ of bloodshed, and the same loyalty which beat strong in Dixie’s heart long after the last wavering gray line had disappeared.
“For any friend it would have been the same with Sam Davis, and with other Southerners. So much was this loyalty expected and accepted that in this instance historians have never concerned themselves so much with where the boy hero of the Confederacy obtained the papers which Kansas Jayhawkers tore from the soles of his boots and took from the seat of his saddle — papers for the possession of which the .young soldier was hanged as a spy.
“Unwritten History — The principal part of the Sam Davis story would re¬ main the same in any instance, and whispered tales of how information traveled from Federal to Confederate lines were not whispered so loudly during years of the reconstruction. Some there were who would not tell, could not. Con¬ federate veterans had more important things to attend to, and soldiers fresh from battle are never exceedingly talkative.
“It is not surprising, then, that some of our best Confederate stories and charming bits of history remain unwritten. When the first connected and straight-running story of the unhappy Confederacy was published in 1931, the big surprise was that no one had done it before. Southerners, it seems, have taken their history much for granted and supposed that others knew their stories.
“And so one is not completely astonished when he learns that ‘Uncle Joe’ Smith, eighty-eight years old, Confederate veteran, has carried around under his hat for many years the story of where Sam Davis came to secure the Yankee engineer’s plans which were responsible for his early death — a story which is interesting enough within itself but which leads into one of the most over¬ looked and thrillingly dramatic phases of the entire conflict.
“This phase deals with the story of how a group of Confederate women in Middle Tennessee rendered the Confederacy an invaluable spying service, and centers around the beautiful Sally Carter of Franklin — woman superb, who was able to match her brains with her charm, who sold $199,000 worth of cotton from two Louisiana plantations when the majority of Southern planters were
30
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
burning their crops rather than see them pass into the hands of the Federals, who obtained 500 barrels of contraband salt for the Confederacy, and who warned the Confederacy that the Federals were marching on Murfreesboro.
“PAPERS ENTRUSTED— That Sally Carter should deliver a Yankee’s plans into the hands of someone to give to Sam Davis, the best known of Cole¬ man's scouts, would then have been no stirringly different event. Mrs. Carter had accomplished deeds requiring more ability and she was yet to help in the Battle of Franklin.
“George Lumsden, Nashville merchant, who ran a leather business on Second Avenue, was the man to whom the papers were entrusted second, according to Mr. Smith, who lived for many years on a farm adjoining the Lumsden farm about fifteen miles from Nashville on the Hillsboro Road.
“Mr. Lumsden was permitted by the Federals to travel between his business in town and his plantation in the country. Sam Davis, according to the story, came to his home for the plans. ‘Mr. Lumsden was carrying the paper in his pocket when he saw a bunch of Federal cavalry coming.’ Mr. Smith said. ‘He was overseering some fence changing on his place, and although he car¬ ried the Federal pass he knew he could be searched. Quickly and uncon¬ cernedly he dropped the paper over the fence — afraid to look back lest his action be noticed.’
“When the cavalrymen found no papers on Mr. Lumsden, he engaged them in conversation and guided them away from the place where the paper was hidden by telling them that the best road led on the other side of the house, according to the story Mr. Lumsden told Mr. Smith some years after the war was over.
“Mr. Smith said that it was generally known among the soldiers that Sally Carter was a spy and that there were two other women who helped her. He has always thought that one of these women lived in Pulaski and the other in Nashville, although he is now unable to recall the names of the other two. According to Franklin residents, Mrs. Carter’s closest allies were two other Franklin women. The daughter of Mrs. Carter, Mrs. R. N. Richardson, now lives in Franklin in the home which her mother bought during the Civil War. The fame of Sam Davis has grown with the years. The monument to him on the Capitol grounds was not erected until the early years of the twentieth century and his home has been a state shrine only since 1930.
“MURFREESBORO WARNING — Mrs. Richardson has heard her mother recall many incidents in her colorful life. Concerning the Murfreesboro warning, she said:
“ ‘My mother and one of her friends were going into Nashville. Everyone told them they must not mention the fact that Colonel Smith had a regiment of Confederate soldiers stationed here in Franklin. The girl with my mother, though, took great pains to remark time and again to her friends that Franklin was just overrun with soldiers. But when my mother was questioned she de¬ clared there were none. The Federals arrested her and would have put her in prison, but she sent for her cousin, William Campbell, who had been Governor and who was a Federal sympathizer. She made him secure her release.
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
31
“ ‘Then, my mother told her cousin that she must get back to Franklin as had been planned, but the cousin said it was impossible. My mother told him she must get back to her four children. He told her that even he could not get out of Nashville that day — that the Federals were preparing to march on Murfreesboro. Well, my mother did get out. She hired a boy to drive her and brought him home by ways she knew through the country. When she arrived she sent my brother with a note to Colonel Smith and when the Federals came looking for the regiment, they were already in Murfreesboro.’
“MARRIED THREE TIMES — Mrs. Carter, who was born Sarah Ewing, was married three times. Mrs. Richardson is her daughter by her first mar¬ riage, to Boyd McNairy Sims. Joseph W. Carter, the second husband, was dead when the Civil War was fought. After the war Mrs. Carter married Judge John C. Gaut.
“Perhaps the most remarkable story about Sally Carter relates to her selling two cotton crops from the two plantations which Mrs. Adelicia Acklen — who lived in the beautiful home, Belmont — owned in Louisiana. It is said that Mrs. Acklen bought beautiful dresses for the occasion. She was a cousin of Sally Carter and while a very charming woman she was said not to have had the vivacious magnetism of the lovely Sally.
“Mrs. Carter’s four children had to be sent away from home. The two little boys went to stay with relatives in Lebanon and the two girls were brought to Belmont. The intrepid women planned to be away from Nashville about six weeks. They were gone eight months.
“Addie was delicate. My mother drove a mule all up and down the lines, interviewing both Confederate and Federal Generals. From the Federals she obtained permission to ship the cotton from the plantation, providing it was not sold to the Confederacy. She sold it to English merchants for $199,000 through New Orleans and they came home by boat by way of New York, she said.
“In the home where Mrs. Richardson lives Mrs. Carter helped an army surgeon amputate the leg of Captain Hickey of Missouri, after the battle of Franklin. Mrs. Richardson said, ‘She was beautiful but she was not afraid when things had to be done and there was no one else to do them.’
“Mrs. Gaut never stopped her patriotic work. She helped organize a U.D.C. chapter in Franklin and was one of the leading figures in securing the Confederate monument for the Franklin Square.
“ ‘Uncle Joe’ said that he did not recall ever talking to Sam Davis but that he knew him by sight and reputation. The veteran belonged to the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment and fought in all his company’s battles except those after Franklin. He was wounded twice at Shiloh, once at Chickamauga, once at Peach Tree, and four times at Franklin. He remembers Beauregard as ‘a little Frenchman who looked like a little monkey perched on horseback.’ On May 25, he will be eighty-nine years of age. He lives with a daughter, Mrs. R. J. Hoskins. His other daughter, Mrs. J. W. Hoskins, lives at Wales Station.”
The Trial
General Dodge directed that a military commission be convened November 23rd, or as soon thereafter as practicable, composed of three members and a judge-advocate, all officers of Volunteers, to try Sam Davis.
In a letter written by General Dodge, to General J. F. Thompson at Griffin, Georgia, February 27, 1911, is the following: “Headquarters Lft. Wing. 16th A.C. Pulaski, Tennessee. November 20, 1863, General Orders No. 720. A Military Commission is hereby appointed to meet at Pulaski, Tennessee, on the 23rd, or as soon there-after as practicable for the trial of Sam Davis and such other persons as may be brought before it. Detailed for the Commission: 1. Col. Madison Miller, 18th Missouri Infantry Volunteers. 2. Lt. Col. Thomas W. Gaines, 50th Missouri Infantry Volunteers. 3. Major Lathrop, 39th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 4. Capt. George A. Elliott, 39th Iowa Infantry Volunteers, Judge Advocate.
“The commission will sit without regard to hours. By order of Brig. Gen. G. M. Dodge, J. W. Barnes, Lt. and A.A.A.G. Brig. General T. W. Sweeney, commander 2nd Division will cause the necessary arrangements to be made to carry out this order in the proper manner.”
In another letter from General Dodge, to the “Confederate Veteran,” the story of Davis is presented as follows: “Davis was a fine-looking soldierly young man, dressed in a faded blue Federal coat, an armv soft hat and top boots; he had a fresh open face, which was inclined to brightness; in all things he showed himself the true soldier; it was known by all the command that I desired to save him. ... I was very anxious to capture Coleman and break up his command. I 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 possible who was furnishing him with information so accurate and valuable to General Bragg. Davis met me modestly, I tried to impress upon him the danger he was in as only a mes¬ senger, I held out to him the hope of lenient treatment if he would answer truthfully my questions. 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 it. I pleaded with him with all the power I possessed to give me some chance to save his life. I discovered that he was a most admirable young fellow with the highest character and strictest integrity. He replied ‘I know, General,' that I will have to die, but I will not tell where I got the information, and there is no power on earth than can make me tell, I am doing my duty as a soldier, and if I have to die I shall be doing my duty to God and my country’.”
In the face of such firmness it seemed that nothing; more could be done. The military commission was convened within three days, the trial held.
The charges and specifications were as follows:
“Charge 1. Being a spy.”
“Specifications: Is this, that he Samuel Davis of Coleman’s Scouts, in the service of the so-called Confederate States, did come within the lines of the
32
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero 33
United States forces in Middle Tennessee, for the purpose of secretly gaining information concerning these forces and conveying the same to the enemy; and was arrested within said lines on or about November 20, 1863. This in Giles County, Tennessee.”
Charge 2: Being a carrier of mails, communications and information from within the lines of the United States Army to persons in arms against the United States government.”
“Specifications: In this, that the said Samuel Davis on or about November 20, 1363, was arrested in Giles County, Tennessee, carrying mails and informa¬ tion from within the lines of the United States forces to persons in arms against the United States Government.”
“To which charge and specifications, the accused pleaded as follows: To the specifications first charge: not guilty; to the charges: not guilty.
“To the specification second charge: guilty; to the charge, guilty.”
The following findings and sentence were imposed.
“The court finds the accused as follows: Of the specifications, first charge, guilty; of the second charge, guilty. Of the specification, second charge, guilty; of the second charge, guilty. The court does therefore sentence the said Samuel Davis of Coleman’s Scouts, in the service of the so-called Con¬ federate States, to be hanged by the neck until he is dead, at such time and place as the commanding general may direct, two-thirds of the members of the com¬ mission concurring in the sentence.
“Finding and sentence of the commission approved. The sentence will be carried into effect on Friday, November 27th, 1863, between the hours of 10 o’clock a.m. and 6 o’clock p.m. Brig.-Oen. F. W. Sweeney, commanding the Second Division, will cause the necessary arrangements to be made to carry out this order in the proper manner.
“The military commission of which Col. Madison Miller, Eighteenth Mis¬ souri Volunteer Infantry, is president is hereby dissolved.
“By order of Brig. Gen. G. M. Dodge. J. W. Barnes, First Lieutenant and A.A.G.”
Davis, it is seen, pleaded not guilty to the charge of spying but he did plead guilty to being a messenger carrying mails to persons in arms against the United States government.
It will be observed that the charge of being a spy was not described in correct legal terms. A specification must set forth some act of the accused that upholds or substantiates the charge. This specification merely sets forth the fact that Davis came into the lines of the United States forces for the purpose of secretly gaining information concerning the forces and conveying the same to the enemy and was arrested within such lines, a specification which described the role of a scout but not that of a spy. A scout who would go into the enemy’s lines and so conduct himself as to permit the enemy’s force to observe his movements would surely be subject as to investigation as to his sanity.
34
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
Nowhere was Davis charged with being disguised nor did the specifications recite the fact that so-called incriminating papers were found in his saddle seat and in his boots. As he pleaded not guilty to being a spy he must have been called upon to establish his innocence instead of the age-old principle of law being observed — that the accused is innocent until his guilt is proved.
Davis, when informed of the sentence expressed surprise at its severity, but with dauntless courage he resigned himself. He wrote in his memorandum book: “Hope something may turn up some day to let the officers that convicted me know I am innocent.”
G. W. Petway, a leading citizen of Giles County, went to see Davis. Davis said to him: “I do not fear death, but it makes me mad to think I am to die as a spy.”
Chaplain Young, Eighty-first Ohio Infantry, was with Sam Davis the day before the execution. That night at Sam’s request they sang together, “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand.” The chaplain prayed with him and for him to the end. He heard him, on the gallows, when offers of freedom were ad¬ vanced, if he would reveal the name of the person who gave him the papers found on him when captured, utter those words which ring down after all the intervening years: “I WOULD DIE A THOUSAND DEATHS BEFORE I WOULD BETRAY A FRIEND.”
Shaw, the person who gave Davis the papers, meanwhile, was in the jail with Brown and Moore the other members of Coleman’s Scouts. All were un¬ doubtedly in their proper uniforms when captured. Davis’ sacrifice prevented their incrimination. Treated as prisoners of war, they were sent to the northern prisons, but, Captain Shaw jumped from the train before it reached Louis¬ ville, Kentucky, and escaped.
Approached again and again to give the information sought, Davis still firmly refused to betray the confidence reposed in him, willing to die if need be to save that other who was “worth more to the Confederacy than I,” the boy said.
The day before his execution he wrote to his parents this pathetic letter:
“Pulaski, Giles County, Tenn.
Nov. 26, 1863.
“Dear Mother: 0 how painful it is to write you! I have got to die to-morrow — to be hanged by the Federals. Mother, do not grieve for me. I must bid you good-bye for evermore. Mother, I do not fear to die. Give my love to all.
Your dear son.
“Mother: Tell the children all to be good. I wish I could see all of you once more, but I never will any more.
“Mother and Father: Do not forget me. Think of me when I am dead, but do not grieve for me; it will not do any good.
“Father: you can send after my remains if you want to do so. They will be at Pulaski, Tennessee. I will leave some things, too, with the hotel keeper for you. “Pulaski is in Giles County, Tennessee, south of Columbia.”
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero m 35
General Dodge, in writing to the “Confederate Veteran, says that Davis was found to be a man of integrity, and it is not difficult to accept his denial of the charge that he had been guilty of spying. Had he entered Nashville as a spy and actually obtained the valuable papers from a federal officer there seems to be no doubt but that he would have pleaded guilty to the charge of spying. The pass that Davis used was intended only as a means of identification with southern sympathizers, because loyal southerners, who could supply food, shelter and a place of concealment, did not want to take the chance of being arrested and tried for harboring an enemy. They required strangers to identify themselves for federal spies were known to pass as Confederates and cause serious trouble to those who gave them help.
L. W. Forgrave, eighty -three years old at the time of an interview, pub¬ lished in the Murfreesboro newspaper, January 6, 1928, said that as a youth of eighteen he witnessed the execution of Davis and that he had on a black hat, gray trousers and pea jacket, and assuming that General Dodge’s statement regarding Davis’ clothing is correct; it is obvious that no Federal soldier within his own lines would wear gray Confederate breeches and butternut overcoat because his own blue uniform was to be had at all times. Army rules say: “In this country it has always been authorized to utilize uniforms captured from the enemy provided some striking mark or sign is attached to distinguish the American soldier from the enemy.” No mention has ever been made that any insignia or badge of the federal army was worn by Sam Davis. A spy is defined in Davis’ “International Law,” long used by the United States army officers as a textbook: “A person who enters the lines of an army in disguise or under false pretense for the purpose of securing information.” An individual who in the proper uniform of his army penetrates within an enemy’s lines is not a spy, for it is the duty of the enemy to maintain his lines of outposts at such strength and efficiency in point of numbers as will make it impossible for individuals to pass.
Rules of Land Warfare, a War Department document, says: “The fact of being in the enemy’s lines dressed as a civilian or wearing the enemy’s uniform is presumed to constitute a spy, but it is possible to rebut this presumption by proof of no intention to obtain military information. The charge with being a spy in the uniform of his state does not render it impossible for him to be a spy in fact, since he may have gained admission into the enemy’s lines under the privileges of the Red Cross and have taken advantage of the opportunity afforded him for obtaining information.”
Apparently, Sam Davis was dressed in proper uniform of his own army and was carrying messages and papers, but there was no penalty attached to a soldier in his proper uniform carrying messages to his own army. A civilian performing this service was, under the laws of war, subject to execution as a war traitor, scouts in uniform often penetrate the enemy's lines, reconnoiter and sketch the hostile positions and if captured are to be treated as prisoners of war and are not subject to trial as spies.
The fortifications about Nashville in 1863 could have been sketched from a number of elevations. The newspapers published the names of all organizations
36 Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
in the Nashville garrison and of every new officer that had arrived, so it would not have been difficult for Captain Shaw to obtain accurate information as to the Federal positions.
The fatal morning for young Davis came, and the boy whom even the enemy had come to like and wished to save was hurried to his death. In his story of “An Old-Fashioned Boy” the late Dr. Hamill, gives a vivid description of these last scenes.
At ten o’clock sharp the drums were beating the last roll, the military guard under Captain Armstrong was ready to escort him to the gallows place on Seminary Hill in the outskirts of the town of Pulaski, where soldiers by the thousands were marshaled for this tragedy of war. To his fellow prisoners Sam Davis waved good-bye with a smile as he left the jail to mount his coffin- seat in the military wagon.
At the gallows he dismounted and sat under a tree, looking at the swinging noose and around at the sympathizers of the assembled soldiers.
“How long have I to live, Captain Armstrong?” he asked.
“About fifteen minutes, Sam,” was the reply.
“What is the news from the front?”
Captain Armstrong told him of the battle and Bragg’s defeat, to which he said: “Thank you, Captain, but I am sorry to hear it.” Then, in sympathetic remembrance of the close comradeship of past years, he said: “The boys will have to fight their battles without me.”
Captain Armstrong broke down: “Sam, I would rather die myself than execute sentence upon you.”
To this came the reply: “Never mind, Captain, you are doing your duty. Thank you for all your kindness.”
Just then came Captain Chickasaw, riding swiftly, and, leaping to the ground, he placed himself by Sam’s side and pleaded that he would say the word that would mean freedom and safe return home. Sam arose to his feet and, with flashing eyes and uplifted face, made his last answer: “No, I cannot. I would rather die a thousand deaths than betray a friend or be false to duty.”
A Federal officer who was looking at Sam’s face wrote of him long after¬ wards: “The boy looked about him. Life was young and promising. Overhead hung the noose; around him were soldiers in line; at his feet was a box pre¬ pared for his body, now pulsing with young vigorous life; in front were the steps that would lead him to disgraceful death, and that death it was in his power to so easily avoid. For just an instant he hesitated, and then put aside forever the tempting offer. Thus ended a tragedy wherein a smooth-faced boy, without counsel, in the midst of enemies, with courage of highest type, deliberately chose death for life secured by means he thought dishonorable.”
While in prison awaiting trial and execution, Sam Davis formed a strong friendship with the Federal Chaplain, who came to know and admire the young soldier for his manly, Christian character. As a parting gift, Sam gave him the Federal overcoat he was wearing when captured, which his mother had dyed to make it suitable for him to wear. In 1897, hearing of the movement
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
37
to erect a monument to the heroic boy, the Chaplain, Rev. James Young, then living in Missouri, sent the coat to Mr. Cunningham, writing that he had worn it many times and had also used it to cover his little children on cold nights. He kept one button from the coat in memory of the boy he would have been glad to save from his tragic fate. This old coat, in a cedar case is now in the Confederate Room of the War Memorial Building at Nashville, it was given by Mr. W. B. Earthman, of Murfreesboro.
Any military court except the inferior ones is required to provide a written record of the proceedings, including the testimony of witnesses, and if this is not done it becomes in reality a drum-head court which is not legal in our military jurisprudence, although there are instances where summary executions are justifiable, that is, where a general officer in command and others of his force are eye-witnesses to a murder of one of his own men who had surrendered to the enemy. An exhaustive search of the War Department records in Wash¬ ington, results, nothing found of record of the trial or ever has been in that office.
There have been many theories advanced as to the person whom Sam Davis was shielding. Some have thought it must have been one of the enemy through whom had leaked the information and the maps of lines and fortifications in that section, which had been so helpful to General Bragg, and that Sam Davis died to save an enemy. Yet the boy’s own words that he would not betray a friend, and the fact that he was the trusted messenger of Coleman (Shaw) himself, point more strongly to the idea that he was protecting his commander, who had entrusted to him the incriminating documents. Coleman alone knew how and where they had been procured, and would suffer the fate of a spy should the boy reveal his connection with the papers.
It happened that Coleman also was in the jail that imprisoned Sam Davis, he and other scouts having been captured later, but his identity had not been discovered by the enemy, as he had given a fictitious name when captured, and those of his scouts who knew of his presence among them did not betray him. Doubtless Sam Davis also learned of the capture of his Captain and realized it would be but an exchange of victims if his identity became known, and that made him all the more determined to go to his death “For duty’s sake.”
One who has studied the trial and execution of Sam Davis as a case in law writes that it was sheer murder, for, by military law, no officer of the United States army was empowered to carry out the sentence of death by a military commission until it had been approved by the President; and he shows that even General Sherman had to abide by this law, though his judgment was for swift execution after sentence.
There is no record that President Lincoln was ever appraised of the sentence passed upon Sam Davis, or of his execution. Had General Dodge been as eager to save the boy as he claimed, why did he not give him a chance for life through the President’s decision, which at times inclined to leniency? Had President Lincoln reviewed the facts it is hardly probable that he would have approved the findings of the court, for the boy was but the messenger of another.
38
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
“As to the facts,” says this writer, “Sam Davis was a regularly enlisted soldier, engaged in scouting in the rear of the Federal army, wearing his uni¬ form and bearing the arms of a cavalryman, where all could see. ... Not being disguised, he should have been treated as an ordinary prisoner of war, as was his captain, who was captured the same day. But there were found on his person maps of such accuracy as seemed to have come from a traitorous Federal officer, and as Sam Davis would not trade his name for his life, his captors were so enraged at being checkmated, they exacted this boy’s life as a penalty for his honor and his devotion to the ‘Bonny Blue Flag’ and the cause it represented.”
Another writer comments thus upon the severity of the sentence; “It is true that plans of the fortifications in Middle Tennessee were found upon his person, but no proof further than his own admission was abduced to show that he was in possession of them in any other capacity than as a courier or letter carrier, and might, in the discharge of his duties as such, have involuntarily got within the lines. In addition to all these, his youth, his intelligence, his unflinching constancy under the severest trials and the greatest temptations, and his heroic conduct to the last, certainly should have induced a noble-hearted commander to give the prisoner the benefit of any doubt.”
The Battle of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge
(Battles and sketches of the army of Tennessee, by Bronfield L. Ridley. 1906)
NOTE: It is only fitting that the story of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, during the War of the Sixties, should be recited along with the services of Sam Davis; the story of Davis would not be complete without giving some information surrounding his duties, their importance, and the results, of which our hero was engaged at the time of his untimely execution. It is with this thought in mind the following is copied.
THE BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, NOVEMBER 24, 1863.— Report of Brigadier-General John K. Jackson, C.S. Army Commanding Cheatham’s Division, Hardee’s Corps.
Headquarters Cheatham’s Division,
Near Dalton, G., Dec. 21, 1863.
Major: — My report of the unfortunate disaster on Lookout Mountain on the 24th ultimo has been somewhat delayed in consequence of the delay of the brigade commanders which are herewith inclosed, require of me a report more in detail than I would otherwise make it and will excuse the personal cast which it assumes.
On November 9th, in conformity with orders from army headquarters, being temporarily in command of Cheatham’s division, I reported to Major-General W. H. T. Walker. A re-organization of the army having just taken place, I had with me to report to General Walker but on brigade of the division, Wright’s brigade having been left at Charleston, Tennessee, under orders, and Moore’s and Walthall’s brigades having not then reported to me under the new organization. My headquarters were located on the west of Chattanooga Creek, at a point advised by General Walker, and my brigade was placed where he directed. On the same day I was invited by General Walker to accompany him and Lieutenant-General Hardee to the Cravens House, which I did. The ground in that neighborhood was passed over, viewed, and discussed but no line to fight on was recommended by any one present. Indeed, it was agreed on all hands that the position was one extremely difficult of defense against a strong force of the enemy advancing under cover of a heavy artillery fire. General Walker’s opinion was expressed to the effect that at a certain point to which we had walked, which was a narrow pass, artillery should be placed in position extending to the left for a short distance toward the top of the moun¬ tain; that this would prevent any surprise by forces approaching in that direc¬ tion and at the same time they would answer the guns from the hills on the opposite side of Lookout creek; also to have artillery near the Cravens house to answer the Moccasin battery guns. By the first arrangement he said the artillery could have retreated by the road and the infantry, which was put there to defend the artillery and pass, would have felt strong and been better satisfied and better able to hold their position. He said his experience was that infantry care but little for artillefy if they have artillery to respond with, and that they are soon demoralized when they have quietly to sit and receive artillery fire without having some of their own to reply with. I ventured to express my own opinion to Lieutenant-General Hardee subsequently, and in it I differed somewhat (notwithout great presumption, but with equal difference!
39
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Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
from that of so experienced a soldier as General Walker. If we were defeated on the slope, the guns, as I thought, must inevitably be lost from the im¬ possibility of removing them under fire from their positions. My plan of defense was to place a gun in every available position on Lookout Point and to sight the wheels or elevate the trails so as to command the slope of the mountain. In addition to which I respectfully suggested that on the point a sharpshooter should be placed wherever a man could stand, so as to annoy the flank of the enemy. In my judgment there was no point northwest of the Cravens house at which our infantry force could be held on the slope of the mountain, and in consequence of this firm conviction I gave orders to Brigadier-General Walthall which are hereinafter mentioned.
Upon my return to the foot of the mountain on November 9, I found Brigadier-General Walthall and his brigade in camp there. Brigadier-General Moore’s brigade was then at the Cravens house where it had been for a time — how long I am not informed. General Walker directed that Brigadier-General Gist, commanding his division, and I, with my own and Walthall’s brigades of Cheatham’s division, should defend the line from Chattanooga creek to the foot of the mountain and permitted us to divide the line according to our respective strengths as we wished.
After riding along the line with General Gist we made the apportionment of it and gave orders to our respective commands. At that time I had no command over the mountain slope although one of the brigades (Moore’s) of the division was then on duty at or near the Cravens home. General Moore was in command of that portion of the line under General Walker’s exercising, extending over all the troops west of Chattanooga creek under the general supervision of Lieutenant-General Hardee, and upon General Walker’s going away on a short leave on November 12, which he informed me he had some weeks before applied for, and upon the assurance of General Bragg, that he would telegraph him when Sherman came up, before which time he anticipated no trouble, this command devolved on me. I at once asked for written instructions from the corps commander as to the mode of defense of the line but received none. The command was a unit and was doubtless intended to be handled as such. I continued to exercise it and gave orders subject to the approval of Lieutenant-General Hardee, until his headquarters were removed from the extreme right of the arm to a point a little east of Chattanooga creek. This was about November 14.
About this time I went to the top of the mountain with Lieutenant-General Hardee. We there met General Bragg and after a view from Lookout Point General Bragg indicated a line on the slope of the mountain, which from that standpoint he thought ought to be the fighting line. As we descended the mountain, I again rode out with Lieutenant-General Hardee to the Cravens house, and again looked over the ground. The line indicated by General Bragg was found to present quite a different appearance upon a close view from the same as seen on the mountain top. This line as I understood it, passed from Lookout Point a little in rear of the Cravens house and Cravens house roads, and thence to the precipitous rocks near the mouth of Chattanooga creek.
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero 41
The engineers were put to work under some one’s orders- — whose I do not know — and fatigue parties furnished to them from my command at their request.
On November 14, a new disposition of the command was made. Major- General Stevenson was assigned to the command of the troops of Cheatham’s division was directed to assume command of all troops and defenses at and meet the Cravens house. The ranking officer of Walker’s division was charged with the line from the base of Lookout Mountain east to Chattanooga creek and with all the troops not Hardee’s corps, and in conformity with it, as the ranking officer of Cheatham’s division, I assumed command of the troops and defenses at and near the Cravens house, and on the following day (November 15) established my headquarters at the junction of the Summertown road with the mountainside road leading to the Cravens house, with the approval of Lieutenant-General Hardee. On the same day, Brigadier-General Walthall’s brigade relieved that of Brigadier-General Pettus near the Craven house.
On the night of the 16th and 17th, a fatigue party was ordered to report to Lieutenant Steele of the engineers to commence work on the new line below the Cravens House. By direction of Lieutenant-General Hardee, I went out in person to see that the work was progressing; found that there was a misunder¬ standing as to the place of reporting; walked down the road a considerable distance along the contemplated line, then went to the Cravens house and ordered the detail to be reassembled and to report to Lieutentant Steele immediately.
This was at night. The work was directed to be done at night as the working party would be under fire of the Moccasin Point batteries. General Walthall’s troops were some distance in advance of the proposed line, and exposed to the enemy’s artillery fire. I ordered him on the 18th, with the approval of Lieutenant-General Hardee, to shorten his picket line as he proposed, and notice of which I promptly gave to General Stevenson, and to bring back his troops in the rear (south) of the Cravens house, leaving his pickets where they were, supported by one regiment. Upon inspection of the ground, General Walthall reported to me, as General Moore’s troops were also in the rear of the Cravens house, there would not be room enough for his brigade between General Moore’s and my headquarters, and said that as he supposed the order I had given him was permissive rather than directory, if I had no objections, he would keep his troops where they were. To this I assented, giving him at the same time instructions, if attacked by the enemy in heavy force to fall back fighting over the rocks. I expected by the time his troops reached the Cravens house to be with them and form line of battle with Walthall’s left against the cliff and his right at or near the Cravens house and Moore prolonging this line to the right. This was the general line pointed out by General Bragg, although it had not been defended by the engineers, nor had any work been done on it between the cliff and the Cravens house. Beyond the Cravens house there was no practicable line which was not enfiladed by the enemy’s batteries except the covered way prepared by General Jenkins and the flank of that was exposed to the infantry attack.
On the afternoon of the 20th (I believe) I visited the works below the Cravens house in company with Captain Henry of the division staff and spent some time
42
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
in their inspection. These works being a mere rifle-pit, would be of no service when the enemy were once in possession of the Cravens house, as they would thence be taken in flank — almost in reverse.
On November 22nd, my brigade was ordered to report to me and was moved from the top of the mountain to the slope and placed in the position which I had desired General Walthall to take.
On the 23rd, it was ordred to the foot of the mountain, out of my command, to take with Cumming’s brigade the place on the line which had been occupied by Walker’s division. My position and that of General Stevenson were thus each weakened by a brigade.
On the same day a brief fire of artillery and small-arms was heard coming from the extreme right. It was supposed to be a struggle for wood.
Late in the afternoon of the 23rd, General Stevenson was placed in command of the forces west of Chattanooga creek, Lieutenant-General Hardee having been removed to the extreme right, and on the same night, orders were received and distributed to prepare three days’ cooked rations and to hold the troops in readiness to move at a moment’s notice. In order to avoid anything like a surprise along the line, at about 7:30 p.m., I ordered Captain Henry of the division staff, to visit the chiefs of pickets and direct them to be unusually vigilant in watching the movements of the enemy and to guard against surprise.
About 9 a.m. on the 24th, I received a note from General Walthall to the effect that the enemy were moving in heavy force toward our left; that their tents had nearly all disappeared and their pontoon bridges been cut away. Shortly afterwards, I received another note from him to the effect that he was mistaken as to the number of tents that had disappeared, but that many of those which could be seen on previous days were not then visible. The originals of both these notes were immediately dispatched to General Bragg and copies to General Stevenson. I also sent a staff officer to order Generals Moore and Walthall to hold their commands under arms ready for action. I walked out on the road toward the Cravens house to a facoranle point and could distinguish the enemy troops on the plain in front of Chattanooga — all quiet, no massing, no movements of any kind. From this point I sent another staff officer to the Cravens house to report to me immediately anything of interest, and returned myself to my position at the fork of the road. The demonstration of the enemy did not, down to this time, indicate the point of attack — whether upon my portion of the line or farther to the left. General Stevenson inquired of me about this time if I needed reinforcements, to which I replied that I could not tell until there were further developments. I sent orders by a staff officer to Generals Moore and Walthall to place their troops in line as soon as the skirmishing commenced, but not unnecessarily to expose them to the fire of the enemy’s artillery. I expected, from the rugged nature of the ground and the fact that the enemy had to ascend the mountain, that the picket fighting would continue for some time before the main body would be engaged.
About this time I received a message from General Moore that he did not know where the line was. I sent back immediately an order that General Walthall would occupy the left, and that he (General Moore) would form on
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero 43
General Walthall’s right, prolonging the line in the earth-works below the Cravens house as far as his troops would extend.
About 12 M., I received a note from General Moore that the enemy had formed line and commenced skirmishing with our pickets near the railroad bridge crossing Lookout creek; that he could not then tell their object, and inquiring where he should place his brigade. I sent to General Stevenson to ask for the offered re-inforcements. Information came to me from General Walthall about the same time that the pickets had commenced firing, and a message from General Stevenson by Major Pickett that the enemy was making an attack on my line. I now asked in writing for a brigade from General Stevenson to be sent down at once and ordered Major John Ingram, assistant adjutant- general, to direct General Walthall to fight back the enemy with his pickets and reserve as long as possible, and finally to take position with his left against v the cliff and his right at or in direction of the Cravens house, and to direct General Moore to advance and form on the right of General Walthall and prolong the line in the earth-works below the Cravens house. Major Ingram reported to me that he rode rapidly forward to a point some two hundred yards from the Cravens house, passing General Moore’s brigade moving up to their position and to support General Walthall’s brigade which was being rapidly driven back by overwhelming numbers. The substance of my order was delivered by Major Ingram to Generals Moore and Walthall. The latter stated that, although the order did not reach him in time, he had carried it out in his efforts to defend the position.
General Moore, expressing a desire to have a full supply of ammunition, was informed by Major Ingram that Captain Clark, division ordinance officer, had been ordered to furnish him from the division train. Within a few minutes after Major Ingram left as bearer of the above order to General’s Moore and Walthall, I proceeded in person, accompanied by Major Waulx of the division staff, to superintend the execution.
Passing a great many stragglers (officers and men) along the road, I was met at some short distance from the Cravens house by an officer from General Walthall, who brought the information that his brigade had been driven back in considerable confusion, and that the Cravens house was in possession of the enemy. I immediately dispatched a staff officer to speed the re-inforcement and endeavored to rally the men who were coming to the rear in large numbers, and to form a line where I was, selecting what I considered the most favorable position for a line among rocks, where no regular line was practicable and where the battle could be but a general skirmish. Failing in this, I rode back to the junction of the roads, there met Brigadier-General Pettus with three regiments of his brigade. He informed me that he had been ordered by General Stevenson to report to me. I directed him to proceed on the road and form line to re-inforce Generals Moore and Walthall. I at the same time sent for a piece of artillery from the battalion of the divison and upon its arrival, directed the officer in command to select the most favorable position on the Cravens house road and heck the enemy. He soon after reported that he could find no position in which he could use his guns to advantage, and for not more than one or two shots at all.
44
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
I remained generally at the junction of the two roads, because I considered it most accessible from all points. General Stevenson was communicating with me by the road down the mountain, General Moore by the same road up the mountain, and Generals Pettus and Walthall by the cross-roads. General Pettus informed me by an officer of the disposition made of the troops, and asked for orders. Having placed his regiment on the left of the cross-road with their left against the cliff, and with extended intervals, so as to connect him except to hold that position against the enemy. His dispositions were satisfactory and I did not wish to change them. I subsequently received a message from him that the enemy was pressing his left and asking for re-inforcements. About the same time I was informed by one of the division staff that General Walthall had sent the fragments of two regiments to that point and that there was danger to be apprehended there. I replied to General Pettus that I had no re-inforce¬ ments to send him; that no more could be obtained from General Stevenson, and that he must hold his position.
The enemy being held in check, matters so continued not materially changed until quite late in the afternoon when I received a report by an officer of General Moore’s brigade that unless he was re-inforced his right would be turned. Receiving intelligence also from officers of pickets who had escaped that way, that the Kelley’s ferry road was entirely open. I knew that the enemy had only to press forward on it to obtain control of our road from the mountain, and expecting that they certainly would do so, I rode to the top of the mountain to confer with General Stevenson, my immediate superior upon the subject. We agreed that if the enemy did get possession of the road at or near the base of the mountain, I should withdraw the troops of my command at dark and join him on the top of the mountain, and he so directed. Availing myself of General Stevenson’s writing material, I addressed written orders to the division quartermaster, commissary of subsistance, ordinance officer, and chief of artillery who were in the plain below, to retire beyond Chattanooga creek and then look for orders from corps headquarters, as I expected to be cut off from them.
After this short absence, I returned to my position on the mountain side and there remained until near dark, having sent orders to the brigadier commanders that if we were cut off or overpowered, we would retire by the top of the mountain, but to hold their positions if possible until dark, and to await further orders. When it was near dark and when the firing had become rather desultory, I again went to General Stevenson’s headquarters for final orders as to withdrawing the troops. I was there informed that General Bragg ordered us to retire down the mountain, the road being still open, and that we must assemble at the Gillespie house to make final arrangements. A guard having been detailed from my command for some subsistence stores on the top of the mountain, I went to relieve them, but found that it had already been done. Proceeding to the Gillespie house, at the base of the mountain, I received orders from General Bragg, through General Cheatham, as to the time and mode of withdrawing the troops, and immediately dispatched them to the brigade commanders by the assistant and adjutant-general and the acting inspector-
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
45
general of the division. In conformity with these orders, the troops returned south of Chattanooga creek, and the brigade was destroyed.
On November 20th, the date of the report nearest to the day of the battle, Moore’s brigade had a total effective of 1,205, and Walthall’s brigade, a total effective of 1,489 men. The casualties in the first were four killed, forty-eight wounded and 199 missing. In the second the casualties were eight killed, ninety-one wounded and 845 captured. In Pettus’ brigade there were nine killed, thirty-eight wounded and nine missing.
General Moore ventures the opinion that if I had given proper orders, a different result would have been accomplished. I beg leave to differ. The whole effective force at my command at the beginning was 2,694 men. Of these, 1,044 had been captured, some had been wounded and a few killed. The enemy’s force was (as reported) a division and two brigades. They were v in possession of the high grounds around the Cravens house, from which, by General Moore’s circumstances, I was unwilling to hazard an advance movement with my shattered command, even aided by the three regiments under General Pettus, who was himself pressed by the enemy.
General Moore adds a report of the battle the next day on Missionary Ridge, when he was not under my command, and goes out of his way to say that he did not see me during the engagement. I did not think it necessary for me to show myself to him. If he had desired to see me he could have found me at all times during the engagement, near the right of my line, which was on the top of the ridge, while the left was down the hill. If General Moore means to reflect upon the conduct of my brigade, I am glad to say that there are other witnesses who bear different testimony.
General Walthall must have misapprehended the remark made to him as I descended the mountain. I expected to receive orders from General Bragg, but not to see him in person. These orders were to come from General Cheatham.
It may be remarked that there were two 6-pounder guns at the Cravens house under the command of Lieutenant Gibson, but they were without horses and could not be moved. In their position they could not be fired without endangering the troops of General Walthall. Lieutenant Gibson’s report accompanies this. He never reported to me, although subject to my orders, and his two guns were all the artillery that I could command for purposes of defense, although I took the responsibility of ordering up a piece from the battalion of Cheatham’s division, General Walthall's communication in relation to a piece of artillery to be placed in position, was sent by me immediately on its receipt to General Stevenson. Captain Henry of the division staff, was the bearer of it.
The movements of the enemy were very rapid. An impenetrable fog hung around the mountain all day.
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
John K. Jackson, Brigadier-General.
46
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE, NOVEMBER 24, 1863.
Report of Major-General Patrick R. Cleburne, S. C. Army, Commanding Division, etc., with thanks to the Confederate Congress.
“Colonel: — On the morning of the 23rd of November, 1863, I was with my division at Chickamauga Station on the Western and Atlantic railroad, attend¬ ing to the transportation of Buckner’s and my own division by rail to Loudon, East Tennessee, where with both divisions, I was ordered to report to Lieutenant- General Longstreet, then besieging Knoxville.
I had sent off all of Buckner’s division except Reynolds' brigade when I received the following order from my headquarters, viz:
The general commanding desires that you will halt such portions of your command as have not yet left Chickamauga; such as may have left, halt at Charleston. Do not, however, separate brigades; if parts of brigades have gone, let the remaining portion of brigade go, but halt at Charleston.
In compliance with the above, I sent forward the remainder of Johnson’s brigade bit tool a portion of Reynolds’ brigade of the cars as it was about to start. I also telegraphed to Brigadier-General Bushrod Johnson, commanding Buckner’s division, directing him to halt the division at Charleston.
I immediately after received the following dispatch from army headquarters,
viz:
Order Johnson’s troops at Charleston back now. Move up rapidly with your while force.
I dispatched General Johnson accordingly.
In a few minutes after I received the following, viz:
“We are heavily engaged. Move up rapidly to these headquarters.
Braxton Bragg”
Instructing Brigadier-General Polk to bring up the division, I galloped forward to headquarters for further instructions. I was ordered to rest for the night immediately behind Missionary Ridge and placed my division accord- ingly.
Returning to General Bragg’s headquarters, he informed me that my division would act as a reserve for the army and would report directly to him. I ordered Reynolds’ brigade, which I brought back with me from Chickamauga, to be reported directly to General Bragg, and had no further control of it.
During the night our line along the western front of Missionary Ridge was abandoned, and at early dawn I commenced to construct a new line of defense along the top of the ridge from the Shallow Ford road to General Bragg’s headquarters. Before this was completed, General Bragg informed me that the enemy had crossed the Tennessee river, both above and below the mouth of Chickamauga, and directed me to send a brigade and battery to the West Tennessee and Georgia railroad bridge over the Chickamauga to guard that point. I sent Brigadier-General Polk’s command and Semple’s battery.
About 2 p. m. on the 24th of November, I received orders to proceed with the remaining three brigades and the batteries of my division to the right of
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
47
Missionary Ridge, near the point where the tunnel of the East Tennessee and Georgia railroad passes through Missionary Ridge, where I would find an officer of General Hardee’s staff who would show me my position. At the same time, General Bragg informed me that the enemy had already a division in line opposite the position I was intended to occupy; that he was rapidly crossing another and had nearly completed a pontoon bridge over the Tennessee opposite my position. He also told me I must preserve the railroad bridge in my rear, where Brigadier-General Folk was stationed, at all hazards. Galloping forward ahead of my command, I found Major Poole of General Hardee’s staff, at the tunnel, who informed me that he had been left by General Hardee to show me my position.
I will attempt here a description of the ground. The right of Missionary Ridge, to which I was ordered, runs nearly north and south and parallel to the Tennessee river that is about one and one-half miles west of it. From the tunnel north along the ridge it is about a mile to the Chickamauga river which bounds the ridge, may be said to form three sides to a square. The Tennessee valley, between the rivers and the ridge is mostly level with a continuation of cleared fields bordering the ridge, but immediately in front of the center of my position, about 1,200 yards north and 600 yards west of the railroad tunnel, was a high detached ridge which in a military point of view, dominated over every point within cannon range.
After passing through the tunnel, the railroad runs in a northeasterly direction to the Chickamauga, which it crossed on the bridge Brigadier-General Polk was guarding. From the east side of the main ridge there projected two spurs, one on the north boundary with its precipitous north side washed by the Chickamauga; the other jutting out just north of the tunnel, did not run directly back, but northeasterly for 1,000 yards, forming an acute angle with the parent ridge. Opposite the right of this spur, the main ridge was intersected by a little valley through which came a road from the Tennessee valley where the enemy now was. The highest point on my line and the point of chief interest in the battle on the right and which I shall designate in the report as Tunnel Hill, was situated on the main ridge 250 yards north of the tunnel. The position pointed out for my command of Major Poole, was to occupy with the remainder of my command to stretch from the top of Tunnel Hill to the right of Walker’s division, three-quarters of a mile south of the tunnel.
I sent Major Poole to inform General Hardee that I had not three brigades and could not cover so long a line. The head of my division (Smith’s Texas) brigade, was now at hand, and at the same moment reported to me from the detached ridge. Private Henry Smith of the signal corps of my division informed me he was just from that point; that the enemy was advancing on it in line of battle. I ordered Smith to move his brigade rapidly and try to get possession of it before the enemy had gained a foothold, but if he found the enemy in possession to fall back on the main ridge. General Smith moved into the valley, but was fired on from the top of the detached ridge as he approached its foot. Smith was too late. The enemy had crowned the ridge. He therefore, marched by his right flank on to the main of Missionary Ridge and formed on its top — his two left regiments facing the detached ridge, and his right regiment
48
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
thrown back in an easterly direction to protect his flanks. Smith had scarcely thrown out skirmishers, before he was briskly attacked by the skirmishers of the enemy.
In the meantime, I had placed Lowry’s brigade in position south of the tunnel and was about placing Govan’s brigade on his left so as to complete my connection with Walker’s division, when my attention was attracted to the fighting on my right. It was evident the enemy was endeavoring to turn my right flank and get possession of the main ridge between my right and the Chickamauga. If he succeeded, my connection with Brigadier-General Polk and my line of retreat by the bridge he was guarding, was cut and the safety of the whole army was endangered. Instead of placing Govan’s brigade on the main ridge, I placed him on the spur in rear of it, which jutted out just north of the tunnel and covered the valley and road before described, that led over the main ridge from the direction of the enemy.
Govan rapidly threw skirmishers across this road and between it and the Chickamauga.
Lieutenant-General Hardee was soon on the ground in person. He approved my dispositions, directed the destruction of a bridge crossed the Chickamauga close in rear of my right flank. Between the left of Smith’s brigade and Walker’s division, a distance of near a mile, there was now not two regiments of Lowry’s brigade and it so remained all night and until 7 a. m. next day.
It was now dark; the fighting had ceased in front of Smith; he had main¬ tained his position. Hearing of the disaster at Lookout, I supposed our army would fall back beyond the Chickamauga and accordingly had sent my ordi¬ nance and artillery across that river, with the exception of two pieces of cannon planted beyond my flank. I sent Captain Buck, my assistant adjutant- general, to headquarters of the army so as to receive any orders that might be given as quickly as possible. About midnight he returned with the information that it was determined to await the enemy’s attack on Missionary Ridge. I now ordered my artillery and ordnance to join me at daylight, sent to my train for the axes belonging to the division in order to throw up some defense and rode out myself to make a moonlight survey of the ground and line of retreat. I found a hill on the north bank of the Chickamauga between my right and the railroad bridge, guarded by General Polk, which completely commanded my line of retreat.
I ordered Brigadier-General Polk to occupy this hill at once with two regiments of infantry and a section of artillery. Discovering the facility which it afforded for turning me on the extreme right, I determined to immediately throw a line across the other east spur of Missionary Ridge which jutted out from the north point of the ridge, and was washed by the Chickamauga. I placed the two regiments of Lowry’s brigade left near the tunnel of this line. In the meantime Smith had thrown up some defenses in his front not at my suggestion he now abandoned them and took up position as follows: his left resting on the crest of the main ridge about 150 yards north of the main tunnel and running north along the crest for the length of one regiment, the Sixth, Tenth and Fifteenth Texas (consolidated), Colonel R. Q. Mills commanding.
49
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
The right of this regiment rested close under the cresl of Tunnel Hill. On the top of Tunnel Hill a space was left clear of infantry, and Swett’s battery of four Napoleon guns commanded by Lieutenant H. Shannon, was placed on it so as to sweep north in the direction of Shannon’s old position. Northwest of the detached ridge or west into the Tennessee valley as occasion might re¬ quire, at a point about sixty yards northeast of the right of Mill’s regiment, Smith’s line recommenced but instead of continuing north it now ran but slightly north of east down the side of the hill for the length of two regiments, the Seventh Texas, Colonel H. B. Granbury commanding, and the Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth dismounted cavalry (consolidated), Major W. A. Taylor commanding. This formation made the angle on the apex of Tunnel Hill where Swett’s battery was planted, the weak point in Smith’s v line but it secured Smith’s flank by throwing his extreme right back within 200 yards of Govan’s left, bringing the latter officer’s line nearly at right angles to his north front, thus enabling each line to assist the other if attacked. At a favorable point on Govan’s line, selected by General Hardee, I placed Douglas’ battery commanded by Lieutenant John H. Bingham, so as to enfilade any line attempting to charge Smith’s north front. Lowry’s position across the spur before mentioned, was en eschelon about 200 paces in front of Covan. I ordered the whole of the brigade to occupy this position and completed my line from Tunnel Hill to Chickamauga. Lowry had no artillery, the spur being too steep to admit of its being brought up. Calvert’s battery, commanded by Lieutenant Thomas J. Key, I placed directly over the tunnel, and Between the tunnel and left of Smith’s Brigade were placed three regiments of Brown’s brigade of Stevenson’s Brigade. I was determined to construct a slight work in front of my line but I was prevented for some time by an eclipse of the moon which rendered the morning dark. At length, distributing our few axes we went to work.
The day broke hazy, so that it was some time before the enemy could dis¬ cover our operations. As soon as he did, he commenced a heavy fire on General Smith’s working party and prevented us from erecting any work whatever in front of the battery on the top of Tunnel Hill. Up to 10:30 a.m. the enemy contented himself with severe skirmishing and a heavy artillery fire from batteries erected by him during the night in the detached hill. About this hour he drove in Smith’s skirmishers and possessed himself of the breast¬ works which Smith had abandoned that morning. A heavy attack on the tunnel and on Smith s line was now imminent. General Hardee sent me direc¬ tion to take my position at the tunnel and to take charge of everything in that quarter and to the right of it. The enemy was now in sight, advancing in two long lines of battle, the right stretching far beyond my left, the left stretching beyond Smith’s right where farther view of it was prevented by the woods that covered and bordered the detached hill. For the full understanding of the fierce conflict that followed, it would be proper for me in this place to give a statement of the force of the enemy opposite my position ascertained at a later hour from prisoners and other sources. It consisted of the division of Maj or-General Jeff C. Davis, three divisions of the army brought by Sherman
50
Sam Davis— Confederate Hero
from Vicksburg, and Howard’s (Eleventh) corps, of the Army of the Potomac, all under the command of Major-General Sherman.
At 11 a.m. the first serious fight of the day commenced. Jt was heavy along Smith’s whole line and extended some distance south of the tunnel. The right of the enemy’s line, exposed to the fire of several pieces of artillery planted over the tunnel, and met by a brigade sent by General Hardee to the foot of the bridge, swayed backward and forward for some time, but did not dare to advance further than 400 yards, and finally lay down, contenting itself with sending forward a large body of Skirmishers and sending to the rear a much larger number of stragglers. The enemy’s left however, under shelter of Smith’s abandoned work of the night before and protected by the woods on that flank and by the precipitous, heavily wooded sides of Tunnel Hill, ad¬ vanced rapidly on Smith’s line and finally made a heavy charge on Swett’s battery on the apex of the hill. The artillerymen stood bravely to their guns under a terrible crossfire and replied with canister at short range but still the enemy advanced. When he had reached within fifty steps of the battery, Brigadier-General Smith charged him with the right of Mills’ regiment and the left of the Seventh Texas, Smith’s north front pouring into him from the breast¬ works a close volley at the same time. The enemy was routed and driven back to his cover behind the hillside and abandoned work.
In this charge Brigadier-General Smith and Colonel Mills were both severely wounded at the head of their men. Colonel H. B. Granbury, Seventh Texas, now assumed command of Smith’s brigade. In less than half an hour the enemy made another desperate charge. He was met by the Texas men and artillery in front. Douglas’ battery enfiladed him from Govan’s hill, and Lowry’s extreme left regiment got a long range volley on his flank. He was
driven back in confusion as before.
%
In these attacks Lieutenant H. Shannon commanding Swett’s battery, was wounded. The command devolved upon Lieutenant Joseph Ashton; in a few minutes he was mortally wounded. The command then fell on Corporal L. M. Williams. So many non-commissioned officers and men had been killed and disabled in the battery, Colonel Granbury was forced to make a detail from the infantry to work the guns. There was now a short lull in the battle during which, at the request of Colonel Granbury, I detailed the Second, Lifteenth, and Twenty-fourth Arkansas (Consolidated) under Lieutenant-Colonel Warfield, from Govan’s left, and posted them immediately in rear of the battery on top of the Tunnel Hill. I sent two of Swett’s 12-pounders to report to Colonel Govan as Douglas’ guns were too light to be effective in their present position. I ordered Key’s battery of four light field pieces to move up and replace the guns sent off and put Lieutenant Key in command of all the artillery on Tunnel Hill. About 1 p.m. it was evident that another grand attack was soon to be made on my division. In a few minutes after it commenced. The enemy again lined Smith’s abandoned works and from them kept up a close incessent fire on Smith’s north front and particularly on the artillery on top of the hill. Simultaneously a charge was made on the west face of Tunnel Hill. Warfield’s regiment was thrown forward outside of the work to the crest of the hill looking into the Tennessee Valley to meet this charge. Key fired rapidly into the
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
51
charging line as it crossed the open ground at the west foot of the ridge but it was soon under shelter. At the steep of the hill the enemy’s line now seemed to form into a column on the march and rushed up the hill in the direction of the batteries. Warfield’s fire stopped the head of the charging column just under the crest. Here the enemy lay down behind trees, logs and projecting rocks, their first line not twenty-five yards from the guns and opened fire. Tier after tier of the enemy, to the foot of the hill and in the valley beyond, supplied this fire and concentrated the whole on a space not more than forty yards until it seemed like one continued sheet of hissing, flying lead. This terrific fire prevented Warfield’s men from moving sufficiently forward to fire with effect down the hill, but otherwise it only swept over our heads. The cross-fire from Smith’s abandoned works was however, more fatal. It took Warfield in flank and was constantly disabling men near the top of the hill.
This desperate attack had now lasted more than half an hour. Key was depressing his guns to the utmost and firing shell and canister down the hill in the face of the enemy’s fire. Discovering the impossibility of reaching the enemy by a direct fire, the officers of Warfield’s regiment were pitching down heavy stones, apparently with effect.
General Hardee, from a hill south of the tunnel, seeing the stubbornness of the fight, had placed some pieces of artillery in position and was endeavoring to dislodge the enemy with a flank fire, but his right flank was protected by an intervening projection of the hill he was on, and his fire was not effective. General Hardee also sent a brigade to move north along the west eave of the ridge to strike the enemy in flank now this brigade returned without accom¬ plishing anything. At this point of the fight Colonel McConnell, commanding a Georgia regiment of Cumming’s brigade, come up to the threatened point and moved his regiment forward to where Warfield’s men were fighting. Mc¬ Connell was shot through the head, and his regiment fell back and was with¬ drawn. Brigadier-General Cummings of Stevenson’s division also reported to me with his brigade and was placed in rear of Smith’s line and parallel to it, with instructions to support the Texas brigade behind the works and the artillery at the angle.
The fight had lasted unceasingly for an hour and a half and the enemy seemed to be constantly re-enforcing. The First and Twenty-seventh Ten¬ nessee, of Maney’s brigade, Colonel Fielding commanding, was moved in front of the work and placed on Warfield’s right, the latter officer and his gallant regiment, still nobly holding their exposed position, although the regiment was diminished in numbers and almost out of ammunition. It was at this critical period of the day that Lieutenant-Colonel Warfield suggested to me that our men were wasting ammunition and were becoming disheartened at the persistency of the enemy, and proposed a charge down upon them with the bayonet. Brigadier-General Cumming gallantly proposed to lead the charge with two of his regiment. I immediately consented and directed General Cum¬ ming to prepare for the charge and went to the left to see that a simultaneous charge was made on the enemy’s right flank. I now ordered the left of Mills (Texas) regiment, being the extreme left of my division, to make the charge on
52
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
the enemy’s flank the moment that Cumming charged them in front and I re¬ mained at the breastwork myself to see the execution of the order.
In the meantime, General Cumming having placed the Fifty-sixth Georgia in line for the charge and supported it by placing the Thirty-sixth Georgia ten paces in rear, moved forward to the charge; twice he was checked and had to reform. Warfield’s (Arkansas) regiment with empty guns, and the gallant First and Twenty-seventh Tennessee prepared to share his next effort. At the command the whole rushed forward with a cheer. Lieutenant-Colonel Sanders simultaneously leading the left of Mills’ (Texas) regiment on the enemy’s flank. The enemy completely surprised, fled down the foot of the hill, the Texas troops on the left pursuing him beyond the foot of the hill and nearly across the open ground in front. Our charging column returned with many prisoners and stands of colors; a fresh force of the enemy attempted to follow as we returned from this charge but was quickly met and routed by the Fiftieth Tennessee and with troops of my division. Immediately on his last repulse the enemy opened a rapid and revengeful artillery fire on Tunnel Hill from his batteries on the detached hill and under cover of this fire he went to work felling trees and fortifying his position.
It is but just for me to state that the blunt of this long day’s fight was borne by Smith’s (Texas) brigade and the Second, Fifteenth and Twenty-fourth Arkansas (consolidated) of Govan’s brigade, together with Swett’s and Key’s batteries. The remainder of my division was only engaged in heavy skirmishing. The final charge was participated in and successful through the timely ap¬ pearance and gallant assistance of the regiments of Cumming’s and Maney’s brigades before mentioned.
Out of the eight stand of colors shown by me to have been captured, four were presented to me by Mills’ (Texas) regiment, two were presented by the Fifty-sixth and Thirty-sixth Georgia regiments of Cumming’s brigade; one flag was presented by the First Tennessee of Maney’s brigade, and one by the Second, Fifteenth, and Twenty-fourth Arkansas (consolidated) of Govan’s brigade; in all eight colors, six of which I herewith transmit. Among them are the flags of the Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania and Ninety-third Illinois. About 500 prisoners were captured. At a critical moment of the battle I lost of the bravest officers of my division — Brigadier-General J. A. Smith, commanding the Texas brigade, and Colonel R. Q. Mills, the same officer who commanded it in the battle of Chickamauga after General Deshler fell. Besides these gallant officers were other noble officers and men, some of whose names are handed down to history in the report of brigade and regimental commanders.
I suffered the following losses in the three brigades of my division engaged, viz.: forty-two killed, 178 wounded and two missing.
Colonel Sugg of the Fifteenth Tennessee regiment, Maney’s Brigade was dangerously wounded in the last charge. Colonel McConnell of Cumming’s brigade, and other gallant soldiers who fell in front of my works, I can but lament. I did not personally know them but I saw and can bear witness to their gallant bearing and noble deaths.
The enemy must have suffered severely, for the hillside and the valley were thickly strewn with the dead. We may credit his published reports of casualties
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
53
in this fight, he lost one major-general, John E. Smith, wounded; three brigadier- generals, Corse, Matthies, and Giles Smith, the latter mortally, and one colonel commanding brigade, Colonel Raum, mortally wounded.
Soon after the final defeat of the enemy in front of Smith’s position, I received a dispatch from General Hardee to send to the center all the troops I could spare as the enemy was pressing us in that quarter. I immediately ordered Generals Cummings and Maney with their respective brigades, to re¬ port accordingly, and went myself to push them forward. Before I had gone far a dispatch from General Hardee reached me with the appalling news that the enemy had pierced our center and were on Missionary Ridge and directing me to take command of my own, Walker’s and Stevenson’s divisions and form a line across the ridge so as to meet an attack upon my flank, and take all other necessary measures for the safety of the right wing. I ordered Brigadier- General Gist commanding Walker’s division, to form a line across the ridge; ordered all vehicles which could be spared, to cross the Chickamauga. Sent Brigadier-General Folk hazards and sent Govan’s brigade to disput the enemy’s advance on the Shallow Ford road.
Soon after, night was upon us and General Hardee ordered an immediate retreat across the Chickamauga and that Smith’s (Texas) brigade should remain in position and bring up the rear. General Lowry attacked and drove back the enemy’s skirmishes in his front and then retreated. By 9 p.m. everything was across except the dead and a few stragglers lingering here and there under the shadow of the trees for the purpose of being captured; faint-hearted patriots succumbing to the hardships of the war and the imagined hopelessness of the hour. I now ordered Smith’s Brigade to move in retreat. Sadly, but not fear¬ fully this band of heroes left the hill they had held so well and followed the army across the Chickamauga.
To Brigadier-General Smith, Cumming and Maney, and to Colonel Gran- bury, I returned my thanks for the able manner in which they managed their commands. My thanks are also due to Brigadier-General Polk and Lowry, and to Colonel Govan, commanding brigade; although not actively engaged, they were rendering good service in holding important positions.
Swett’s battery under command of Lieutenant H. Shannon, and Calvert’s battery commanded by Lieutenant Thomas J. Key, were bravely fought and did great execution. Swett’s battery under command of Lieutenant Isaiah Lightner, in position where the road crosses the hill, did much toward driving back the right of the enemy’s line in its attempted advance across the open field.
Brigadier-General John C. Brown’s brigade on my left flank, was engaged in heavy skirmishes most of the day.
The following officers of my staff — Major Calhoun Benham, assistant adjutant-general; Major J. K. Dixon, assistant inspector-general; Captain Irving A. Buck, assistant adjutant-general; Captain Charles S. Hill, ordnance officer (whose horse was shot under him) ; Surgeon D. A. Linthicum, Lieutenant L. H. Mangum, and S. P. Hanley, aides-de-camp, and Captain C. H. Byrne, volunteer aide-de-camp (whose horse was shot under him), acted with their usual gallantry and discharged their duties with zeal and intelligence. Messrs.
54
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
Henry Smith and William Rucker of the signal corps, volunteered on my staff for the battle and were very efficient.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
P. R. Cleburne,
Colonel Kinloch Falconer Brigadier-General, Provisional Army C.S.
Asst. Adj. -General.
NOTE: There are other worded pictures of the Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge campaigns, given in various reports, but I have selected these two to show to my readers the importance of these campaigns in the Southern cause. I have also chosen these two reports, because it was these campaigns to which Sam Davis referred when he asked Captain Armstrong “What is the news from the front" only about fifteen minutes before he made the sacrifice to honor and duty. — editor.
The Burial of Sam Davis
V SHORT TIME after the capture of Sam Davis, his parents heard on the ^grapevine” that a scout named Davis had been “caught by the Yankees” and hanged as a spy at Pulaski on Friday, the 27th of November.
Judging from the direction their son supposedlv had taken, and knowing that he was ordered to go in the vicinity of Pulaski, they at once felt the fear it was their son who had met his fate by the Federals. They immediately began making efforts to determine if it was their son; resulting in finding that the much feared truth was indeed a fact. The suspense and agony was great.
Someone must investigate, go to Pulaski to acertain all information possible. This could better be done by a friend in whom they had the fullest trust. Mr. John C. Kennedy, whom they knew to be both bold and prudent as well as trustworthy in every respect, was selected.
The Confederate Veteran for February, 1896, gives an account of the journey to Pulaski for the body of Sam Davis by Mr. Kennedy, himself, and reads as follows:
“Mr. and Mrs. Davis were not certain that it was their son who had been executed at Pulaski. They had made diligent efforts through various channels to trace the ‘grapevine’ story that it was their Sam, but were not assured. At last the time was set to start on the search. Mrs. Davis gave me a piece of the plain linsey of that used for his jacket lining, and also described his boots, and told of other things that only a good and loving mother could have thought about. She was interrupted occasionally by suggestions from Mr. Davis.
“The start was made with two mules hitched to a very heavy carryall. We had a meal sack containing a boiled ham and about a half bushel of corn pones, on which their son Oscar, a small boy who was to accompany me, and I were to live while gone.
“We reached Nashville that evening too late to get a pass, but, I procured a metallic case and box and had them put in the conveyance. The next morning I went to General Rousseau, who declined to give me a pass, and sent me to General Grant’s Adjutant General, who kindly and politely, but positively, re¬ fused also, replying to all my pleadings for his mother’s sake; ‘No sir! No Sir! No Sir!’
“I then returned to General Rousseau, whom I had known in Kentucky in my boy-hood days, and again asked for a pass, which, after some boyhood reminiscences not necessary to repeat, he supplied for myself, the boy, and team to Columbia, which was as far as his lines extended, telling me that was all he could do. I gladly accepted the pass, which was written on a piece of paper elegantly printed, and looked like a large bank note.
“We entered the lines at Columbia and drove straight through town, not stopping until we reached the picket on the other side, who after looking over our pass, though he could not read it, and seeing the coffin and small boy, permitted us to go on. The same thing occurred when we reached the picket at Pulaski, who permitted us to enter the town. When near the square, I left Oscar to hold to the mules while I went to the Provost Marshal to get a pass or find out what he would do with us. His office was in the Court House. He asked
55
56
Sam Davis— Confederate Hero
how I got into Pulaski, and I handed him General Rousseau’s pass. He looked up and curtly remarked: ‘This is no account here. What do you want?’ I told him I had come for the body of Sam Davis who had been hanged; that his parents wanted it at home.
“His manner at once changed and, extending his hand, he said: ‘Tell them for me that he died the bravest of the brave, an honor to them, and with the respect of every man in this command.’ He then asked what more he could do to help me. I requested return passes and a permit to take up the body, which he cheerfully gave. I also asked if he thought I would have any trouble or interference while I was at the graveyard, and he replied: ‘No, sir. If you do, I will give you a company — yes, a regiment, if necessary.’
""Taking advantage of his cordial words, I asked him how Sam was captured, as Mr. Davis had requested me to spare no pains to find out how and when he was taken. He said he did not know any of the particulars, but showed me two books in which records were kept in his office, and the only entry, after giving his name and description, was, as I remember: ‘Captured on the Lamb’s Ferry road by Capt. McKenzie’s scouts.’
“Before leaving home I was referred for assistance, if necessary, while in Pulaski, to a Mr. Richardson, who had been (if not then) the County Court Clerk. We found him willing and ready to aid all in his power. The grave digger agreed to take the body up for $20.00. The next morning, together with his assistants, Mr. Richardson, Oscar and I were busy at the grave when four or five Federal soldiers came up. One of them advanced to me, raising his cap politely and in a subdued tone of voice, proffered for himself and comrades to assist, if desired. I thanked him sincerely, for I had not known what their presence might mean, but declined their services. When the box was raised and lid removed, the cap of white was still over his head down to his neck, tied with long strings, which were wrapped around his neck two or three times. His boots were on, but the legs cut off at the ankles. I took from my pocket the piece of his jacket lining and saw that they were alike. When 1 removed the cap, I found the face was black, but recognizable. We then transferred the body to the metallic case. During all the time the body was being examined and transferred, the Federal soldiers stood in line with caps off, paying tribute in acts if not words. Upon our return from the
cemetery, the Provost Marshal said the Chaplain, who was with Sam at the
gallows, had some keepsakes for the father and mother. He gave me a little book, in which was a farewell message to his mother, and the buttons from his coat and vest.
“The Chaplain told me that when at the scaffold, sitting on his coffin, he talked to him about meeting his God, that he showed no fear nor uneasiness. While in the conversation an officer came up and said: ‘Mr. Davis, I suppose
you have not forgotten General Dodge’s offer." Sam, not raising his head
said: ‘What is that?’ The officer replied: ‘Your horse and side arms, and an escort to the Confederate lines, if you will tell who gave you those papers.’ Sam then replied, still not raising his head: ‘I ll die a thousand deaths before I will tell.’ The officer then said: ‘Mr. Davis, I have one more question to a^k.’
57
Sam Davis— Confederate Hero
Sam said: ‘What is it?’ ‘I want to know if you are the man my scouts. chased so close on Tuesday night that you crossed the road in front of them, beating their horses in the face with your hat, but got away. Were you the man?’
“The Chaplain said Sam threw his head back and looking at the officer, said in a quick, sharp tone of voice, ‘How do you know that?’ The Captain answered, ‘It’s sufficient — I know it. Are you the man?’ Sam dropped his head in a moment and replied quietly, ‘I have nothing to tell you.’
“Sam’s deliberation was clear even then, that if he confessed it was he, it would implicate some one who had been kind to him. In a few more minutes, without sign of fear or weakness, was ended a life that was an honor to his family, his country and to the human race.
“We stopped the first night near Lynnville. When we got to the river near Columbia, we found that officer in charge of troops at this point had ordered ferry boats stopped, and there was no way to cross except by fording, as the pontoon they were constructing would not be ready that morning. I left the conveyance and mules with Oscar, cautioning him not to talk to anybody, while I would go and see the officer. He was standing on the river bank when I approached him and explained my errand. He immediately turned to an orderly and said: ‘Go down and order the ferry boat to take that team and corpse over the river.’
“I thanked him and started back, when I saw the conveyance completely surrounded by soldiers. It was a very steep descent to the ferry, and I went to the head of the mules, taking hold of the bridles to hold them back while going down the hill, when the soldiers said, ‘Stranger, we know who this is — You get in the wagon; well see it goes down safe,’ and so they did. They practically carried the wagon aboard the boat, and would not leave it when we landed on the north side. The hill was steeper to go up than the one we came down. They ordered me to sit there and drive, and again they all got a hand or a shoulder somewhere and pushed us to the top of the hill, and when I thanked them, they quietly raised their caps.
“Without further incident, we reached Nashville and drove to where the Adams’ Express Company’s office now is, which was then where our present townsman, Mr. Cornelius, had his undertaking establishment, and turned the body over to him with specific instructions about the shrouding. Mr. Davis had said to me, ‘If you think it is best that Jane and I should not see him, do as you think best about the matter.’
“On the evening of the seventh day after leaving home, we drove in the big gate, some distance from the house, Mr. and Mrs. Davis were watching, and when they saw the casket, Mrs. Davis threw her arms above her head and fell. All was sorrow in that home. I had a boy catch my horse to go home to see my old mother and father, and change clothing, etc., but Mr. Davis prevailed upon me to stay and send for what I needed.
“The next moring, while standing out in the yard, Mr. Davis came to me, hesitated, then catching his breath almost between each word, said: ‘John, don’t you think it’s hard a father can’t see the face of his own child?’
58
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
“I replied that I thought it best he and Mrs. Davis should remember him as they saw him last. He turned and left me. I drove the carryall that afternoon, with the body, across the creek to the old family graveyard where he was buried.
“In a short time, my mother died, and Mr. Davis sent over the same vehicle that had brought Sam’s body home to take her body to the grave, and when the boy who had driven it over started to get up to drive it to the grave, Mr. Davis stepped up and, shaking his head, said, ‘No — -No — nobody but I can drive that. Get down and let me get up there,’ and he did drive it. He was a worthy sire of noble son.”
Supplemental to Mr. Kennedy’s account, Oscar Davis gave his recollections of the incidents of that trip, which concurred closely with those of Mr. Kennedy. He stated that while Mr. Kennedy was gone to the hotel to get some things, some of the Federal soldiers drove up and asked if that was the body of the young man who was hanged not long since, and being told that it was, some of them shed tears, and said: “He ought not to have been hung, and we will have to suffer for it sooner or later.”
At the time of identification of Sam Davis’ body, Mr. Kennedy and Mai. A. R. Richardson, have given in written articles, that the boy was about five feet seven or eight inches tall, of slender build.
While Mr. Kennedy was trying to learn the facts of the capture and hanging, in Pulaski, he went to Captain Armstrong, the sympathetic provost marshal, and said, “The boy’s father will want to know where and how he was taken”, to which Captain Armstrong replied, “I don’t know.”
“Provost Marshal, and don’t know?” exclaimed Kennedy.
“No,” repied the officer, “It is a secret not mentioned in the report of the arrest. Here are my books,” he continued, opening out the army records to prove his sincerity, and allowing Mr. Kennedy to see for himself that there was no account of the details of Sam Davis’ capture set down in the army records. He was informed, however, that when Davis was caught he was rigidly searched, and that accurate maps of the fortifications around Grant’s front were found in the seat of his saddle. The soles of his boots, on being split open, were found to contain other important papers, which proved him to be beyond a doubt, a Confederate scout.”
To learn the truth concerning Sam Davis’ capture, Mr. Kennedy used every means of getting reliable information, but found that mystery surrounding the circumstances to be impenetrable. In discussing the matter afterwards, the boy’s father significantly said to his friend: “Don’t you know John, that if Sam was brave enough to beat the Yankees’ horses in the face with his cap, he would have been taken alive — except through treachery ?” Yet no evidence of treachery has ever been discovered. The veil of mystery has never been lifted from the truth concerning the capture. Suffice it to know that Sam Davis “suffered death on the gibbet, rather than betray his friends and his country.”
A Comrade's Story
Joshua Brown, of New York City, who belonged to the Second Kentucky Calvary of the Confederate Army, and was a fellow scout with Samuel Davis, tells the thrilling and awful story of his fate:
“As you have requested it, I will give you my personal recollections of the capture, imprisonment and execution of Samuel Davis, one of the greatest and noblest patriots who ever died for his country. Other patriots have died — Nathan Hale of the Revolution, and Captain W. Orton Williams and Lieutenant Peters, who were hanged at Franklin by the Federals. They knew that death was inevitable and died like brave soldiers; but, Davis had continuance of life and liberty offered him, a full pardon and a pass through the lines, if he would only reveal where he got the information and the papers that were found upon his person and in his saddle seat, but he knew that the man who gave them to him was to that moment in jail with him That man was Colonel Shaw, chief of General Bragg’s scouts, who had charge of the secret service of the Army of Tennessee.
“General Bragg had sent us a few men who knew the country, into Middle Tennessee to get all the information possible concerning the movements of the Federal army; to find out if it was moving from Nashville and Corinth to re-inforce Chattanooga. We were to report to Colonel Shaw or Captain Coleman, who commanded Coleman’s scouts. We were to go south to Decatur and send our reports by a courier line to General Bragg at Missionary Ridge. When we received our orders, we were told that the duty was very dangerous and that they did not expect but few of us to return; that we would probably be captured or killed and we were cautioned against exposing ourselves unnec¬ essarily.
“After we had been in Tennessee about ten days, we watched the Sixteenth Army Corps commanded by General Dodge, move up from Corinth to Pulaski. We agreed that we would leave for the South on Friday, the 19th of November 1863. A number had been captured and several killed. We were to start that night each man for himself; each of us had his own information, but I did not write it down or make any memorandum of it for fear of being captured. I had counted almost every regiment and all the artillery in the Sixteenth corps, and had found out that they were moving on Chattanooga. Late in the afternoon, we started out and ran into the Seventh Kansas calvary, known as the ‘Kansas Jay Hawkers,’ and when we were told what regiment had captured us, we thought our time had come. We were taken to Pulaski about fifteen miles away, and put into jail where several other prisoners had been sent, among whom was Sam Davis. I talked with him over our prospects of imprisonment and escape, which were very gloomy. Davis said they had searched him that day and found some papers upon him and that he had been taken to General Dodge’s headquarters. They had also found in his saddle seat maps and descriptions of the fortifications at Nashville and other points and an exact report of the Federal Army of Tennessee. They found in his boots this letter with other papers, which were intended for General Bragg:
59
60
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
‘Giles County, Tenn., Thursday Morning,
November 18, 1863.
‘Colonel A. McKinstry, Provost Marshal-General, the Army of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
‘Dear Sirs: — I send you seven Nashville and three Louisville papers and one Cincinnati, with dates to the 17th — in all eleven. I also send for General Bragg, three wash-balls of soap, three tooth brushes and two blank books. I could not get a larger size diary for him. I will send a pair of shoes and slippers, some more soap, gloves and socks soon.
‘The Yankees are still camped on the line of the Tennessee and Alabama railroad. (He evidently meant Nashville and Decatur). General Dodge’s headquarters are at Pulaski; his main force is camped from that place to Lynville; some at Elk river, and two regiments at Athens. General Dodge had issued an order to the people in those counties on the road to report all stock, grain and forage to him and he says he will pay or give vouchers for it. Upon refusal to report he will take it without pay. They are not taking all they can find. Dodge says he knows the people are all Southern and does not ask them to swear to a lie. All the spare forces around Nashville and vicinity are being sent to McMinnville. Six batteries and twelve parrott guns were sent forward on the 14lh, 15th, and 16th. It is understood that there is hot work in front somewhere. Telegrams suppressed.
‘Davis has returned; Gregg had gone below. Everything is beginning to work better. I send Roberts with things for you and General Bragg with dispatches. I do not think the Federals mean to stay; they are not repairing the main points on the road. I understand part of Sherman’s forces have reached Shelbyville. I think part of some other than Dodge’s division came to Lynville from the direction of Fayetteville. 1 hope to be able to post you soon. I sent Billy Moore over in that country and am sorry to say he was captured. One of my men has just returned from there. The general impression of the citizens is that they will move forward some way. Their wagon trains have returned from Nashville. Davis tells me that the line is in order to Summerville. I send this by one of my men to that place. The dispatches sent you on the 9th with papers of the 7th, reached Decatur on the 10th at 9 p.m. Citizens were reading the papers the next morning after breakfast. I do not think the Mayor will do to forward them with reports. I am with high regard,
E. Coleman,
Captain Commanding Scouts’.
Here is his pass:
“Headquarters General Bragg’s Scouts, Middle Tennessee, Sept. 25th, 1863. Samuel Davis has permission to pass on scouting duty anywhere in Middle Tennessee of south of the Tennessee river as he may think proper. By order of General Bragg; E. Coleman, Captain Commanding Company of Scouts.”
“The next morning Davis was again taken to General Dodge’s headquarters, and this is what took place between them which General Dodge told me recently.
“ T took him into my private office,’ said General Dodge, ‘and I told him that it was a very serious charge brought against him; that he was a spy and
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero 61
from what I found upon his person, he had accurate information in -regard to my army and I must know where he obtained it. I told him that he was a young man and did not seem to realize the danger he was in. Up to that time he had said nothing but then he replied in the most respectful and dignified manner: “General Dodge, I know the danger of my situation, and I am willing to take the consequences.’
T asked him then to give me the name of the person from whom he got the information; that I knew it must be some one near headquarters or who had the confidence of the officers of my staff, and I repeated that I must know the source from which it came. I insisted that he should tell me but he firmly declined to do so. I told him that I would have to call a court-martial and have him tried for his life and from the proofs we had they would be compelled
to condemn him; that there was no chance for him unless he gave the source
of his information. He replied: “I know that I will have to die but I will not tell where I got the information and there is no power on earth that can make me tell. You are doing your duty as a soldier and I am doing mine. If I have to die, I will do so feeling that I am doing my duty to God and my country.’’
“ ‘I plead with and urged him with all the power I possessed to give me some
chance to save his life, for I discovered that he was a most admirable young fell ow with the highest character and strictest integrity. He then said: “It is useless to talk to me. I do not intend to do it. You can court-martial me or do anything else you like, but I will not betray the trust imposed in me.”
“ ‘He thanked me for the interest I had taken in him and I sent him back to prison. I immediately called a court-martial to try him.”
The following is the action of the commission, which has been furnished me by General Dodge:
Proceedings of a Military Commission which convened at Pulaski, Tennes¬ see, by virtue of the following general order:
Headquarters Left Wing 16th A. C., Pulaski, Tennessee, November 20, 1863. General Orders no. 72 — A Military Commission hereby appointed to meet at Pulaski, Tennessee, on the 23rd inst., or as soon thereafter as practicable for the trial of Samuel Davis and such other persons as may be brought before it.
Details for the Commission: 1. Colonel Madison Miller, Eighteenth Missouri Infantry Volunteers; 2. Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas W. Gains, Fifteenth Missouri Infantry, Volunteers; 3. Major Lathrop, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, Judge Advocate. The Commission will sit without regard to hours. By order of Brigadier-General G. W. Dodge, J. W. Barnes, Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant-General.
Report of Commission.
“The Commission do therefore sentence him, the said Samuel Davis of Coleman’s scouts in the service of the so called Confederate States, to be hanged by the neck until dead at such time and place as the commanding general shall direct, two-thirds of the Commission concurring in the sentence.
“Finding the sentence the Commission approved. The sentence will be carried into effect on Friday, November 27, 1863, between the hours of 10 a. in. and 2 p.m.
62
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
“Brigadier-General T. W. Sweeney commanding the Second division, will cause the necessary arrangements to be made to carry out this order in the proper manner.”
“Captain Armstrong the Provost Marshal, informed Davis of the sentence of the court-martial. He was surprised at the severe punishment — expecting to he shot not thinking they would hang him — but he showed no fear and resigned himself to his fate as only brave men can. That night he wrote the following letter to his mother:
‘Pulaski, Giles County, Tenn., Nov. 26, 1863.
‘Dear Mother: — Oh how painful it is to write to you! I have got to die tomorrow morning — to be hanged by the Federals. Mother, do not grieve for me. I must bid you goodbye forevermore. Mother, I do not fear to die. Give my love to all.
Your Son,
Samuel Davis.
‘Mother tell the children all to be good. I wish I could see you all once more. I never will any more.
‘Mother and father, do not forget me, think of me when I am dead, but do not grieve for me. It will not do any good. Father, you can send after my remains if you want to do so. They will be at Pulaski, Tennessee. I will leave some things too, with the hotel-keeper for you. Pulaski is in Giles County, Tennessee, south of Columbia.
“After his sentence he was put into a cell in the jail and we did not see anything of him until on Thursday morning, the day before the execution. We were ordered to get ready, as we were going to be removed to the court house in the public square, about one hundred feet from the jail. Davis was handcuffed and was brought in just as we were eating breakfast. I gave him a piece of meat that had been cooking and he, being handcuffed, was compelled to eat it with both hands. He thanked me and we all bade him goodbye and were sent to the court house and the guard was doubled around the jail.
“The next morning, Friday, November 27th, at 10 o’clock, we heard drums and a regiment of infantry marching down to the jail. A wagon with a coffin in it was driven up, and the provost marshal went into the jail and brought Davis out. He got into the wagon and stood up and looked around at the court house and seeing us at the window, bowed to us his last farewell. He was dressed in dark brown overcoat with a cap to it which had been blue Federal coat, such as many of us had captured and then died brown. I note this, because it had been stated that he was dressed in citizens’ clothes. I do not remember exactly, but I think he had on a grey jacket underneath. He then sat down upon his coffin and the regiment moved off to the suburbs of the town where the gallows was built.
“Upon reaching the gallows, he got out of the wagon and took his seat on a bench under a tree. He asked Captain Armstrong how long he had to live. He replied, ‘Fifteen minutes.’ He then asked Captain Armstrong the news. He told him of the battle of Missionary Ridge, and that our army had been defeated. He expressed much regret and said: ‘The boys will have to fight
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
63
the battles without me.’ Armstrong said: ‘I regret very much having, to do this: I feel that I would almost rather die myself than to do what I have to do.* Davis replied: ‘I do not think hard of you; you are only doing your duty.’ General Dodge still had hopes that Davis would recant when he saw that death was staring him in the face and that he would reveal the name of the traitor in his camp. He sent Captain Chicksaw of his staff to Davis. He rapidly approached the scaffold, jumped from his horse and went directly to Davis, asked if it would not be better for him to speak the name of the one from whom he received the contents of the document found upon him, adding: ‘It is not too late yet.’ And then in his last extremity, Davis turned upon him and said: ‘If I had a thousand lives I would lose them all here, before I would betray my friends or the confidence of my informer.’
‘"He then requested him to thank General Dodge for his efforts to save him hut to repeat that he could not accept the terms. Turning to the chaplain, he gave him a few keep-sakes to send to his mother. He then said to the Provost Marshal, ‘I am ready,’ ascended the scaffold and stepped upon the trap.
“Thus passed away one of the sublimest and noblest characters known in history, and in future ages will be pointed to as an act worthy of emulation.’
In a private letter with the sketch, Comrade Brown writes: “I wish to say further that General Dodge had been very kind and given me every assistance in getting the reports from the War Department and he hopes they will build a monument to him and place it in the Capitol square at Nashville. I think it ought to be of bronze, representing Davis as a Confederate soldier.”
The twenty large and six small buttons that he had cut from his coat for his mother have been preserved.
Mr. Brown, who formerly lived in Nashville, is widely known. Thousands will ever feel grateful to him for putting on record this vivid tribute to as noble a man as ever gave up his life for any cause.
64
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
~S)faue (a} u arteri — am ^t)aui$ JJc
ome
V
Pewter Canteen Used by Sam Davis
The pewter canteen used by Sam Davis was presented to the State of Tennessee for safe keeping in 1928.
The old fashioned round pewter canteen which the boy hero gave way when he became a scout for the Confederate army now belongs to the State of Tennessee in which he was born and for which he died.
Miss Bethenia Nance of Rutherford County had the latest possession of the boy hero. The canteen was given by Sam to Miss Nance’s brother-in-law, William B. Owen, together with his gun when the young hero decided to become a scout. During the war the gun was lost, but the canteen remained in possession of Miss Nance and her sister, Mrs. Owen for many years.
65
Tributes to Sam Davis
(Published in 1869, Home Journal Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Nov. 12, 1926. Written by the supposed sweetheart of Sam Davis, and signed “Louise.”)
Highest on the head roll of fame,
The name of Davis shines as bright
As yon stars that luminous flame,
On the sable brow of night!
With undimmed glory radiant ‘Twill forever brightly shine,
Won from life — to liberty lent —
A noble death for truth divine.
No hero of the ancient orient Could such unyielding valor boast.
As that boy, whose deeds resplendent Glory won for the cause now lost.
Ere life had reached youth’s full tide,
He left his home and mother dear;
With Spartan valor and manly pride He grasped his shield — made forman fear.
When on Pulaski’s fatal field He was seized and held a spy —
Told he must not the traitor shield.
Or most surely he must die!
He asked, “How many hours have I?”
“Ten minutes more to you remain!”
“Tell them no! I can dare to die!
I’ll not my proud escutcheon stain!”
Homage to his country he did lend —
Ne’er cowered in the deadly fight,
And died rather than betray a friend,
For God, liberty and the right!
When life to him was offered as the price Of honor, plighted faith and truth,
For another he paid the sacrifice —
How bravely died the Southern youth.
Memorial incense shall ever rise From the dust of the martyr’s tomb,
While honor gilds the deathless prize For glory of his tragic doom!
66
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
67
63
Sam Davis— Confederate Hero
No prouder name among the brave Who died to save their truth —
A halocaust on liberty’s grave,
Offered by that noble Southern youth.
Immortal truth can never die,
Although its light awhile may dim,
For vice and error it will outvie If faith its vestal fires shall trim!
With silent harps along the strand,
Still girth with immortal truth,
Down trodden Tennessee shall stand, And with new reviving youth !
— Louise
]aui3
The following tribute to Sam Davis, by Mrs. W. B. Romine, tells, in a few words, much of the story of the young hero.
Pulaski’s fame, so fair and white,
Was blistered with a withering blight;
For the darkest dead of the four years’ strife Was the taking here of a fair, young life.
’Twas a deed which the ages shall not erase,
’Twas a deed which time cannot efface:
For ’Twas from her own sacred sod Sam Davis’s soul went home to God.
Epitaphs
Upon one side of the fine bronze statue on Capitol Hill, in Nashville, erected to the memory of Sam Davis, is inscribed:
“The boys will have to fight the battle without me.”
“He gave all he had — life.”
“He gained all he lacked — immortality.”
/
On the other side of the monument are to be found the following words from the pen of Ella Wheeler Wilcox:
“When the Lord calls up earth’s heroes To stand before His face,
Full many a name unknown to fame Shall ring from that high place.
Then out of a grave in the Southland,
At the just God’s call and beck,
Shall one man raise with fearless eyes And a rope about his neck.
Oh, Southland, bring your laurels.
And add your wreath, oh, North!
Let glory claim the hero’s name And tell the world his worth!”
69
j
Sam Davis Home . A Shrine
By an Act of the Legislature of Tennessee (Public Acts), 1927, the Sam Davis home was purchased by the State of Tennessee, and will be preserved, which is to stand as an everlasting monument to the memory of the lad who knowing it meant death, said “I would rather die a thousand deaths than betray a friend.”
Not for a feat of physical courage, nor for any prowess in arms, though he was not lacking in either, but as an example of moral courage he stands forth among his fellowmen as the greatest of all, sacrificing his life to save his honor. In thus preserving the boyhood home of the outstanding hero of the sixties, the state is keeping before the present and future generations of Tennesseans an example of patriotism of the highest type, which should be an inspiration to other sons to develop in character such strength that is the test of real greatness.
Prominent in the movement to secure this old home place and dedicate it as a memorial to Sam Davis was the late, Dr. J. S. Lowry, of Smyrna, who gave himself whole-heartedly to its fulfillment, and who added to the collection of relics connected with the life and war service of young Sam Davis, which are displayed attractively in the home. Associated with him in that effort and later in the care and improvement of house and grounds were the Davis relatives and friends in the home community. In addition to the purchase price and the amount needed for necessary repairs and improvements, the state makes an annual appropriation for its upkeep, which sum is augmented by the admittance fees and contributions from the treasury of the Sam Davis Memorial Associa¬ tion, of Smyrna, organized in 1930 for the purpose of sharing in this patriotic task. Through its efforts especially, some of the original furnishings have been secured by purchase or gifts and other furniture in keeping with the period of the families’ occupancy is being added from time to time, some of these pieces coming through Chapters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy over the state, whose members also have a special interest in this memorial to the boy who glorified his Confederate service. The handsome tablet on the great rock under an old oak tree on the lawn was placed by Nashville Chapter No. 1, U. D. C., in 1932, to mark the place where Sam Davis hid his horse on the night of his last visit home; only a few days before his capture; and other Chapters have equal interest in paying tribute to him as a Confederate soldier.
Back of the house and beyond the garden is the family burial square, where Sam Davis sleeps, and within the shadow of his monument are the graves of father and mother.
The Sam Davis Memorial Home Association was organized in 1930 with officers as follows:
Mrs. Media Davis Sinnott (Mrs. E. A. Sinnott), Regent.
Mrs. Roy Rascoe, Vice-Regent.
Mrs. E. E. King, Recording Secretary.
Mrs. N. F. Molloy, Corresponding Secretary.
Mrs. H. R. Edmondson, Local Treasurer.
70
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
71
Directors: Mrs. E. E. King, Mrs. Eleanor Gillespie, Mrs. W. R. Coleman, Mrs. W. C. Hibbitt, Mrs. James Cannon, Mrs. W. H. King, Mrs. Morton Mc- Murray, Mrs. Jarman Edwards, Mrs. N. F. Molloy.
Trustees: Governor of State of Tennessee, Comptroller of State of Tennessee, Treasurer of State of Tennessee, Historian of State of Tennessee, Mr. Robert Bell, Mr. Walter King, Mr. James Richardson, Mr. Frank Peyton, Mr. Allen Ragland.
Governors of Tennessee who have been ex-officio Trustees: Governor Austin Peay, Governor Henry H. Horton, Governor Hill McAllister, Governor Gordon Browning, Governor Prentice Cooper.
Other officers and Trustees who have served since organization:
Trustees: Mr. Eugene C. Holloway, Sr., 1937; Dr. J. S. Lowry, 1939; Mr. C. C. Flannery, former State Commissioner of Agriculture, 1945.
Directors: Mrs. Thomas Newbill, 1932; Mrs. A. B. Gooch, 1932; Mrs. Robert Weakley, 1935; Mrs. T. C. Felder, 1935; Mrs. Harvey A. Cragon, Jr., 1936; Mrs. R, H. Poindexter, 1936; Miss Margaret Coleman, 1937; Mrs. Sam Coleman, 1939; Mrs. J. W. Charlton, 1939; Mrs. R. L. Wilkinson, 1939; Mrs. J. H. C. Ford, 1940; Mrs. Y. W. Haley, 1940.
Past Regents: Mrs. Walter Hibbett, 1934-1935; Mrs. Walter H. King, 1935-1939; Mrs. Media Davis Sinnott, 1939-1943; Mrs. T. M. Neel, 1943-1944; Mrs. J. W. Charlton, 1944-1945; Mrs. H. B. Blue, 1945 - .
Treasurers : Mr. James Miller, 1934-1939; Mr. R. F. Peyton, 1939 - .
The present custodian of the Sam Davis home is Mrs. Media Davis Sinnott, daughter of Charles L. Davis, Jr., brother of Sam Davis, the Tennessee Hero, with present officers as follows:
Trustees: Honorable James Nance McCord, Governor of Tennessee; Mr. Jere Maddux, Comptroller of Tennessee; Mr. Cecil Wallace, Treasurer of Ten¬ nessee; Mr. Stanley Horn, Historian of State of Tennessee; Mr. Paul Matthews, Commissioner of Conservation of Tennessee; Mr. E. O. Van Cleave, Commissioner of Agriculture of Tennessee; Mr. Knox Hutchinson, Mr. George S. Buckner, Mr. W. H. King, Mr. 0. B. Coleman, Mr. R. F. Peyton, Mr. J. W. Dennis.
Board of Directors: Mrs. J. W. Charlton, Mrs. Sory Bailey, Mrs. Thomas New¬ bill, Miss Annie Cody, Mrs. Walter King, Mrs. Eugene Morris, Mrs. P. G. Tucker.
Officers: Mrs. H. B. Blue, Regent; Mrs. Tilden Proctor, Vice-Regent; Mrs. Willie T. Koonce, Recording Secretary; Mrs. Hal Hughey, Corresponding Secretary; Mr. Frank Peyton, Treasurer; Mrs. Y. W. Haley, Special Legislative Chairman.
Before ending this story, it is only fitting that recognition be given to Mrs. Y. W. Haley, of Nashville, through whose wisdom and untiring efforts this project was begun. Mrs. Haley not only made the suggestion of the project, but has steared it through. She was appointed Legislative Chairman by Mrs. H. B. Blue, the present Regent, and gave unsparingly of her time and energy towards fulfillment of the endeavor.
72
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
Monuments to Sam Davis
SAM DAVIS MEMORIAL WINDOW
' f -
Presented to Confederate Museum at Richmond. Take Place November 11, 1912, with interesting Ceremonies — Real Work of Art and Its Inscriptions — Number of Volunteer State Women to Attend . . . How Money Was Raised for Window — Boy Hero Property Remembered in National Way.
(Re-print: Nashville American, Nov. 10, 1912).
■K*
The residence of Jefferson Davis when President of the Confederacy at its capitol, will be the scene, Monday, November 11, of exercises of a peculiarly interesting character. The historic building in Richmond, Virginia, is now the Confederate museum, maintained by the United Daughters of the Con¬ federacy, and in its walls are treasured, by the various state divisions of that great organization of 80,000 devoted women, relics of the lost cause. Ten¬ nessee on the above date, will present to the museum the Sam Davis memorial window, the tribute of womanhood of the Volunteer state to its boy hero. A number of delegates from the state to the national convention, which convenes Tuesday in Washington, D. C., will stop over in Richmond to attend the un¬ veiling exercises.
The Tennessee division will be officially represented by Mrs. Harriet E. Holland, its president, who in. the enforced absence of Mrs. A. R. Dodson of Humboldt, chairman of the state committee, will make the presentation address, and Mrs. Noah P. Randolph, of Richmond, Va., vice-regent of the Tennessee room, which, by the way, is one of the most attractive in the Museum, will make the speech of acceptance. Among the prominent Tennessee members of the U.D.C. who will be present are: Mrs. Holland, Mrs. Edith Bond, Miss Evelyn Pigues, Mrs. L. E. Owen, of Musidora McCorry Chapter of Jackson; Mrs. Elizabeth Shyrock, president; and Mrs. James D. Senter, vice-president of Nathan Bedford Forrest chapter, Humboldt; Mrs. T. J. Latham, honorary president Tennessee division, of Memphis; Mrs. William Hume, honorary president Tennessee division, Spring Hill; Mrs. John P. Hickman, Nashville, who is a member of the state committee.
The window is a real work of art. It has a bust picture of Sam Davis surrounded by Confederate flags in colors, draped. The seal of the state of Tennessee is there, and plainly written near it are these words: "‘Erected by Tennessee Division U.D.C. in honor of Tennessee’s Boy Hero.”
There, too, is the noble sentiment which fell from his lips on the threshold of passage from time to eternity: “I would die a thousand deaths before I would betray a friend.”
The lower part of the window shows tents, guns and cannon balls. Such will be this, the latest tribute which Tennessee pays to the sublime spirit of the youth who on that chill November day of 1863, wrote his name among the immortals of the southland.
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
74
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
75
FIRST MEMORIAL AT SMYRNA
The first memorial to the memory of Sam Davis was the beautiful monument which guards his grave in the family cemetery near Smyrna close by the home of his birth, where all the years of his young life were happily spent. This shaft of Italian marble was placed there by his father, soon after the war, and cost $2,000. It is about twenty-five feet high and bears these words:
“In memory of Sam Davis, a member of the First Tennessee regiment of Volunteers, Born October 6, died November 27, 1863, age 21 years. He laid down his life for his country. A truer soldier, a purer patriot, a braver man never lived; who suffered death on the gibbet rather than betray his friends and his country.5'
On October 11, 1906, the Giles county chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy unveiled at Pulaski, the imposing monument which honors the deathless memory of Sam Davis. It stands on the south side of the public square, near the court house. The name “Sam Davis”, is deeply graven on the face of the second granite die; a life-size figure of the boy martyr stands upon a massive base, and the story of his life is told in these inscriptions:
South side — “Born October 7, 1842, near Smyrna, Rutherford County, Tennessee. Though a Confederate soldier in line of duty, he was executed as a spy by the Federals at Pulaski, November 27, 1863. ‘Let come what must, I keep my trust. Sam Davis.’
East side — “If I had a thousand lives I would lose them all before I would betray my friends or the confidence of my informer.”
North side — “Erected by the Giles county chapter, U.D.C., October 11, 1906.”
West side — “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
The stately monument to Sam Davis which stands on the capitol grounds in Nashville, is the work of the noted sculptor, Zolnay, and was erected by contributions from both north and south. Mr. S. A. Cunningham, editor of the Confederate Veteran, conceived the idea of this noble and worthy tribute, and the unveiling of the monument occurred in 1909. Graven on its face are a few sentences which tell of the brief life and sublime death of the young hero. The observer will read a verse from the well known poem of Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “Sam Davis” and these words:
“1842 Sam Davis 1863”
“The boys will have to fight the battles without me.” He gave all he had
_ life; he gained all he lacked — immortality. This monument is erected by
contributions from citizens of every state in the American union, on the site authorized by the Fifty-first general assembly of the state of Tennessee, 1909.
76 Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
RAISING FUNDS BEGINS
It was at the convention of the Tennessee division of the Daughters of the Confederacy held at Jackson in 1909, that the work of raising funds for a memorial window to Sam Davis was inaugurated. The idea originated with Mrs. A. R. Dodson of Humboldt. Mrs. Dodson in September 1909, visited the Confederate Museum in Richmond, Virginia, and was struck with the beauty of the windows in the different state rooms of the Museum, each provided in tribute to some loved hero of the Confederacy. Although the Tennessee section held numerous relics of her soldiers in gray and portraits of sons who had been officers during the civil war, there was no memorial window, and at once the idea came to Mrs. Dodson, that Sam Davis, whose memory perhaps, is dearer and tenderer to Tennessee, than that of any other of their heroes of the lost cause, should be there honored. At the Sam Davis anniversary exercises held by the Nathan Bedford Forrest chapter, U.D.C., of Humboldt, following the visit of Mrs. Dodson to the museum, the suggestion, which was carried out, was made by Mrs. Dodson and was received with enthusiasm. It was voted to present a request to that effect to the convention to soon be held at Jackson, and this was formally done through Mrs. W. W. Baird, delegate from the Humboldt chapter.
At the Nashville convention in 1911, Mrs. Baird, chairman of the memorial window committee, reported that $178.60 had been secured. The membership of the committee then was as follows: Mrs. W. W. Baird, Mrs. Nora Sharpe, Mrs. James A. Hensley, Mrs. Charles Stacker, Mrs. J. C. Estes, Mrs. Harry Miller, Mrs. Emma Nell Gates, Mrs. H. M. Nash, Jr., Mrs. John C. Sweeney, Miss Libbie Morrow and Miss Elsie Abernathy.
The first chapter donation for the fund was $30.00 contributed by the Nathan Bedford Forrest chapter of Humboldt; $100.00 contributed by the Tennessee division at the Clarksville convention in 1910. About $100.00 which had remained as a surplus after paying for the monument to Davis on Capitol hill, was handed over to the U.D.C. for the memorial window, the cost of which was about $300.00.
* *
The organization of the Sam Davis Memorial Home Association, organized 1930.
.v. .v. x
In the spring of 1938 the local chapters of the Daughters of the Confed¬ eracy, unveiled a marker to Sam Davis, at the corner of the Murfreesboro to Nashville highway and Smyrna road or better known as the Sam Davis road. This marker for the purpose of instructing tourists where to turn off the main highway to go to the Sam Davis home near Smyrna.
* * *
A life size portrait of Sam Davis, the outstanding art decoration in the lobby of the Sam Davis hotel, on Seventh Avenue, North, Nashville, Tennessee, painted by the Nashville artist, Cornelius Hankins. The hotel also stands as a memorial to the hero of the sixties.
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero 77
Joseph Barras, sculptor and artist of Chattanooga, portrait of Sam Davis. The original drawing in Chattanooga public library.
A marker near Minor Hill, fourteen miles southwest of Pulaski, marking the place of capture of Sam Davis in 1863.
* * *
Tablet to Davis at the Davis home erected by Nashville Chapter No. 1, U.D.C., 1932.
* *
Probably the most outstanding monument to the Southern hero was the purchase by the State of Tennessee of the Davis home near Smyrna.
78
Sam Davis — Confederate Hero
AUTHORITIES USED
Confederate Veteran, February, 1896, article by Edith Pope.
Nashville Banner, March 13, 1932.
“History of Civil War” by Draper.
Reports of Correspondence in Official War Records.
“Life of T. J. Jackson” by Dabney.
“Life of Robert E. Lee.”
“Rise and Fall of the Confederacy” by Davis.
“History of Davidson County, Tennessee” by Clayton.
“Old Tales Retold” by Mrs. Octavia Zollicoffer Bond.
“History of U. S.” by Susan P. Lee and Louise Manly, 1899.
N. C. &= St. L. News, September, 1928.
“Nashville Illustrated in Colors” by Gerald Boylin.
Scrapbook of Giles County, Mms. Clippings, Tennessee State Library.
Nashville Banner, Sunday, December 18, 1927, Wm. Beard.
“A Monument to Sam Davis of Tennessee,” State Library.
Scrapbood of Sam Davis, Tennessee State Library.
Nashville Tennessean, August 22, 1920.
“Booklet,” Memorial Col. Richard Owen, the Good Samaritan of Camp Morton, Published in Confederate Veteran, Nashville, Tennessee.
Daily Leaf -Chronicle, Clarksville, Tennessee, August 23, 1925.
Home Journal, Murfreesboro, November 12, 1926.
Daily Times, Chattanooga, May 1, 1925.
Nashville T ennessean, October 23, 1933.
Nashville T ennessean, October 6, 1930.
Nashville Tennessean, Sunday, August, 1925.
Nashville Banner, July 22, 1926.
The Pulaski Chanticlear of December 1, 1863.
Winchester Chronicle, May 3, 1928.
“Sam Davis” The Confederate Scout . . . W. D. Fox, Nashville, Tennessee, 1896. “Pulaski Citizen,” Pulaski, Tennessee, by W. B. Romine, 1928.
“Historic Pulaski” by W. T. Richardson, 1913.
“Heroes in Gray” by Samuel W. Sherrill, A.M., Paris, Tennessee, 1909.
“The Scout” by C. W. Tyler, Pub. Cumberland Press, 1911.
Nashville American, September 25, 1895.
Family Statements from Davis Family.
Writings of Joshua Brown of New York.
Nashville American, May 24, 1896, by E. D. Hancock.
“Battles and Sketches of Army of Tennessee” by Bronfield L. Ridley.
Reports of Brig.-Genl. John K. Jackson, C.S.A.
GENEALOGY
GENEALOGY
44 Happy he who remembers his progenitors with pride , who relates with pleasure to the listener the story of their greatness , of their deeds and silently rejoicing sees himself linked to the end of this goodly chain”
— Goethe.
Davis Family
?:) . ' - . '
The Davis Family is one of the largest early American families and seems to be represented by a number of different immigrants who came to America at a very early date. I could take space and time to give you a brief of no less than a dozen different branches, with several varied spellings, such as Davis, Daves, David, Davie, Davy, etc.
Since this outline is only to show the lineage of one particular branch, that of Sam Davis, the Tennessee hero, and not treating the Davis name in general, all other branches will be eliminated.
No effort has been made to trace this lineage beyond David Davis of Middlesex County, Virginia, who apparently was the progenitor. David Davis died in Middlesex County, leaving a will dated Feb. 3, 1712, probated 3 March 1712 Book A. p 12, in which he mentions a son John Davis to have a plantation; a son David Davis to have the remainder of the land; to William Davis (not called son, but indicated) ; wife Mary or Martha; daughter Martha and daughter Catherine Davis.
David Davis married Martha King in St. Andrews Parish, Virginia (St. Andrews Par. Reg. p. 11), 1689.
John Davis, son of David Davis and wife Martha, was baptized 10 November 1690 in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia (Christ Church Parish, page 50) . In the same church register we find that John Davis married Elizabeth Rhodes in 1733.
John Davis and wife Elizabeth were parents of at least two children born while they were in Middlesex County, and recorded in Christ Church Parish register as:
1. John Davis, born Feb. 26, baptized March 17, 1739.
2. Lewis Davis, born Jan. 2, 1744.
There were probably other children of John and Elizabeth (Rhodes) Davis, not shown in the parish register.
John Davis and wife, Elizabeth appear to have left Middlesex County, about 1745, moving to St. Andrews Parish, Prince George County, Virginia, later Brunswick County, and still later Mecklenburg County. The destruction of records in Prince George County make it impossible to gather a great deal regarding them while in that county.
There was a John Davis, who made a will which is of record in Brunswick County, (W.B.3. p.40) dated 11 Nov. 1748 proved 3 Sept. 1751, in which he mentions sons John and Matthew and daughter Rejoice, wife of John Duke; and his wife Mary; also grandson, son of son Matthew and granddaughter Frances daughter of Frances and John Duke. He mentions his seven sons, but does not call them by name. There is some indication that this might be the John Davis whose wife in 1733 and 1744 was Elizabeth, but not sufficient evidence to be conclusive.
John Davis’ wife Elizabeth, possibly died in Prince George County, there¬ fore, his will is no doubt among the lost records. Then again, John Davis of
83
84
Davis Family
Brunswick County, wife Mary, may have been the same as John, the father of Lewis Davis, born 1744, but with a second wife at the time of his death.
Nevertheless, we are positive that Lewis Davis was the son of John Davis and wife Elizabeth, from the baptismal record.
The first definite information we have found on Lewis Davis, after his birth record is in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, where in 1790, he was living at which time he is shown in the tax list of tithables for 1790 (often referred to as the 1790 census) with five whites in his household, including himself and indicating that he was married at that time with a family. He was listed in the district of Jesse Sanders at the time. He does not appear to have been active during the Revolutionary War, for what reason we do not know.
The name Lewis, spelled as Lewis and not Louis (frequently confused), is a given name which seems identical in the Davis family of several branches. The first mention of Lewis Davis in Virginia, coming to my attention is 1704 in Prince William County, as a witness to the will of Christopher Pace (Va. Mag. 25 p. 70). This same Lewis Davis is mentioned again on Sept. 17, 1711 in Hanover County, with reference to land he had adjoining William Harris, Edward Bradley, Capt. Thomas West, John Pettis, James Terry, Mr. Minron, Col. Walker and Mr. Henry Fox. (St. Paul Parish register, New Kent Co. Va. 1760-1786. p. 202).
In the lineage and descendants of the Morgan Davis family, many of whom settled in Dinwiddie County, from Hanover County, the name Lewis runs through several lines, among which was Lewis Davis, born in 1809 in Lincoln County, Kentucky, who migrated to Obion County, Tennessee. This Lewis Davis was the son of William Davis, son of James F. Davis, son of David Davis, son of Evan Davis, son of Morgan Davis. There is probably a close connection between the Morgan Davis family and the David Davis family of Middlesex County, since the names Lewis and David run all through both branches.
There is a will dated April 1, 1735 (no county given) of Arthur Davis in which he mentions, sons Arthur and Lewis. He leaves to Arthur land on ye Rainbow bank and to Lewis, 200 acres on Banbow (Rainbow) creek. He mentions also, a son-in-law, William Fork, 100 acres adjoining Lewis. This Arthur Davis’ wife was Elizabeth. Sons Arthur and Lewis named as executors. Witnessed by Samuel Wheatley and Stephen Andrews and was proved by Governor Johnston at Edenton, North Carolina. (Grimes N. C. Wills).
One Leuis (Lewis) Davis left will in Southampton County, Virginia (W. B. 2. p. 309) 24 March 1771, proved April 11, 1771, in which he says “sick and weak’’ and mentions his mother Elizabeth; sister-in-law Rachel Davis giving her use of land in Southampton county had by death of brother John Davis, containing 320 acres. He also had land in Nansemond county, Virginia.
There is on record the estate of a Samuel Davis in Southampton county, dated Dec. 11, 1766 proved Dec. 17, 1768, but no children are mentioned, however, from the transactions of lands your writer is of the opinion that this Samuel is probably the father of Lewis and John Davis mentioned in the same county, however, the mention of his mother Elizabeth, indicates that this
Davis Family v 85
Lewis Davis is probably the same as Lewis Davis, son of Arthur shown in Grimes wills, whose mother was Elizabeth.
Joseph Bridger had a son William Bridger, who was given land on Chowan River in North Carolina and land bought of Lewis Davis where he then resided (Wills Isle of Wight Co. Va. in 17th Century, by Boddie, will of William Bridger) .
Still another Lewis Davis left will in Halifax County, North Carolina, dated Aug. 21, 1760 proved Sept. 1760, wife Martha. There is mentioned Sarah, daughter of William Whitehead and a cousin, Lewis Lewis. Mention is also made of John Davis, son of Thomas Davis. Martha Davis widow of Lewis, made will Nov. 20, 1760 in Halifax County, proved the same year, in which she mentions cousin Nathan Whitehead, Lewis Lewis and Sarah White- head. There is a deed in Halifax County, North Carolina which shows that Lewis Davis was formerly of Edgecombe County, North Carolina.
In Nash County, North Carolina 1780 is the will of a Lewis Davis, mentioning children Diocletian, Young, Priscilla, Lobycy and Tabitha Davis. I have identified this Lewis Davis as a brother of Thomas Davis (W. B. 1. p. 153) Halifax County, North Carolina, Oct. 29, 1764 proved Jan. 1765, naming, sons Frederick, Goodman, Dolphin, Thomas, Archibald, Onandates, nephew Dioclesian, son of Lewis Davis; brother Lewis Davis.
There are several deeds in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, before 1760, referring to Lewis Davis brother of Thomas, and Lewis Davis, who died in 1760.
In Franklin County, Virginia, (W.B.l.p.60) a William Davis left will 17 Jan. 1790 proved 1 May 1790, wife Ruth, son Lewis Davis; son-in-law Adam Barnes and Lewis Davis, executors.
There appeared in Albemarle County, Virginia, a Lewis Davis who also appears in Orange County, Virginia. He is probably a brother of Landon Davis and son of Robert Davis, who left Albemarle and Amherst Counties, Virginia, and located near Raleigh, North Carolina, and the same Lewis Davis as shown in the 1790 census of North Carolina for Wake County, while at the same time owned lands in Albemarle and Orange Counties, Virginia. Robert Davis married first Miss Hughes of Hanover County, Virginia, and moved to Amherst County about 1720. He married (2) Miss Atkins, the mother of Lewis and Landon. He had issue by his first wife also. He had to flee the Colony of Virginia on account of trouble with Nicholas (Nath) Davis (“Our kin” by Ackerly and Parker).
One Lewis Davis left will in North Carolina, 1797, but left no son Lewis.
A Lewis Davis is mentioned as “son” in will of Daniel Davis of Berkley County, Virginia, 1800-4, Daniel’s wife was Catherine.
In Anson County, North Carolina, there was a Christopher Davis who left will, naming wife, Mary; children, Arthur, Thomas, John, Elizabeth, Sarah Benton, Joseph, Hezekiah, and Lewis Davis. It would appear that Lewis Davis of Anson County, son of Christopher, located in Pitt County, North Carolina.
The tax list of Bedford County, Virginia, 1782-1787, shows a John Lewis Davis. He married Jean Edmondson 16 April, 1766, (Douglas Parish Register
86 Davis Family
p. 103). They had a daughter, Axia Davis, April 16, 1766 (Doug. Par. Reg. p. 184).
The 1790 census of Virginia, for Norfolk County, list a Lewis Davis in that county. At that same time there was a Lewis Davis in Dobbs County, N. C.; one in Wilkes County, N. C.; also a Lewis, Senior, and a Lewis, Jr., in Pitt County, N. C.
Lewis Cookson Davis, a Revolutionary Soldier, lived in Hanover County, Virginia, in 1790.
Rutherford County, Tennessee, wills for 1835 shows that a Lewis Davis died in that county, wife, Elizabeth; children named, Elizabeth, Mary, Martha, William Lewis, James Monroe, and Nicholas Davis. This same Lewis Davis was in Rutherford in the census of 1830 with his age given as between 20 and 30 years with a family.
Lewis Davis, of Mecklenburg County, Virginia, married Bridgett Gee, on June 9, 1795 (M. B. Meek. Co., Va.). He appears to have lived near or on the line of Brunswick and Mecklenburg Counties since he had lands in both counties. It was not until 1797 that he possessed any land in Mecklenburg, according to the deed books in that county. On December 31, 1824, Willis L. Davis, and Sarah, his wife; Charles L. Davis and Margaret, his wife; John Thompson and Rebeckah, his wife; and, Gregory B. Hudson and Bridgett, his wife, conveyed to Drury Pennington fifteen acres of land adjoining “said Pen¬ nington” . . . “and estate of Major David Pennington.” (Meek. D. B., 1824). This same land had been purchased on October 7, 1797, by Lewis Davis from Freeman Short, at which time the deed recites that the land containing fifteen acres adjoined David Pennington (Meek. Co. D. B. 9, p. 348).
Lewis Davis resided in the vicinity of Brodnax which is in Brunswick County. He was between Brodnax and Taylor’s Creek (in Mecklenburg Co.). All the lands through this section were originally in possession of the Penning¬ ton’s family descendants of Major David Pennington.
Lewis Davis died in 1801; his estate is on record in Brunswick County, Virginia. He left no will, only an account.
Bridgett Gee Davis married in the following year, 1802, Gregory B. Hudson and lived in or near the Mecklenburg line in Brunswick County. Mr. Hudson died, account of his estate, 1848, Brunswick County, Virginia. (Bruns. W. B. 15, p. 107). Mrs. Bridgett Hudson’s account of estate recorded in Brunswick County, 1854. (W. B. Bruns. 17).
Bridgett had at least one child, a daughter, Jane, born by her second husband, Gregory B. Hudson. She married in Mecklenburg County, November 10, 1827, Wm. Iverson Gresham and moved to Rutherford County, Tennessee, near her half-brother, Charles Lewis Davis, soon afterwards, where he trans¬ acted business with him. (See deeds).
By his wife, Bridgett Gee, Lewis Davis had issue:
1. Willis L. Davis, born, 1796, in Brunswick County, Virginia, married in that county, January 24, 1813, Sarah M. Thompson, daughter of Robert Thomp¬ son (Bruns. M. B.).
Davis Family
£>7
2. Rebeckah Davis, was born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, September 28, 1798, married in Brunswick County, March 28, 1816, John Thompson, who was born in Brunswick County, December 19, 1795. He died October 10, 1860, in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, at or near Ripley (Bruns. M. B.). (Thomp¬ son Bible) .
3. Charles Lewis Davis, was born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, 1799- 1800, according to the U. S. Census report of 1850 and 1860. He married as his first wife Miss Margaret Saunders, in Mecklenburg County, December 21, 1824. She was the daughter of John Saunders, of Mecklenburg County. She died in 1840 and Charles Lewis Davis married as his second wife, Miss Jane Simmons, daughter of Edmund Simmons and wife Elizabeth (Betty) Collier of Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
By her second husband, Gregory B. Hudson, Bridgett Gee had:
Jane Brooks Hudson, who married in Mecklenburg County, November 10, 1827, Wm. Iverson Gresham.
Rebecca Davis, daughter of Lewis Davis, granddaughter of John Davis, and great-granddaughter of David Davis, was born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, September 28, 1798; when she was eighteen years old married John Thompson, born December 19, 1795, and died October 28, 1860. They were married in Brunswick County, Virginia, March 28, 1816, by the Reverend Thomas Adams, of Lunenburg County, Virginia. (Burns. Co., Va., M. B. gives her name as “Davy” instead of “Davis.”).
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson with their family, left Mecklenburg County, Vir¬ ginia, about the same time as did Charles Lewis Davis, 1825. The Thompson family is thought to have stopped in Rutherford County, Tennessee, with the Davises for a short time before moving on westward into Lauderdale County, Tennessee; some descendants locating in Kentucky and Virginia.
The Thompson family bible, in possession of Mrs. E. E. Heath, Paducah, Kentucky, has the following entries, children of John Thompson and Rebecca A. Davis, his wife:
“John Thompson and Rebecca Ann Davis, his wife, was married on March 28th, 1816, in Brunswick County, Virginia, by the Rev. Thos. Adams of Lunenburg, Va. John Thompson was born Dec. 19, 1795, died Oct. 28, 1860. Rebecca A. Thompson born Sept. 28, 1798, died (not given). Children:
1. Albert Tary Thompson, born 2-17-1817.
2. Selina Ann Thompson, born 5-30-1819, married Moses Enos Stone. She died 2-6-1882.
3. Tomela Adams Thompson, born 10-1-1824, married William A. Wood. She died 9-6-1873.
4. Addison Wells Thompson, born 6-28-1826. Died 4-27-1891.
5. Robert Lewis D. Thompson, born 1-25-1828. Died 1-31-1867.
6. John Peter Thompson, born 9-1-1830. Died 6-28-1863.
7. Amy Tabitha Thompson, born 2-7-1833, married P. M. Haliburton. She died July 20, 1858.
88
Davis Family
Mrs. Lyda Heath Travis, Gilbertsville, Kentucky, gives the following record of the family of Selina Ann Thompson and her husband, Moses Enos Stone. Moses Enos Stone was the son of John Stone and Mournin Crow, his wife, of Marshall County, Kentucky. Moses Enos Stone and Salina Thompson were married by J. McRoberson, M. G., on the 11th day of April, 1839, Lauderdale County, Ripley, Tennessee.
Their children were:
1. Fanny Stone married first Mr. Edwards who died in the Civil War. She married secondly a Mr. Baker.
2. Rebecca Stone married Mr. Malcolm. She married secondly Mr. Lentz.
3. John Stone married Ellen Clark.
4. Ellen Stone married first William Malcolm. Secondly she married Vol Holland.
5. Frank Stone married Agnes Love.
6. Hodge Stone.
7. Mary Tabitha Stone married Hugh Ashburn Heath. She was born May 24, 1854, died July 27, 1900. Mr. Heath was born May 2, 1849, died June 14, 1913.
8. William Stone married Lou Boyd.
9. McLean Stone married Nellie Collie.
10. Salina (Betty) Stone married Willis Smith.
Mary Tabitha Stone, daughter of Moses Enos Stone, and wife, Salina Thompson, was born in Marshall County, Kentucky, May 24, 1854, and died in the same county, July 27, 1900. Her husband, Hugh Ashburn Heath, was born May 2, 1849, and died June 14, 1913; born and died in Marshall County, Ken¬ tucky. They married January 4, 1872.
Their children were:
1. Enos Elmore Heath, born June 7, 1873, Marshall County, Kentucky, married Cade Houston, born January 21, 1875, McLean County, Ken¬ tucky. (Bible of Elmore Heath, in possession of Mrs. E. E. Heath, Paducah, Ky., R. 4.).
Their children:
1 a. Wells Heath, born Sept. 5, 1895, married Mable Brooks, Jan.
15, 1915, Metropolis, Ill.
Had issue :
a. Wells Heath, Jr., born Jan. 25, 1917, served World War II, Army Air Corps in Italy.
b. Kathleen Heath, born Oct. 11, 1919, married Lee Molloy.
b. Mayme Heath, born Dec. 31, 1899, married George R. Jackson, Dec. 28, 1919, Paducah, Ky. Have issue:
a. Everett Elmore Jackson, born Sept. 10, 1922, died Aug. 15, 1923.
Davis Family
89
b. George Welton Jackson, born Sept. 20, 1924, U. S. Medical Corps. Served in Munich, Germany, World War II.
c. Lyda Lois Heath, born Nov. 11, 1902, married Dr. Errett Pace, Sept. 30, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois.
d. Allie May Heath, born May 12, 1907, McCracken County, Ky., married Glynn Lawrence Coryell, horn June 16, 1907, Mc¬ Cracken County, Ky., married April 16, 1927, St. Louis, Mo. Issue:
a. Glynn Heath Coryell, born May 8, 1929, Fayette County, Ky.
b. Lawrence Ritchie Brooke Coryell, born 3-14-1936, Richmond, Va.
c. Patricia Vade Coryell, born 9-7-1937.
e. Hugh Heath, born Jan. 1, 1910. Served in the Coast Guard of our nation; received an Honorable Discharge.
Ellen Stone, daughter of Moses Enos Stone and Salina Ann Thompson, mar¬ ried first William W. Malcolm. She married secondly, Vol Holland. By her first husband the following issue:
1. Susie Malcolm, married first Turner Smith. Secondly she married George Carroll. By her first husband she had:
a. Malcolm Smith.
b. Lealand Smith.
c. Herbert Smith.
d. Love Smith.
2. Salina Malcolm, married first W. W. Holland. She married secondly, Ed Riley. By her first husband she had:
a. Carra Holland.
b. Lelia Holland, married Charlie Mocquot by whom she had:
a. Charles Mocquot.
b. Mary Mocquot.
3. Eillie Malcolm.
4. Fannie Malcolm, married John Holland by whom she had:
a. Bernice Holland.
b. Eunice Holland, married Arthur Cox and had:
a. Evalee Cox.
b. John Holland Cox.
c. Jackie Joe Cox.
c. John Thomas Holland.
5. Ruth Malcolm, married Lawrence Robb and had issue:
a. Lillie Lilac Murrell Robb.
b. Willie Robb.
90
Davis Family
6. Winnie Malcolm, married William F. Flolland and had:
a. Otho Holland.
7. Lillian Mable Malcolm.
8. Milby Malcolm, married Reed Heath by whom she had:
a. Malcolm Heath, married Elizabeth Holland, and had one child Robert Byron Heath.
b. LaVerne Heath, married Dan Clayton and had two children, Boyce Clayton and Joan Clayton.
c. Reed Ballard Heath.
d. Bernice Evelyn Heath.
John Payton Stone, son of Moses Enos Stone and wife, Salina Ann Thomp¬ son, married Ellen Clark and had:
1. Hardin Stone, married and had:
a. Gilbert Stone.
b. Raymond Stone.
c. Hattie Lee Stone.
2. John Jackson Stone, married and had:
a. Helen Stone.
b. Thomas Stone.
c. Agatha Estelle Stone, married Mr. Thompson.
d. Nancy Farris Stone, married Mr. Johnston.
3. Malinda Stone, married Mr. McGowan by whom she had:
a. Hester Wilson McGowan.
b. Fray Holland McGowan.
c. Melodean McGowan.
Addison Wells Thompson, son of John Thompson and wife, Rebecca Davis, married Mary Jane Mullins at “Rose Hill,” Lunenburg County, Virginia, by Rev. J. L. Sothern, on October 16, 1855. Mary Jane Mullins was born March 17, 1839. Addison Wells Thompson, married secondly, August 13, 1879, E. G. Marshall. They also married at Rose Hill, Lunenburg County, Virginia, the family home of the Thompsons. The postoffice of this family in Virginia was Jorgason, Virginia. E. G. Marshall, second wife of A. W. Thompson, died July 11, 1905. By his first wife, Mary Jane Mullins, Addison Wells Thompson had the following children:
1. Francis Ann Thompson, born July 30, 1856, died October 15, 1856.
2. John Peter Thompson, born July 1, 1859.
3. Robert James Thompson, born March 16, 1865, died August 18, 1876.
By his second wife, E. G. Marshall, Addison Wells Thompson had:
4. Marshall Young Thompson, born September 17, ? , died May 8, 1884.
5. Petrionella Thompson, born November 18, 1887, married R. G. Bowen, in Washington, D. C., and had issue:
Davis Family
91
a. Nellie Glenn Bowen, born August 6, 1910, at Blackstone, Va.
b. Margaret Lee Bowen, born August 26, 1919, at Petersburg, Va.
Tomela Adams Thompson, daughter of John Thompson and wife, Rebecca Davis, married William A. Woods. Their issue:
1. John (called Jack) Woods.
2. Robert Wells Woods, married Sarah Williams and had:
a. Robert Edward Woods.
b. Lucy Woods.
c. Cornelia Woods.
d. Sarah Woods.
3. James, married Mollie Malcolm and had two children, Jack and Hettie.
This family located at Asher, Oklahoma.
4. William Woods.
5. Thomas Woods.
6. Tabitha Woods.
7. Madison Woods, located at Asher, Oklahoma.
8. Rebecca Woods.
Mrs. Glynn L. Coryell, of Lebanon, Illinois, writes of the Thompson-Davis family: “I have visited the old home of Addison Wells Thompson ‘Rose HilL in Virginia. It is said that it was the home of his father John Thompson, whether that’s true, I cannot say. I met Mrs. Bowen, while living in Richmond, and got the information on her descent from the Addison Wells Thompson Bible which was in her possession. Have also visited Ripley, Tennessee, where most of the John Thompson and Rebecca Davis children are buried with their parents. My father, Enos Elmore Heath, has in his possession the John Thompson bible, whose records I have enclosed a copy. I have also visited the Sam Davis home several times, gathering all information possible from the family cemetery; information from Media Davis Matthews (late sister of Sam Davis) who verified our kinship, and others in connection with the home which has been made a state shrine.” w‘It is my understanding that Rebecca Davis and John Thompson came from Virginia and settled around Ripley, Tennessee, and Brownsville. Aunt Becky (as Rebecca Davis was called by Media Davis Matthews) would have to go to Brownsville to catch the train. While visiting the Sam Davis home a few years ago, we stopped on our way home in Ripley and talked with Miss Cornelia Wood. She went with us out to the old Thompson cemetery, in the country. She, herself, was planning to clean the grounds up and make it again a cherished place to visit. At that time, as most cemeteries, was not well kept. The dates on the tombs corresponded with the ‘Old Thompson Bible’ dates.
“Salina