Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/202

188 He was a volunteer in the army of Tennessee, and had been detailed with others to the secret service, with instructions to gather all possible information concerning the enemy. In the execution of his mission he had surreptitiously obtained possession of manuscripts which contained valuable information for General Bragg, the disclosure of which might have proved injurious to the Union army. Making all possible speed to escape, he was finally apprehended by the scouts of the Federal army, and upon examination of his person and belongings the fatal papers were found concealed in his boot and in the seat of his saddle. Having been conveyed to Pulaski, Tenn., he was brought before the commanding general, Dodge, who endeavored, by all honorable means, to induce the prisoner to reveal the name of his accomplice who was primarily guilty in this affair. He dealt tenderly with the young man, even evincing paternal sympathy, and proffered his release from custody and the sending of him under escort to his own army, if he would disclose the name of his informant. The general suggested that, being quite young, the prisoner might not fully appreciate his peril ; adding that if he persistently refused to tell what he knew, it would become necessary to order a court-martial and send him before that tribunal; and that his conviction was inevitable, death being the penalty of the offense charged.

The young hero respectfully assured the general that he thoroughly understood the case, and calmly announced his readiness to die. He put an end to the discussion by saying: "General, it is useless to argue the question with me; my mind is made up, and if I had a thousand lives I would sacrifice them all before I would violate my word and betray my informant." The court-martial was ordered and Davis was tried and convicted, and sentenced to be hanged by the neck until he was dead. He received the announcement of his sentence with dignity, sat down and wrote a farewell letter to his mother, which, with some mementoes, he requested to have sent to the loved ones at home; then quietly addressed himself to his personal preparations for the final hour.

The next day, when he had reached the place of execution, an officer galloped up to the scene, and hastily dismounting went directly to the hapless young man, and at the last moment, touching him upon the shoulder,