Boy Hero of the Confederacy, Sam Davis
in Lincoln County.
An article from the CONFEDERATE VETERAN - 1902 (Vol. X) - pages 350-351
350 Confederate Veteran August 1902.
WAS ON SCOUT WITH SAM DAVIS.
The following from Newman Cayce, Esq., Columbus, Miss., was in type for the last VETERAN:
I am just in receipt of my CONFEDERATE VETERAN for June, and notice mention therein of the movement to erect on the capitol grounds at Nashville a monument in memoriam of that heroic son of Tennessee and of our beloved Southland, Sam Davis.
I am glad of an opportunity for contributing my mite to this movement so gloriously just and so justly glorious, and inclose herewith five dollars for that purpose.
It was my proud privilege to be at the side of Sam Davis in probably the last fighting he was permitted to do for the cause dearer than life, and for which his young life was so heroically given. My being with him was purely accidental, and might have never been recalled but for the account of his capture and death sometime since in the VETERAN.
In November, 1863, the regiment of which I was a member, the Fourth Alabama Cavalry (commanded by Col. W. A. Johnson), crossed the Tennessee River below Decatur, Ala., to make a raid on the enemy's communications along the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad, between Stevenson and Nashville. After nightfall, near Athens, Ala., a scout of six men, under command of Lieut. Cal J. Hyatt, was ordered to go in the direction of Fayetteville and Winchester, Tenn., and watch the movements of the enemy, then stationed in force at Pulaski and Columbia. Tenn., in their probable efforts to get in the rear of our raiding column, when its presence became known. This scout consisted of Lieut. Cal J. Hyatt, John B. McKinney, Will McKinney, James Nugent, Tom Weaver, Frank Callahan, and myself. We were to get as a guide a loyal Southerner living a few miles north of Athens, Ala. When we reached the home of our expected guide (ten o'clock at night), we found that he was unable to accompany us, a member of his family being dangerously ill, but he said to us: "I think I can get you a guide. There is a Confederate scout who came in here this evening, perfectly reliable and familiar with the country. I will see him." He left us a short while, and returned with a young man whom he introduced to us as "Sam Davis." Young Davis very kindly consented to accompany us, saying that he was going to that section any way. It was quite a dark night and raining, but under the leadership of our guide we rode without delay, and reached the town of Fayetteville, Tenn., early the next morning, and got breakfast at a hotel on the southeast corner of the public square. Our landlord was an old citizen of the place, and was an acquaintance of Sam Davis. After breakfast our squad divided, Lieut. Hyatt, John B. McKinney, Will McKinney, and James Nugent going in the direction of Winchester, Tenn., while Tom Weaver, Frank Callahan, Sam Davis, and I rode in a northwest direction. along the Tullahoma road. Our squad was to meet that night, if practicable, at a farmhouse about three miles northeast from Fayetteville. We rode out the Tullahoma road about eight miles, and, returning, took dinner at a farmer's house about six miles from Fayetteville. The lady whose hospitality we enjoyed was an acquaintance, and I think perhaps a relative, of Davis. We met our comrades at the rendezvous agreed on, and remained there that night. Early next morning we started to Fayetteville, and intersected about a mile southeast of Fayetteville the Huntsville and Fayetteville road near the bank of a river. Riding
Confederate Veteran August 1902. 351
on toward Fayetteville, the road was, for a short distance, near the river bank, and then extended along the base of some high hills on the east until about opposite the town, then turned abruptly to the west. About forty yards from this abrupt turn we crossed a small creek, and ascended the slope of the hill toward the courthouse. For some distance high old fashioned rail fences were on either side of the road and concealed us from view on either side, but they obstructed our view as well. Sam Davis and I were a short distance ahead of our comrades, I suppose about fifty yards, and as we rode around the turn of the road west we discovered the head of a column of Federal cavalry. They had just reached this little creek, and their horses were drinking, the riders' heads being inclined downward. They had not seen us. The remainder of their column extended back the road toward town. Davis and I instantly drew our pistols and opened fire upon the head of the Federal column in the creek. They did not see us until we fired upon them, and they were very much confused for a few moments. By the time we had emptied our pistols their officers had rallied them, and they charged us. As we galloped back down the Huntsville road Sam laughingly commented upon the antics of some of the Federals as we were shooting at them. We galloped on the Huntsville road to our comrades, and until we passed out of the lane, then turned eastward in the woods between the hills. The Federals did not follow us very far, and we returned and watched their movements until they returned west ward. That night our scout went southward to meet our column near Huntsville, Ala.
During our ride of two nights and days I was much of the time with Sam Davis, and had become very much attached to him. I had recognized his brave, gentle, noble spirit. All the qualities of a dauntless, heroic comradeship were so manifest in him that I parted with him very regretfully, and as I clasped his hand, bidding him good by, I said: "Sam, can't you go out with us?" He replied: "No, I am not ready to go yet. I am one of some special scouts for Gen. Bragg. We were sent to ascertain the location of the Federal troops in Middle Tennessee, the strength of the garrisons and of the works. My comrades are now in the vicinity of Columbia and Pulaski. I have some information, but I must see them and get what information they have, and then I will go back to the army. If I cross the Tennessee River anywhere in reach, I will try to see you." This was the first intimation I had of his special duty, and I appreciated the great honor and recognition of soldierly qualities manifest by such selection. All of this was recalled to my memory when I read in the VETERAN some time since the account of his death and the special service he was on when captured.
We parted. I went southward to rejoin my command, and he went northward to an eternal immortality of glory. I never heard of his capture and death, and but for the account in the VETERAN would probably have never recalled my being with the brave, gentle boy.
I have never understood why he should have been treated as a spy. When he was with me, which could not have been more than a few days before his capture, he was in Confederate uniform, and was engaged in the proper and legitimate duty of a soldier. He was inside the enemy's lines, clad in his Confederate uniform, ascertaining the location of the enemy, their strength, and the strength of their works, and the mere fact of his success in his daring venture ought not to have changed him from a scout to a spy. I am glad that it was my privilege to meet him, and proud to have been with him under fire, and shall cherish as long as memory endures the remembrance of his friendship.
350 Confederate Veteran August 1902.
WAS ON SCOUT WITH SAM DAVIS.
The following from Newman Cayce, Esq., Columbus, Miss., was in type for the last VETERAN:
I am just in receipt of my CONFEDERATE VETERAN for June, and notice mention therein of the movement to erect on the capitol grounds at Nashville a monument in memoriam of that heroic son of Tennessee and of our beloved Southland, Sam Davis.
I am glad of an opportunity for contributing my mite to this movement so gloriously just and so justly glorious, and inclose herewith five dollars for that purpose.
It was my proud privilege to be at the side of Sam Davis in probably the last fighting he was permitted to do for the cause dearer than life, and for which his young life was so heroically given. My being with him was purely accidental, and might have never been recalled but for the account of his capture and death sometime since in the VETERAN.
In November, 1863, the regiment of which I was a member, the Fourth Alabama Cavalry (commanded by Col. W. A. Johnson), crossed the Tennessee River below Decatur, Ala., to make a raid on the enemy's communications along the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad, between Stevenson and Nashville. After nightfall, near Athens, Ala., a scout of six men, under command of Lieut. Cal J. Hyatt, was ordered to go in the direction of Fayetteville and Winchester, Tenn., and watch the movements of the enemy, then stationed in force at Pulaski and Columbia. Tenn., in their probable efforts to get in the rear of our raiding column, when its presence became known. This scout consisted of Lieut. Cal J. Hyatt, John B. McKinney, Will McKinney, James Nugent, Tom Weaver, Frank Callahan, and myself. We were to get as a guide a loyal Southerner living a few miles north of Athens, Ala. When we reached the home of our expected guide (ten o'clock at night), we found that he was unable to accompany us, a member of his family being dangerously ill, but he said to us: "I think I can get you a guide. There is a Confederate scout who came in here this evening, perfectly reliable and familiar with the country. I will see him." He left us a short while, and returned with a young man whom he introduced to us as "Sam Davis." Young Davis very kindly consented to accompany us, saying that he was going to that section any way. It was quite a dark night and raining, but under the leadership of our guide we rode without delay, and reached the town of Fayetteville, Tenn., early the next morning, and got breakfast at a hotel on the southeast corner of the public square. Our landlord was an old citizen of the place, and was an acquaintance of Sam Davis. After breakfast our squad divided, Lieut. Hyatt, John B. McKinney, Will McKinney, and James Nugent going in the direction of Winchester, Tenn., while Tom Weaver, Frank Callahan, Sam Davis, and I rode in a northwest direction. along the Tullahoma road. Our squad was to meet that night, if practicable, at a farmhouse about three miles northeast from Fayetteville. We rode out the Tullahoma road about eight miles, and, returning, took dinner at a farmer's house about six miles from Fayetteville. The lady whose hospitality we enjoyed was an acquaintance, and I think perhaps a relative, of Davis. We met our comrades at the rendezvous agreed on, and remained there that night. Early next morning we started to Fayetteville, and intersected about a mile southeast of Fayetteville the Huntsville and Fayetteville road near the bank of a river. Riding
Confederate Veteran August 1902. 351
on toward Fayetteville, the road was, for a short distance, near the river bank, and then extended along the base of some high hills on the east until about opposite the town, then turned abruptly to the west. About forty yards from this abrupt turn we crossed a small creek, and ascended the slope of the hill toward the courthouse. For some distance high old fashioned rail fences were on either side of the road and concealed us from view on either side, but they obstructed our view as well. Sam Davis and I were a short distance ahead of our comrades, I suppose about fifty yards, and as we rode around the turn of the road west we discovered the head of a column of Federal cavalry. They had just reached this little creek, and their horses were drinking, the riders' heads being inclined downward. They had not seen us. The remainder of their column extended back the road toward town. Davis and I instantly drew our pistols and opened fire upon the head of the Federal column in the creek. They did not see us until we fired upon them, and they were very much confused for a few moments. By the time we had emptied our pistols their officers had rallied them, and they charged us. As we galloped back down the Huntsville road Sam laughingly commented upon the antics of some of the Federals as we were shooting at them. We galloped on the Huntsville road to our comrades, and until we passed out of the lane, then turned eastward in the woods between the hills. The Federals did not follow us very far, and we returned and watched their movements until they returned west ward. That night our scout went southward to meet our column near Huntsville, Ala.
During our ride of two nights and days I was much of the time with Sam Davis, and had become very much attached to him. I had recognized his brave, gentle, noble spirit. All the qualities of a dauntless, heroic comradeship were so manifest in him that I parted with him very regretfully, and as I clasped his hand, bidding him good by, I said: "Sam, can't you go out with us?" He replied: "No, I am not ready to go yet. I am one of some special scouts for Gen. Bragg. We were sent to ascertain the location of the Federal troops in Middle Tennessee, the strength of the garrisons and of the works. My comrades are now in the vicinity of Columbia and Pulaski. I have some information, but I must see them and get what information they have, and then I will go back to the army. If I cross the Tennessee River anywhere in reach, I will try to see you." This was the first intimation I had of his special duty, and I appreciated the great honor and recognition of soldierly qualities manifest by such selection. All of this was recalled to my memory when I read in the VETERAN some time since the account of his death and the special service he was on when captured.
We parted. I went southward to rejoin my command, and he went northward to an eternal immortality of glory. I never heard of his capture and death, and but for the account in the VETERAN would probably have never recalled my being with the brave, gentle boy.
I have never understood why he should have been treated as a spy. When he was with me, which could not have been more than a few days before his capture, he was in Confederate uniform, and was engaged in the proper and legitimate duty of a soldier. He was inside the enemy's lines, clad in his Confederate uniform, ascertaining the location of the enemy, their strength, and the strength of their works, and the mere fact of his success in his daring venture ought not to have changed him from a scout to a spy. I am glad that it was my privilege to meet him, and proud to have been with him under fire, and shall cherish as long as memory endures the remembrance of his friendship.