Sam Davis

DESCRIPTION: Sam Davis sits on his coffin and writes a letter to his mother telling her not to grieve and that his father can collect his bones in Pulaski, Tennessee. Union Captain Armstrong cries after the execution because Davis died so bravely.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1946 (Bronner/Eskin-FolksongAlivePart1)
KEYWORDS: army Civilwar execution death America soldier mother
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
Nov 27, 1863 - Confederate soldier Sam Davis is executed as a spy in Pulaski, Tennessee (Moore; see notes below)
FOUND IN: US(SW)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Bronner/Eskin-FolksongAlivePart1 30, "Sam Davis" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #24155
NOTES [40 words]: The details of Davis's capture and execution are in Frank Moore, "Anecdotes, Poetry and Incidents of the War: North and South. 1860-1865" (New York: Bible House, 1867 ("Digitized by Internet Archive")) pp. 403-404, "The Execution of a Spy". - BS
Last updated in version 3.5
File: BrE1030

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