The Boy Hero of the Confederacy in the Southern Quote

He was born on October 6^th, 1842 in Rutherford County, Tennessee. His was an upper middle class family and he was the oldest son. At eighteen years of age, he left home to attend Western Military Academy in Nashville.

Shortly after his arrival the Civil War began. Samuel Davis joined the Confederate Army and spent the next two years serving with the 1^st Tennessee Infantry Regiment. Sam’s regiment first engaged the Union forces at Cheat Mountain, and then in the Shenandoah Valley. Though he escaped from those skirmishes without significant injury, he was wounded in the next battle at Shiloh and then, more severely at Perryville. After his recovery, Sam began serving as a courier for Coleman’s Scouts.

On November 20^th, 1863, the young soldier was captured by Federal troops near Minor Hill, Tennessee. The secret Union battle plans he was carrying led to his arrest as a courier and a spy. Sam was sentenced to die by hanging unless he agreed to reveal his contact. Sam refused to name his source, insisting that he’d rather die a thousand deaths than betray a friend. On the evening before his execution, Samuel Davis received a visit from the company’s chaplain. He joined the man of God in a short devotional and together they sang, “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand.” The next morning, one week after his capture, Samuel Davis met his fate. History records that in that short time he had won the respect of his captors. Union soldiers stood at attention as he approached the gallows.

In today’s Southern Quote, we honor the life of the young man from Tennessee who became known as The Boy Hero of the Confederacy. It’s recorded that the officer upon whom it fell to preside over his execution was moved by the young man’s age and the peace with which he faced the moment and he openly despaired of his responsibility in his death.

With his last words, Samuel Davis is alleged to have said, “Officer, I did my duty. Now you do yours.”