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Posted on 04/23/2003 5:35:17 AM PDT by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.
Where the Freeper Foxhole introduces a different veteran each Wednesday. The "ordinary" Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine who participated in the events in our Country's history. We hope to present events as seen through their eyes. To give you a glimpse into the life of those who sacrificed for all of us - Our Veterans.
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Hero of the Confederacy Who was Sam Davis? There have been several replies made to this question over the years. Davis has been multiply labelled as "The Boy Hero Of The Confederacy," a soldier doing his duty, a living example of the Southern gentleman's code of honor, and a spy. Which is the correct answer? All of them are, to a certain degree. Simply put, Sam Davis was a young man who, in the midst of war and the many senseless deaths which accompany it, made his death meaningful - and with it, his life.  On 6 October 1842, Sam Davis was born in the Stewartsboro (now Smyrna), Tennessee farmhouse of his parents Charles Lewis Davis and Jane Simmons Davis. By all accounts, his life was that of a normal boy in a middle class rural Southern family until November 1860 - when Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States. With whispers of an approaching war already on the wind, Davis' parents enrolled him in Nashville's Western Military Academy. Davis' academic career at WMA was destined to be a short one, however. Davis left the Academy in April 1861 and volunteered for the 1st Tennessee Infantry (Company I - "Rutherford's Rifles") the following month. Davis officially became a Confederate soldier in August 1861, when the 1st Tennessee was mustered into the Confederate Army. Davis served as an infantry private under Robert E. Lee during Lee's Virginia/West Virginia campaign until December 1861, when the 1st Tennessee was transferred to Major General Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson's command for the defense of the Shenandoah Valley. Davis performed with distinction, earning several commendations for valor during the First Valley Campaign of 1862. The 1st Tennessee participated in this campaign until March 1862, when the Federal capture of Fort Donelson and Fort Henry led to the transfer of the 1st Tennessee to the command of General Albert Sidney Johnson for the defense of Corinth, Mississippi. Sam Davis and the 1st Tennessee Infantry arrived in time to engage in fighting on both days of the Battle of Shiloh - one of the bloodiest clashes of the Civil War. Davis was wounded slightly, and his valor was once again noted by his regimental officers.  In June 1862, the 1st Tennessee was transferred to the command of General Braxton Bragg as part of the newly-formed Army of Tennessee, to conduct offensive operations in Tennessee and Kentucky. Davis' participation in these operations included the battles at Perryville, Murfreesboro (Stones River) and Shelbyville. For Bragg to continue his operations, however, more detailed information on Federal troop and supply movements was required. To meet these needs, a special calvary company was formed. This company was staffed with the creme-de-la-creme of the soldiers - men who had repeatedly demonstrated courage, endurance and coolness under fire. Sam Davis was one of about 30 soldiers transferred to Coleman's Scouts in July 1862, under the leadership of Captain Henry B. Shaw (working under the pseudonym "Capt. E. Coleman"). During his time with Coleman's Scouts, Davis performed his scouting duties in the middle Tennessee/northern Alabama area. During the time of the Battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga (fall 1863), Davis worked within the city limits of (federally-held) Nashville, gathering information on the city fortifications and Union troop dispositions. Davis was even able to eavesdrop on conversations between Union General Rosecrans and his officers. Eventually, the area got too "hot" for the intelligence-gathering activities to continue - Union troops were constantly on the move in the area, increasing the Scouts' chances of detection. Many scouts (Coleman's and others) had been captured or killed - so many that when Davis came into the Scouts' headquarters (located at Big Creek, TN about 20 miles south of Columbia) in mid-November with a load of Union newspapers and dispatches, there was nobody available who could relay the delivery on down the courier line. Thus it was that on 19 November 1863, Capt. Shaw happened upon Davis on the road with a large parcel of mail and packages, trying to find a crossover to Confederate territory. Shaw gave Davis a special dispatch to deliver to General Bragg (headquartered in Chattanooga) and suggested Davis try crossing into Dixie territory south of Decatur, Alabama.  Sam Davis Monument - 1909 Smyrna, Tennessee Davis' route took him to Giles County, Tennessee and the city of Pulaski - then home to the headquarters of the Union Army's 16th Corps. On the morning of 20 November 1863, while riding down Lamb's Ferry Road about 15 miles south of Pulaski, he encountered two soldiers in Confederate uniform who said they were conscripting for the Confederate Army. Over his Confederate uniform Davis was wearing a coat given him by his mother on his last trip home - a Union coat (taken from a deserter) and dyed brown with walnut hulls. Davis stated that he was already a member of the Confederate Army and presented his pass for verification, whereupon he was arrested. The two men in Confederate uniform were actually Union soldiers of the 7th Kansas Calvary. The two soldiers took Davis to their commanding officer. A search of Davis' effects revealed (hidden in his saddle and the soles of his boots) detailed documentation on Nashville's fortifications, 16th Corps troop positions and movements, and a hand-written record of the entire wartime activities of Coleman's Scouts - addressed to General Bragg and signed "Capt. Coleman." Union General Grenville Dodge, commander of the 16th Corps, immediately took personal charge of Davis' interrogation. The letter to Bragg conclusively identified Davis as a member of Coleman's Scouts, and Dodge wanted Coleman; also, the information on the 16th Corps was so detailed, Dodge was certain Davis had been in communication with an informer in the ranks of Dodge's own officers. Davis was subjected to incessant interrogation for several days, with his inquisitors pushing hard both for the identity of his source for information on the 16th Corps and the true identity of Capt. Coleman. Davis was repeatedly promised leniency (a promise which was escalated to freedom during the interrogation) if he would divulge the names, or death by hanging as a spy if he would not. Little were they aware that Davis not only knew Capt. Coleman's true identity of Henry B. Shaw, he also knew Shaw's location - in the next cell. Shaw had been arrested under his own name as a Confederate soldier on furlough, but the Union troops had no clue that he was their elusive "Capt. Coleman".  Sam Davis, Boy Hero of the Confederacy. Nashville, Tennessee Throughout all interrogations, Davis revealed nothing to his captors. By all accounts, the Union soldiers (including Gen. Dodge) grew very fond of the young man's courage and his strong sense of personal honor. Many of them wanted Davis to talk so his life would be spared - but the young man remained silent. On 25 November, a court-martial found Davis guilty of spying, despite the testimony of both arresting soldiers and their commanding officer (Capt. L. H. "Chickasaw" Naron) that Davis was wearing his Confederate uniform when arrested. Davis was sentenced to hang on 27 November 1863. As the gallows on which Davis was to be hung was constructed in full view of Davis' jail cell, the Union officers continued to interrogate Davis. At this point, they were virtually begging Davis to reveal the requested names, so execution of the sentence could be deterred. Davis was ridden from the jail to the gallows in a wagon, sitting on his own coffin. The last soldier to appeal to Davis did so as Davis stood on the execution gallows. Capt. Naron promised Davis his horse, his sidearms, and an escort to Confederate lines if Sam would reveal who gave him the papers he was carrying. Davis' reply is still remembered today, as it echoes the sentiments of Nathan Hale in an earlier war: "I am but a private soldier in the Confederate Army. The man who gave me this information is worth ten thousand more to the Confederate cause than I, and I would sooner die a thousand deaths before I would betray a friend or be false to duty." According to some reports, the Union Captain overseeing the execution broke down at the last minute and was unable to pronounce execution of the sentence. Sam Davis' last words before the hood was placed and the trapdoor sprung were directed at the hangman - "Soldier. Do your duty."
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It's tragic he was duped into fighting for the slave power.
Large numbers of German and Japanese soldiers were equally brave and dedicated.
Walt
The tragedy of Sam Davis and others were that they were Americans, fighting Americans.
I have a hard time putting my self in the mindset of the 1850-60's. All we've know is a strong Federal government. The powers of the States and one's loyalty to their State was so much different than it is today.
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Air Power
Lockheed U-2
The U-2 is a single-pilot, single engine, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft. It is the first plane to be built primarily for recon missions. The U-2 has long, straight, wide wings which gives it a glider like looks. It can carry a variety of different sensors and cameras. The U-2 is also a very reliable aircraft, and because of this enjoys a high mission completion ratio. Because of it's unusual landing characteristics is a very difficult airplane to master. Because of the altitude the U-2 flies at it is necessary for a pilot to were a full pressure suit.
The U-2 was built to a CIA request issued in 1954, for a high altitude spy plane. Designed and built at Lockheed's famous Advanced Development Projects or Skunk Works. The U-2 first took to the air on the first of August 1955. The initial testing site was called Paradise Ranch (even though it is located out in the Nevada desert).
The U-2 began flying spy-missions in 1956. These missions were top secret until May 1, 1960 when Gary Powers was shot down over Russian soil. He crashed and was captured, he was then tried and sentenced to ten years in jail. After this incident over-flights of Russia were permanently canceled.
Other over-flights and missions went on though and now the U-2 provides continuous day or night, high altitude, all-weather, stand of surveillance of a battle area or hostile area. It provides critical intelligence to generals and others throughout a conflict. On request the U-2 has also taken pictures for the Federal Emergency Management Agency after a disaster for damage reports.
The U-2's are based at Beale Air Force Base in California. These U-2's support four bases through out the world with tactical requirements. The new U-2 crews are also trained here in U-2ST trainers.
Primary Function: High-altitude reconnaissance
Contractor: Lockheed Aircraft Corp.
Construction: Conventional aluminum monococque
Length: 49.7 feet U-2R: 103 feet
Wingspan: 80 feet U2-R: 63 feet
Wing Area: 600 square feet
Height: 15 feet, 2 inches (at tail)
Empty Weight: 14,250 pounds
Maximum Gross Take-Off Weight: 24,150 pounds
Maximum Speed: over 430 mph
Operational Ceiling: over 85,000 feet
Maximum Unrefueled Range: 3,000 nautical miles
Armament: none
Powerplant Data: Pratt & Whitney(P & W) J57-P-37/ J57-P-37A with 10,500 pounds of thrust
updated to: P & W J57-P-31/ J57-P-31A with 11,200 pounds of thrust
updated to: P & W J75-P-13/ J75-P-13A with 15,800 pounds of thrust
updated to: P & W J75-P-13B axial flow turbojet with 18,500 pounds of thrust
Available Recon Platforms 
E-Bay Payload:
LN-33 PIII INS: is a INS/GPS navigator
NAS-21A ANS: is the retired astrointernial navigator
EWS: Electronic Wafare System
Nose Payload:
E/0: Electro-Optical
IR: Infared
Both these systems are are part of the Senior Year Electro-Optical Reconnaissance System(SYERS)
ASARS-2: Advanced Synthectic Apature Radar by Hughes
Q-Bay Payload:
DDL: Dual Data Link
UHF CTT Radio Relay: Is the Commanders Tactical Terminal
DCRSI: Is the recorder for the ASARS-2
Superpod Payload:
Senior Spear & Senior Ruby: are Signal Intelligence systems
Dorsal Pod:
Span and Spur: Are two satellite data links
George Washington urged an immovable attachment to the national Union.
Walt
Of course that is correct. Chief Justice Marshall wrote 175 years ago that the power to tax is the power to destroy. We are seeing that now. The feds tax us heavily, then they offer that carrot of federal money to the states. But of course they must have oversight -- it's in the taxpayers interest, don't you know.
But none of that has anything to do with the Civil War. Jefferson, Washington, Madison, Jackson -- they are all on the record as supporting an indivisble Union, and that is all the ACW proved -- that the Union is indivisible.
Walt
Of late, we are seeing some progress in turning parts of it back ... but not nearly enough.
Many will disparage and condemn the confederates for their stand and the issues upon which they made that stand ... slavery was the ultimate point upon which people focus, and upon which the North was ultimately forced to focus to maintain the will to see the fight through to victory ... and it is deserving of that focus and it was well (and very bloodily) ended. But, it was far from the only issue upon which that war was fought, particularly at the outset. Another major issue was in fact the size, scope and power of the Federal government of that day.
That the confederates stood on these issues and against the government of their day cannot be denied ... and that many men and women of principle stood with them very nobly and steadfastly can also not be denied. It was a tragedy for our nation ... but from a historical perspective, irrespective of my agreement with the stand against over intrusive federal governance ... it was an absolutely necessary one. If the Union had been splintered ... the European powers would have been able to set America at odds against itself later during the World Wars and fascism and totalitarianism of the worst sort would probably have been able to rule the world. Clearly, the Union had to hold.
... and just as clearly, without many more reversals of the current trends of the last 60-90 years ... we or our children or grandchildren may find ourselves making a similar stand against an even more intrusive government ... and that stand will (in an historical irony joining us with both sets of our forefathers) be both for the Union and the Constitution and for a return to its fundamental principles of a less burdensome government, free of slavery.
So, the story of Sam Davis and those like him (including my own four Great great grandfathers on my Dad's side) is a story of commitment, duty and great tragedy. As such, I can say this, irrespective of what one thinks of his motivations ... young Sam Davis was the Nathan Hale of the confederacy and is deserving of the respect and honor that his descendants choose to place upon him.
Best Fregards for a good dialog.
About all the feds did in 1860 was fight indians, deliver the mail........and enforce the fugitive slave act.
Federal revenue was less than $2 per person per year in 1860.
Look to Woodrow Wilson for the big appearance of big brother.
Walt
It's easily denied because it has no basis in fact. Secession was brought on by slavery. The secessionists made that very plain.
Not only that-- but -southerners- had controlled the federal government for -decades- prior to the ACW.
Walt
"I think that Lee should have been hanged. It was all the worse that he was a good man and a fine character and acted conscientiously. It's always the good men who do the most harm in the world."
-- Henry Adams
Walt
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The Children
 U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Greg Shanahan, a civil affairs specialist with the 486th Civil Affairs Company, speaks with Iraqi citizens during a visit to their village. The 486th Civil Affairs Company is deployed to an undisclosed location from Broken Arrow, Okla., in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton T. Burris  A group of Iraqi boys gather in hopes of receiving water from the 205th Quarter Master Company from Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. The 205th is deployed to an undisclosed location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton T. Burris  Iraqi civilians crowd the streets and cheer as U.S. forces arrive in Najef, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kyran V. Adams  A family in An Nasiriyah, Iraq, looks on as Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) pass by. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian L. Wickliffe  A young girl in An Nasiriyah, Iraq, waves to Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian L. Wickliffe  Children of An Najaf, Iraq, watch through a gate while U.S. Army soldiers of 3rd Platoon, A. Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, patrol through their neighborhood. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kyran V. Adams  An Iraqi family smiles as Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) pass by in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian L. Wickliffe  A group of Iraqi children pose for a photo while their parents receive humanitarian daily rations and water in Ar Rutba, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brett Bassett  Sgt. Maj. Charles Smith, 308th Civil Affairs Battalion, administers first-aid to a boy near the city of An Najaf, Iraq. The 308th is deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Calkins
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 Walter Mattson Retired Marine BentFeather's Uncle April,23, 2003 He was getting old and paunchy And his hair was falling fast, And he sat around the Legion, Telling stories of the past. Of a war that he had fought in And the deeds that he had done. In his exploits with his buddies; They were heroes, everyone. And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors, His tales became a joke, All his buddies listened, For they knew whereof he spoke. But we'll hear his tales no longer, For ol' Walter has passed away, And the world's a little poorer, For a Marine died today.
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