The twenty large, and six small buttons that he cut from his coat for his mother have been preserved. A cut of one of them is printed in this sketch.

Mr. Brown, who formerly lived here, is widely known, and a gentleman from whom the VETERAN is pleased to quote. Thousands will ever feel grateful to him for putting on record this vivid tribute to as noble a man as ever gave up his life for any

cause.

All effort to procure one of the two or three pictures of Samuel Davis, that were made, has so far been futile. More of this in next month's VETERAN. Dr. Elbert A. Banks, New York City:

In the last VETERAN you spoke of publishing in in your next issue, facts of the life and death of young Davis, the patriot who was hung as a spy. It was nothing derogatory to his character as a patriot and a soldier that he was a spy, and as such became a martyr to his country's cause. Spies are a necessary and important part of every army. I write to suggest that the name of some one of the counties of Tennessee be changed from its present name to that of "Davis" County, in honor of the young patriot-spy and martyr. Such a county might well be proud of its new title.

The editor of the VETERAN had a conference with Lieut.-Gen. Schofield, Commander of the United States Army, on this subject, and he said that it was "not because there is anything dishonorable in the acts of a spy; that only men of courage, fine judgment, and undoubted patriotism are ever selected as spies. It is the great danger to an army that causes the penalties to be so severe.

The garb

of a spy will not save him from the severe penalties, although it is in his favor to be in the uniform of his army.

"DAVIS WAS TOO BRAVE TO DIE."

The following poem is by A. S. Morton, of St.
Paul, Minn., a frequent and valued contributor:
A fitful gleam of dying light,
The herald of a gloomy night
Illumed the thrilling scene-
A silent group of men at arms,
A guard inured to war's alarms,
A captive scout between!

"Your life I give." the leader said,
"For traitor's name, to honor dead.
Who gave you this design?"

A flush o'erspread the captive's cheek,
"My life is yours, your vengeance wreak,
But honor still is mine.

The loop of death was 'round his throat, The captive smiled, nor seemed to note The moments' fleeting speed.

"I scorn to buy the life you take At price of faith," 'twas thus he spake"It were a coward's deed."

With curling lips and flashing eye,
His knightly head uplifted high,

As tho' 'twould death defy,

He spoke the noblest words e'er penned"Before these lips betray a friend,

I tell you I will die.”

From flashing eye the tears now startThose tears for mother's broken heart; He tears his buttons loose.

"I pray you these my mother bear."
A moment spared for silent prayer,
He dangles at the noose.

That fatal noose is glorified,
For thro' its port the deified,
Heroic soul did fly.

His proudest epitaph the vain Remorse of him who judged the slain "Too brave, too brave to die."

ston's headquarters, found out that he was ing to hear from Sherman on day after to-r heard a report that Booth, son of the famo on the stage in America, was Lincoln's a The party who stabbed, and the particula cerning Seward's misfortune, still in abeya

April 24th. Have received orders fror Johnston that to-morrow hostilities will be r This is sufficient evidence to us of the non ance of the terms on the part of the United authorities. Every man had his eyes turne ward, and this suddenness of a proposed c tion of the struggle is more saddening than news of a probable surrender. My father to-day for Charlotte.

April 25th. Accompanied Gen. Stewart ston's headquarters and learned that neg are asked for again, and the armistice t sumed. Gen. Stewart made three speeche sively to different troops of the command, ing to them the reason Gen. Johnston re acceptance of the terms, the same being over a certain rank will be held for treas eagerness of the men to get to their hom beyond picture. Do believe they'd sacrifi thing except honor. Old Joe says cont fight though, and his orders are the gosp army of Tennessee.

April 26th. We struck tents this mor marched to within one mile of Hill's Poin we pitched tents in consequence of an o Gen. Johnston, informing us of a contir resumption of the armistice for futher neg We all think that the army will be dist this place. Our camp this time is near mine. An amusing affair occurred in night, in relation to Lieut. Polk McFa While seated around the camp fire at his

Capt. Millard F. Waltz entered military academy at West Point, July 1st, 1874; graduated, and was appointed Second Lieutenant, June 28, 1878, and First Lieutenant, October 15, 1884. He is connected with the Twelfth United States Infantry.

Maj. George M. Helm was born in Kentucky in 1840. He entered the Confederate army in 1861, and served in the engineer's degartment during the entire war. He was for three years on the staff of Gen. Hardee, and surrendered with Joe Johnston's army at Greensboro, North Carolina.

Col. Robert K. Gaston was born in Dallas, Texas; received his education at the University of the South, and is now on the staff of Governor Culbertson, of Texas. He is about twenty-five years old. J. Henry Martin, born at Lewisville, Miss., Oct. 28, 1840, entered army in 1861 in Memphis Light Dragoons; appointed A. D. C. to Gen. W. H, Jackson in 1863; paroled at Columbus, Miss., May, '65.

Maj. G. V. Rambaut, born in Petersburg, Va., February 13, 1837; served in McDonald's company, Forrest's old Regiment, as a private until Forrest was made Brig-General, when he was appointed on his staff and served with him until his surrender in May, 1865, at Gainesville.

An interesting sketch of Gen. Snowden appeared in the May VETERAN, upon which Capt. J. Harvey Mathes comments in the Commercial Appeal:

Maj. Vaulx, who was on Gen. Cheatham's staff, is slightly mistaken in saying that Col. Snowden was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel and assigned to the command of the Twenty-fifth Tennessee at the request of the officers of that regiment. The promotion was for gallantry in the field at the battle of Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862. I was along I was along as adjutant of the Thirty-Seventh Tennessee Regiment of Bushrod Johnson's Brigade and escaped unhurt, although the field officers of my regiment were all shot down. The Twenty-Fifth Tennessee Regiment was near us, and was very badly handled by its field officers. Capt. R. B. Snowden, as assistant Adjutant-General on Gen. Johnson's staff, exposed himself frequently in a very reckless manner in the fight, which lasted from daylight until dark in open field.

At a critical juncture in the battle, Capt. Snowden dashed down in front of the Twenty-Fifth Tennessee Regiment, which had come to a dead standstill, and led it in a charge which resulted in the capture of a Federal battery by our brigade. I saw part of this heroic conduct, and thought Capt. Snowden had the colors in his hands, though he has since modestly disclaimed this honor.

He had two horses killed under him in that battle, and the third was badly wounded. Two of the guns captured were named for two majors of our brigade killed that day-Maj. Henry C. Ewin, of the Forty-Fourth, and Maj. J. T. McReynolds, of my own regiment, the Thirty-Seventh Tennessee. The other two guns were named after two other fallen heroes, and if I mistake not, these are the same cannon recently placed and spiked around the Confederate monument dedicated at Chicago.

Capt. Snowden was recommended for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel by Gen. Cleburne, under whom he fought part of that day. Congress

at Richmond had passed an act permitting such promotions, and Capt. Snowden was the only staff officer ever thus promoted in the West, though it occurred frequently in Virginia. He was assigned to the command of the Twenty-Fifth Tennessee Regiment. At the battle of Chickamauga the regiment made a magnificent record, and it became at once proud of its name and of its new commander. The man with bugle, just back of Gen. Snowden, is L. Waterman. He is a native of Germany; came to America in 1859, and was a member of the First Louisiana Infantry. He was with that regiment at Shiloh. When his year's enlistment expired he joined the Twenty-Eighth Mississippi Cavalry and was made its chief bugler. He surrendered at Gainesville, Ala., May 10, 1865.

HEROIC DEED OF JAMES KEELAN.

Announcement has been made that the June VETERAN would contain a thrilling account of the brave deed of James Keelan in defending the bridge at Strawberry Plains, early in the war. It was intended to make extracts from the pamphlet account by Radford Gatlin, author of the "Confederate Spelling Book" and "Reader," but Mrs. Sarah Stringfield Butler, of Nashville, Tenn., editor of Woman's Missionary Advocate, who, with her husband, then lived near the bridge, furnished a vivid account of it which is given precedence.

Mr. Keelan was in the employ of Mr. Butler at the time during the day and of the railroad company at night, and there is perhaps no one who could give a more authentic account of his deed. Mrs. Butler writes that the pamphlet history "contains the facts" in regard to the successful defence of the bridge, but it is written "in such a bombastic style that even the truth does not appear true."

Confederate troops had been stationed there from time to time to protect the bridge, as this was an important strategic point, but the cry of "wolf! wolf!" had been so often sounded, and the Confederate forces were needed so badly at other places, that all had been withdrawn, only one watchman being employed to guard the bridge, and that at night. His box or bunk was on the Strawberry Plains side of the river.

James Keelan was that man. He was small in stature, with a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. He was uneducated, but simple hearted, brave, and as true to his friends as he proved to be to his country. He had a wife and three children at that time.

The end of the bridge was but a short walk from the fence that enclosed the old homestead of Maj. Stringfield, then occupied by Mrs. Stringfield, his step-mother, and his sister, Miss Mary Stringfield, now Mrs. J. E. Ray, of Asheville, N. Č. Mr. F. A. Butler and family lived not far distant. On the evening in question, Maj. Stringfield had reached home on furlough from Virginia, and Mr. Butler and wife were at his home until after ten o'clock. The night was cool and frosty, and the clouds obscured the moon almost entirely.

About midnight Mr. Butler was awakened by a messenger who said an attempt had been made to

burn the bridge; that Mr. Keelan was badly wounded and was at Mr. Elmore's house. Mr. Butler went to him immediately, and when the physician, Dr. Saeed, arrived, he assisted in dressing Keelan's numerous wounds. He then learned from Mr. Keelan all the circumstances as they occurred, and after "the cruel war was over" he talked with the leader of the attacking party, several of his men, and also with Col. Wm. Carter, of Carter County, who was the projector of the whole movement.

JAMES KEELAN.

Col. Carter was employed by the U. S. Government to destroy all the bridges from Hiwassee River at Charleston, Tenn. to Bristol, and was paid not less than ten thousand dollars. Men in each neighborhood were employed for this purpose and the 8th of November was appointed as the time for a simultaneous attack. Mr. Wm. Pickens led the party of fifteen men who attempted to burn the bridge at Strawberry Plains. About midnight About midnight they reached the bridge. Keelan was in his bunk close under the end, two feet above the abutment of the pier, and that was four or five feet from the ground. His gun was in a rack above his head, but he did not have time to take it out when he heard the men approaching. One of them jumped up on the pier and began to light the pine splintWhen it blazed, Keelan fired his old single barrel pistol, and the man tumbled to the ground. Keelan was then fiercely attacked by as many as could get around him, some striking with heavy knives and other shooting. He resisted manfully, defending himself the best he could, but it was impossible as he was too far above them to use his small dirk.

ers.

As soon as the first shot was fired Miss String

field made a light in her room which overlooked the scene, and went into the yard. Seeing the light, the men hastened away, believing that Keelan was dead. As soon as they left, Keelan rolled himself to the ground and crawled quietly beyond Mrs. Stringfield's house, not knowing that Maj. Stringfield had reached home that night, and fearing to alarm the two women whom he believed to be alone. When he reached Mr. Elmore's gate he called him, resting his hand on the fence. Mr. Elmore saw it, and exclaimed: "Jim, you've been drunk or asleep and let the train run over you."

Keelan replied: "No, Billy; they have killed me, but I've saved the bridge."

He was taken in the house at once and friends and physicians sent for. His head was cut open six or seven inches, and the brain was oozing from the dreadful gash; his left hand was cut off and hanging by a shred of skin. The right hand was also badly cut. He was in such close quarters during the time of the fight that he could use his gun only as a sort of shield, and that was hacked in several places. He was shot at many times, but only one bullet pierced his flesh.

When Dr. Sneed wished to cut off his hand smoothly, he said: "No, no, I can rest a gun against that stump." He was nursed carefully, but his recovery was wonderful.

The old pamphlet account by Radford Gatlin quotes Mr. Keelan, after reporting their approach,

says:

"I did not stop to count them. I think, from the appearance of the crowd, there were abont fifteen. I had to be quick, for the fellow was just about to place the torch between the scantling and weatherboarding. I could have touched him with my single-shot pistol. I put it very near him and shot him in the right breast as he was in a position quartering to me. Off he tumbled to the ground among the crowd below; the torch was knocked out by the fall, and all was dark again. It was very dark, and I could only see dark forms approach me, so I continued to carry my left arm up and down to shield my head and face until I heard the crack of a bowie knife on the brace over my head, and then I grabbed him with my left hand and thrust my dirk into him with my right arm. As I drew it out of him, off he tumbled to the ground among the crowd. 'At him again,' said one of their number; 'let me at him and I can fetch him,' using an oath. I was sensible that I was wounded, as the blood was running over my mouth and it made me feel savage as the fourth fellow came at me, and I wanted to get him. I made a quick grab and caught him by the cap, which slipped off and I went back hard against the weatherboarding, and in the rebound I came near falling out of my box. It was then the rascal cut off my left hand and split open my head, but, at the same time, I poked it into him and he got the steel good. They now commenced shooting and retreating. I tried to use my rifle, but could not lift it. I did not know until afterwards that they had cut off my left hand and shot me in the right

arm."

*

* * *

Mr. Butler has a vivid recollection of the event. He had warning of the danger from bridge burners;