The Cabalcade of America, presented by DuPont. Jordan's Banks, adapted for radio from a story by the distinguished American author, Marquis James, starring Elliot Reed in the role of Sam Davis. The DuPont Company, makers of better things for better living through chemistry, tonight brings you the story of a young Confederate soldier. His name, Sam Davis. In the role of Sam Davis, The Cabalcade of America presents Elliot Reed, talented young actor of radio and the theater, in an original radio drama, Jordan's Banks. It is the year 1863, Americans in blue and Americans in gray, clashing over flaming principles and ideas. For the southern cause, there's a band of spies called Coleman Scouts, operating behind the Union lines in Tennessee. And one moonlight night, they are gathered in a forest northwest of Nashville. That's him. It's about time he was coming. Quiet now. Oh boy. Private Davis reporting, Captain Coleman. Very well, Davis. Had much trouble getting here? No sir, pretty lucky tonight. Seen the Yankee patrols? Plenty, but they didn't see me. Good. Now men, we're all here. Listen carefully. We have much time to talk. I've got to report to General Lee in Richmond. But before I go, we've got to get these plans of Nashville's fortifications to General Bragg in Chattanooga. He needs them to recapture Nashville from the Yanks. Good sir. One of us will have to take these papers and all the responsibility. There must be no evidence against the rest of us if the Yankees catch him. He will assume this duty alone. Is that clear? We understand. Who is to do it, Captain? Davis. Yes sir. No Captain, no. He's too young. Not Davis. I'm in this as much as you all are. Davis. Yes sir. You live around here, don't you? My father's farm isn't far from here, sir. Davis, I want to have a word with you. Davis, before the war, I was a doctor. My name wasn't Coleman then, I was Dr. Shaw. What I'm asking you to do means you'll have to risk your life. It's been my business to save lives. But Davis, it's more than your life or my life. It's the lives of thousands of men. If our plan succeeds, it means victory. And the end of the war. I know sir. This may be our last meeting. I hope our next will be in peace. But in any case, Captain Coleman no longer exists. From now on, I'm Dr. Shaw. Remember that Davis? I will sir. All right Davis. Hear the papers. God bless you lad. Whoa Prince. Whoa boy. Sam, what are you doing here this hour of the night? The Yanks. They crowded me pretty close. So I took a chance, the only chance and came home. They think they saw you? I can't be sure. The patrols are everywhere. Andrew? Andrew? It's your mother. Yes, Ellen? I thought I heard voices. Sam. Mom. Sam, why are you in that Yankee uniform? Well, I had to come through some of their territory, mom. They like blue better than gray. And you haven't any boots Sam? I had to leave them by a crack back yonder mom. When I heard some Yankees coming, didn't have time to put them on. You better take a pair of mine son. I'll have to hurry father. Stay and rest here Sam. I can't mother. I've got to go. Listen. It's a Yankee patrol. Quick put out the lamp. That's it. You see anything out the window Sam? Yes. They're Yanks all right. But they're riding towards the ridge. Yeah. That makes you safe here Sam. Maybe. But they might come back. I don't think so son. Yeah, I reckon it'll be some time before it'll be safe outside. Here Sam. Rest yourself on the couch. I'll fetch the boots son. Think they'll fit me? Might be a little big son. I'm awfully glad you could get home Sam. Here, lay your head down on my shoulder. Oh mom. You treat me just like I was still a kid. You always will be a little boy to me Sam. You look just like you used to when you'd get so tired from playing out back at the barn you couldn't eat. And I had to put you to bed without your supper. A long time ago wasn't it mom? Mom. Yes Sam. Don't. Don't let me sleep too long. Will you? No, no I won't Sam. Here. Yeah let me put this blanket over you. There. There you are now. Mom. It's funny. That song. Sort of carries you back. Reminds you of things. Yes. Yes Sam. Go to sleep now. You'll see Sam, it's over. All right. Come on Prince. Come on boy. Hey you, halt there. Whoa Prince. Whoa boy. Well, sure a good sight seeing a Union officer. Who are you and where do you belong? Private Adams sir, 39th Ohio Volunteers. I'm afraid I lost my regiment. You hear that boys? Little Bo Peep's lost. Why don't you get a compass? Quiet men, Adams will see your papers. Why, I don't have them with me sir. You see I lost them. Lost them? Yeah, I couldn't help it. But I can tell you anything you want to know. Who's your captain? Captain Charles Evans sir. He's from our home county in Ohio. Ohio eh? You sound a little southern to me. I used to live over in Kentucky, till Pa and Ma moved up to Ohio. That was on account of the way things were going down south. Ah come on Sergeant, let him go. He ain't one of them we're looking for. Well, all right. Watch out Adams, a lot of Johnny Rebs loose around here. I'll be careful sir. Oh sir, could you direct me to my regiment? I can't tell you where the 39th Ohio is, but at the next fork, bear left. You'll come to Union forces. They'll probably be able to tell you. Oh goodbye sir. Thanks very much. Good luck. Come on Prince, let's go buddy. Whoa, whoa Prince. Howdy miss. Go on about your business Yankee. What's the matter with the buggy? Here, wait a minute. Don't you go getting off that horse. I'll have no truck with the like for you. Trace broke eh? I reckon you almost had a run away. I'll fix it, never you mind. You won't fix it if you tie it that way. Here I'll do it. Don't you dare touch me. Oh I'm sorry, but I can't fix it you know if you're going to stand there. I declare I'd rather walk than take help from a Yankee. There we are. That's it. Won't break now. Looks better don't it? I told Pa a million times we ought to have a new harness. Something's always the matter with it. Do you live around here? We got a farm. Back of those woods over yonder. The traces fixed up real nice. Ain't it? Yeah yeah you'll get home all right. I reckon I will. You can go on up ahead and join your Yankees. Oh did you see a patrol going down the road? Why yes I did. Don't you belong to it? Sure sure. Yeah I just wondered where they were. Thanks for fixing the trees. What's your name? Name? Prince. Well does it make any difference? I'm just that Yankee you don't like remember? Well I gotta be on my way now. Goodbye. Goodbye Yankee. Come on Prince. Come on. Come on. Hey you're going the wrong way. Hey not that way. The patrol's down the other way. Goodbye. Goodbye. Quiet Prince. Easy now. Quiet. Prince. Speak up or I'll plug you. Next shot will go through you. Stand by men be ready. Yes sir. All right get off that horse. Yes sir. But why are you doing this? Hold his horse Corporal. Yes Lieutenant. What's the trouble? I guess I hurt my foot Lieutenant. All right now. Say those aren't regulation boots. What kind of an outfit you got on anyway? What's your name? Private Hulsa. 21st Illinois. 21st Illinois huh? What town in Illinois? Why uh Springfield. Where do you live in Springfield? On 6th Street. Where'd you leave your regiment? Over Nashville way. That was before I got lost sir. Yeah made a bad guess this time Johnny. Follow him to Sidingman. But sir I tell you I'm lost. Too bad you didn't know the 21st Illinois is from Attune. Not Springfield. Now will you tell me who you are? No sir. All right it'll keep. What? What's the matter? Why the limp? My feet hurt from these boots sir. We'll fix that when we get to headquarters. Then we'll find out who you are. In here David. All right sir. Little crowded just now but you won't mind you won't be here long. I reckon not. I guess you'll find some of your old friends in here. Hey you know any of these prisoners? No no I don't know any of them sir. Oof. Hey why don't you red wear boots to fit? Here's a man to help you David. Which man? This man over here. Doctor. Doctor Shaw. Yes Sergeant. Come over here a minute will ya. What's the trouble? Now this prisoner's got a bad limp from oversized boots. Have a look at him will ya. Of course. You better slip off his boots and I'll see what I can do. Thank you. Doctor Shaw. Show the prisoner in Lieutenant. Yes sir. This way Davis. Yes sir. Hey you're younger than I suppose Davis. I reckon I'm older than you'd think General Gatch. Tell me son. Where was Coleman going when he gave you the papers we found on you? I didn't say he gave them to me sir. That won't do son. You've got to tell us what Coleman's up to. He gave you those papers for one reason. Because he's off on a more important scheme. Where is Coleman? I have nothing to say sir. You might as well tell me where Coleman's heading for. Bragg won't take Nashville. We've got those plans. Come on son. You better tell me. I can't do that. Davis, it's the only way I can save you. I don't want to be saved that way General. Is that all Davis? Yes sir. God, take the prisoner back to his cell. Prisoners stand, shoot. Answer the roll call. Private Blair, Bryant, Davis, Donovan, Miller, Mitchell, Parker, Dr. Shaw. At ease. You've got a few minutes to stretch your legs prisoners. Dismissed. You give us the right chance Sergeant and we'll show you how we can stretch them. You'd have a time keeping up with the others Davis with those feeders. Here my boy. Let me look at them again. Oh thank you Dr. Shaw. Sergeant's right. We couldn't run far I reckon. Let me know Dr. if there's any medicine you need. Yes Sergeant. Let's slip off your boots Davis. Still pretty bad. They're better thanks to you Dr. I'll take a closer look at them. God's watching us. Go right ahead Dr. I won't weaken. He's out of your shot now. I'm sorry I failed you Captain. I did your best Sam but I'll find a way to get you out of this. No Captain no. It's got to be this way. They mustn't know who you are. You have more important things to do Captain. You've got to escape. What about you Sam? Don't think about me Captain. Remember what you said when you gave me the papers. The lives of thousands of men depend on your work. You've got to escape so you can carry out your plans. You've got to. Watch it. The guard. Time's almost up Princess. Will I tell you Sam? Quiet. All right now all right. Fall in. Prisoners. Ten. Shoot. Sorry Davis. Sorry if I hurt you. Sam I've just come from General Dodge. Wants to be talked with you again. You check us out we've been over this so many times. It's useless to talk about it. Sam have you thought about your mother and father? Yes. Yes I have sir. You see they don't know anything about it. Oh. You could go back to them Davis. You'd only see how useless this is. But I can't see that sir. You know what I mean Davis. I mean we'll get Coleman. What if I can help it? Davis why do you compel us to hang you? Private Samuel Davis. 1st Tennessee Infantry. The sentence of this court martial is that on Friday November 27th 1863 you be hanged by the neck until you are dead. And may God have mercy on your soul. Davis. Chaplain Young to see you. Good morning Sam. Morning Chaplain. Is there anything you need Sam? Anything I can do for you? No thanks Chaplain. I'll help you any way I can Sam. There isn't much I can do I know. Thanks Chaplain. Sam I'm not a soldier. Perhaps if I was I might not be as helpless as I am. Oh you needn't feel that way about it sir. You have helped me. Have I my boy? Well it's not for me either to urge you to have courage when I wonder how you have so much. It isn't only that Chaplain. Sam your life should be ahead of you because you're young and brave. Won't you tell them what they want to know? It's a small thing isn't it? Chaplain would you betray a trust? No Sam I wouldn't. I'm glad you said that to me. This way Davis. Davis. The steps. How long Captain Armstrong? Only a few minutes Sam. Any news of the fighting Chaplain? General Bragg was defeated at Lookout Mountain. Oh that's bad news for us. All right Private Stone. Yes sir. You just stand over here Sam. Well Private Stone. Do we have to wait? No I won't. I can't. I'm not going to spring that trap. Stone. I won't. He hears. Well there's Private Stone. You understand that? Let's get it over with. I can't wait. Someone's coming. Huh? Well? Where is he? He's waving at us. What shall I Captain? Jig us off. Yes that's who it is. Just a minute gentlemen. Captain Armstrong. Wait. Wait. What is it Captain? I've got to speak to the boy once more. Sam. Stand back. Stand back. Let Captain Jigsaw through. Captain let me talk to Prisoner Preece. Go right ahead Captain. Sam General Dodge gives you one more chance. It's your last. If you'll tell us why Coleman can be found you can walk off these gallows of free man. Well how long have I to consider this sir? Only a couple of minutes. Have you a paper and pencil? Yes. Here you are Sam. I hoped you would Sam. I hoped you would. General Dodge will be happy about it too. We all will. Fair it's done. But Captain can I hand it to the Chaplain? Why yes Sam if you wish but I don't. Chaplain this is a note to my mother. Will you deliver it please? Why of course Sam. Is that all Sam? Yes. I'm ready now. Chaplain. What is it Sam? Would you, would you sing Jordan's Banks for me? Very well Sam. On Jordan's stormy banks I stand and cast a whistle. Prisoners halt. Prisoners attention. Hands for the roll call. Private Blair. Bryant. Donovan. Miller. Mitchell. Parker. Dr. Shaw. Climb aboard the train prisoners take seats. 01. Prisoners, line up. Attention. Answer the roll call. Private Blair. Yes. Bryant. Yes. Donovan. Yes. Miller. Yes. Mitchell. Yes. Barker. Yes. Dr. Shaw. Dr. Shaw. Dr. Shaw. The ideals for which Sam Davis gave up his life are principles of American character, loyalty to a promise, devotion to a cause, and unselfish and sacred honor. Principles that earned Sam Davis an honored place in the cavalcade of America. Thank you, Elliot Reeve. And now before Dr. Monahan brings us news of next week's program, we have a story from the wonder world of chemistry. In the state of California, engineers are building one of the world's largest structures, the Shasta Dam. It will be higher than a 50-story skyscraper, and the work is being done under the direction of the United States Bureau of Reclamation. It's going to hold back the Sacramento River, forming a mighty reservoir to aid flood control, navigation, and irrigation, and to make electric power. Through the canyons where the dam and reservoir will be runs a main line of the Southern Pacific Railroad. When the railroad was built 56 years ago, no one dreamed that someday the canyons would be filled with water hundreds of feet deep. Now, a new generation of builders has to remove 37 miles of the railroad and make a new and straighter route through the mountains. To do that, they have to bore 12 tunnels and build eight bridges. Now, these engineers would certainly testify that such jobs could not be tackled without the help of chemistry. DuPont and other companies supply the chemical product dynamite that conquers the obstacles of nature. One of the first operations at Shasta Dam was holding through a bypass tunnel to take trains away from the work on the main foundations of the dam. But this tunnel will be used only a couple of years until the permanent new railroad is finished. When the railroad is relocated, the tunnel will be turned into an enormous pipe to help carry the river away while the big dam is being built. And the railroad, running through 12 new tunnels made by men guided by dynamite, will be shorter and straighter than the old line and will save time for passengers and freight traveling up and down the Pacific Coast. The Shasta Dam will stand as another great monument to the constructive genius of the American people. We are building for the future seen in the Valley of the Sacramento when the huge reservoir, furnishing a plentiful supply of irrigating water the year round, will turn the waste areas into fertile, prosperous farmlands, abundantly supplied with electric power and light from the dam's hydroelectric turbines. And never again will the peaceful countryside be at the mercy of devastating floods. We Americans may be well proud of our Shasta Dam project, and DuPont chemists are proud of the part they have had in its construction, which is another realization of the DuPont pledge, better things for better living through chemistry. And now the cavalcade of American's historian, Dr. Frank Monahan of Yale University. History often seems to be a great web of individual biographies. Their proper presentation makes the past more intelligible and real. I know it is perfectly natural that in the building of America, the life stories of men of action should predominate. But they certainly should not obscure the contributions of men of ideas. Next week, cavalcade will present the story of John Fitch, a neglected, eccentric Don Quixote, who invented the steamboat years before Robert Fulton's Claremont ever stirred the waters of the Hudson. The idea developed by Fitch was more important than many of the exploits of our generals and the deliberations of our statesmen. Fitch was a man of ideas, and one of these ideas was basic in the ultimate transformation of America. Yet he gained only loneliness and poverty, and finally an unknown and unmarked grave. Music Next week, the cavalcade of America presents the story of John Fitch. At that time, our guest star will be the noted American actor Thomas Mitchell, in his first radio appearance since winning an award from the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences for his performance in Stagecoach. On tonight's program, the orchestra and musical effects were under the direction of Don Voorhees. This is Basil Rysdale saying good night and best wishes from DuPont. Music This is the National Broadcasting Company. Music
