Tragic affair.

--The Dispatch contained yesterday an account of the shooting of Capt. Charles H. Axson, of Company "M," 1st Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, on Tuesday evening, near Wilson, N. C., on the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, by Arthur B. Davis, of the Second Georgia Regiment, then en route for this city. The perpetrator of the act was put under guard for conveyance to this city and trial by martial law.

The circumstances attending the death of Capt. Axson, excited a feeling of bitter indignation against Davis, though no attempt at retaliation was indulged in prior to the arrival of the Petersburg cars on Wednesday evening. When they reached the depot in this city, four South Carolina volunteers approached the car in which the prisoner was confined under guard, and expressed an intention of shooting him. Finding them determined, the superintendent of the road (Thos. H. Wynn, Esq.,) ordered the car containing the prisoner and guard (two men armed with muskets) to be backed to the Manchester side of the river. This was done, and the four who had made the demonstration, being told that Davis would be carried across the river to the camp near the reservoir, left in the latter direction. It appears, however, that there were others present bent on the same errand of vengeance. The bridge guard says five or six soldiers passed him and would not be repulsed when he ordered them to return. The result of sending Davis across the bridge, in company with two men as guard ignorant of their duty, is found in the following narrative furnished us by a member of the regiment to which he was attached. Our informant says:

Davis, upon arriving in Richmond, was left by Major Butts in care of a guard of the Belfair Volunteers, Captain Smith. He ordered the car to be backed across the river, and proceeded to the camp to report to Col. Semmes. Very shortly afterwards a party of men, supposed to belong to Captain Axson's company, came and asked him from the guard, promising, on the faith of gentlemen, that he should be delivered to the proper authorities. Assured by them, he followed them. On the road they attempted to borrow a rope. When they got to a ravine they halted, and told him they were going to hand him. He protested against it, and said that they had pledged their faith to him. One stepped in front of him, saying "faith, be d — d; I am going to shoot you," and upon that shot him. Davis then turned to escape; they rushed upon him, and cut at him with bowie-knives, inflicting several wounds. Davis fell, partially insensible. Again, while on the ground, they inflicted a wound with a knife in the neck, and one on the head. Supposing him dead, they turned to leave, when one of them asked if they had better not send for a doctor. He was answered by one who said "No; if he is not dead, let's finish him;" and approaching him, fired at him within a few feet. The ball did not take effect. He now lies critically ill at the residence of Dr. F. E. Luckett, of Manchester. The ball, which may prove fatal, passed between the first rib and clavicle, and glancing downwards, imbedded itself in the deep tissues of the back under the shoulder-blade, from whence it was removed yesterday morning.--The knife wounds, though very bad, are not in themselves fatal.

Three more men returned after the affair, and inquired if he was dead, and on being told no, but mortally wounded, laughed and went off.

Before being removed to Dr. Luckett's house, Davis, supposing himself dying, asked permission to make a declaration before the proper authorities. He was taken to the Town Hall, and his evidence stands recorded by a magistrate.

The circumstances of the shooting and stabbing are gathered from Mr. Davis' statements.
The Richmond Daily Dispatch: August 2, 1861.

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Slowly improving.
--Arthur B. Davis, the member of the 2d Regiment of Georgia Volunteers, who was wounded in Manchester this day week by some unknown parties, is slowly improving, though the character of the wounds inflicted render his condition critical. He is still at the residence of Dr. Lackett.
The Richmond Daily Dispatch: August 7, 1861.

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A. B. Davis, 28, Private, Company G, 2nd Regiment Georgia Infantry, enlisted April 16, 1861 for 12 months, recorded sick in Manchester, Va. on the Jul/Aug. 1862 muster roll, discharged October 4, 1861

Note, his record contains an Adjutant General, War Department, Feb. 24, 1916 note, responding to a Georgia Commissioner of Pensions query

Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Georgia