Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-04-30
A Conscientious Friend.

WHAT lie SUFFERED FROM THE REBELS.
The Nashville Tanner tells the story of
George Vestal, of Aaury county, Tenn, a
native of North Carolina, and Friend or
Quaker by religious profession. lie was IL
very delicate young man, and physically
untitled for military service. H. refused
on conscientious grounds to pay the $500
exemption fee hernandez, of the Friends by
the rebel authorities, and was consequently
conscripted. He was taken to Tullahoma,
where the obvious sincerity of his ani-war
principles procured for him the friendship
Of Generals Maury and Polk, and he was re-
leased. He was again conscripted, an sent
to the Tennessee brigade, u the army of
Virginia. lie told the Colonel that lie could
not fight and would suffer martyrdom
rather Than bear arms.
The officer, who at that time was com
manding the brigade of Tennessee--by rea-
son OF the capture of Gen. Archer of Gcitys
burg, was very lascible and arbitrary.mau
He became very much enraged at Vestals s
refusal, and ordered the Commandant If
the lith Tennessee to apply the bayoncl,
saying that he never yet saw the man whom
cold steel would not move. The Colonel of
.ance, but he knew that it was his duty To
obey. In few days an inspection was or
dcrcd when itb,came necessary to clean up
quarters, arms, etc, and Il detail was order
ed to clean up the reeinrntal quarters. 1t
happened to be Nestals turn and the Orderly
Scrgent detailed him. He signiird ilatly his
purpose not to go. His Captain entreated
him to comply. Numerous members of the
regiment offered to pay the five hundred
dollars, required by the law mentioned
above, rather than see him suffer the punish
ment which an imperative order from the
brigade commander rendered necessary. lie
firmly declined, assigning the same reasnus
heretofore stated, and alleging that the mon
cy would go into the Treasury and be used
to carry on the war. Finilly the guards
were ordered 10 fix lmyonels. aud Il shovel
was handed them, with instruc, ions to make
him work.
When the guards first handed him the
shovel, he stated to them that if cleaning up
camp was II punishment for not doing mill
tary duty, he would clean up the entire
camp but if it was military duty, he would
not. The guard entreaied him, argued the
case with him, begged him to render the
application Of the bayonct unnecessary. lie
was inexorable, answering with smile that
the physical comfort was nothing compared
with the hereafter, and that he was willing
to die for the faith that was in him." Our
informant justly remarked that he never
saw such heroic determination in all his
life His mind Involuntary reverted
to the Christian martyrs of the Old
World. There was all the zeal, cooness
and heroic iirmness in this irail delicate
boy, that characterized the men who suffered
when Christianity was struggling in the first
terrible stage of its existence. His demranor
| excited the admiration of the entire assem-
blage OF soldiers. They saw in him no
affected zeal, but an unflinching determine
tion to sacrifice his life for his religion. AT
ter, as already stated, earnest efforts had
| been employed to make him do the duty
for which he was detailed, The comman-
| der Of the guard ordered them to apply
! the bayonet. Three men with sharp En-
field bayonets thrust them into the
| ilesby part Of his thighs inilicting
in all thirty-five wounds, ranging IN depth
| from one-fourth to one inch. Frequently he
was knocked down with the butts of the
guns, but as long as he had strength, he
would turn one side and the other for the
guards to hit them, until finally they refus-
ed to inilict further punishment. At this
iuncture, the brave men who composed the
| old lith Regiment, possessing that humani-
| ty and mercy which alone characterize the
| true soldier, became loud in their condcm-
| nation of this proceeding The excitement
was intense, and had the Brlgadicr General
issued second order of this character, he
would have been unable To have had it exc
cuted. These gallant fellows who were ex-
posing their lives day after day, for what
was TO them a sacred cause, could readily
appreciate the situation of this young man,
and, with one accord they determined that
rt,s. Il, al. 49,. 4
Vestal was confined several days to his
bed. Alter his recovery, he was released
| from the guard house, upon his promise not
to escape. Most faithfully did he comply,
for not many months afterward, the com
mand moved toward the Northern portion
OF Virginia, where every opportunity was
offered for escape. but he was always in
camp at night. Shortly after his return
from this expedition, charges were preferred
against him, and he was tried, convicted of
nsubordnation by court martial convened
at Orange Court House, and sentenced to
imprisonment in Castle Thunder, at Rich
mond, for the war, forfeiting all pay and
allowances. At the evacuation of Rich
mond, he was still in prison. and secured his
release only by the downfall of the Conied-
| eracy.
The Ten Germ Jokes, to which all fun
has finally been reduced, are said to be such
side-strainers when listened to that the COM
pany has been provided with extra waist
bands.
| "A swarm of bees left u hive on Pine st.
Manchester, N. H., on the first day of April,
and took lodgings in post office drop-etter
box on one of the lamp-posts.
1t is tantalizing to read at this distance
that good mutton is sold in Melbourne, Aus
tralia, at two cents pound.