Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-05-11
ASLEEP AT HIS POST.
An Incident of the Late War.


Mr.. Owen, pious farmer in Vermont.
gave his eldest son, Benjamin, 10 the Fed
cral cause in the late fearful struggle. One
day message arrived which fell like a
thunder-bolt upon the anxious, vet hopeful
family. The lad had been found asleep at
his post, and was condemned to be shot
The terrible news spread in the village,
and the good minister, Mr.. Allen, came AT
once to see If ii were not possible to adj
minister comfort to the broken-hearted
parents.
'Oh sir" cried the sorrowing old man,
such dear, precious, noble boy! /
thought, when gave him to his country.
that not a father i'm all this broad land
made such a precious gift-no, not one.
God forgive me if my grief is a sin. Mr..
Allen, the dear boy only slept minute,
just one little minute, at his post. know
that was all, for Bennie never dosed over
duty. How prompt and reliable he was y,
and Mr.. Owens eye wandered over the
green fields with perplexed, wandering
look.
81 know he only fell off one little second;
he was so young and not strong, that boy
OF mine. Why, he was as tall as / and
only eighteen, and now they shoot him
because he was found asleep when doing
duty.n
Mr.. Owen repeated these words very
slowly, as If endeavoring to find out their
true meaning.
Twenty-four hours-the telegraph said
only twenty-four. Where is Bennie now 90
We will hope with his Heavenly Fa-
ther," said Mr.. Allen soothingly.
Yes, yes: let US hope. God is very
merciful, and Bennie was so good-I do
not mean holy,h he said, correcting him
self, sharply there is none holy, no, not
one; but Jesus died for sinners. Mr.. Al
len, tell me that. o, Bonnie !-BennieW
The mother raised herself as she heard
his name called, and turning, said with n
smile, Don't call so loud, father, Bonnie
is not far off; he will soon come"
God has laid his hand on them both,
you See" said Mr.. Owen, without making
any direct reply. !" She has not been lust
herself since. 1t is a merciful thing she is
sort of stunned, it seems to me. She makes
no wails.p
Mr., Allen looked in establishment at the
bowed man, as he now came and stood be-
fore him. These few hours had done the
work of years. The sinewy frame was tot
tering now, the eyes were dimmed, and the
sudden sorrow had written itself in deep
wrinkles all over his manly face. God
have mercy on you he is trying you in a
furnace seven time heated! :" he exclaimed
almost involuntarily.
The daughter, fairy young girl-Blos-
som, they called her-sat near them listen
ing with blanched cheeks. She had not
shed tear that day, and the terror in her
cheeks had been so very still that no one
had noticed it. She had occupied herself
mechanically in household duties, which
her mothers condition devolved entirely
upon her. Now she answered n gentle tap
at the door, opening it to receive n letter
from a neighbor's hand at is from him."
was all she said.
Twas like message from the dead
Mr.. Owen could not break the seal for
his trembling fingers, and held it towards
Mr.: Allen with all the helplessness of a
child.
The minister opened it, and obedient
to a motion from the father, he read as fol-
lows:
"DEAR FATHER: When this reaches
you / shall be in eternity. At first it seem
ed awful to me, but / have thought about
it so much that now it has no terror They
say they will not bind me nor blind me,
but that may meet my death like man.
thought, father, it might have been on
the battlefield of my country, and that
when l fell it would be fighting gloriously:
but to be shot down like dog for nearly
betraying ito die for neglect of duty!
Oh, father! l wonder the very thought
does not kill me But shall not disgrace
you. I am going7to write'you all about it,
and when ann gone you may tell my COM
Tb1eS. L can U now.
"You know / promised Jenny Cars
mother that | would look after her boy,
and when he fell sick, did all could for
him. He was not strong when he was or
dered back into the ranks, and the day be-
fore that night | carried all his baggage,
besides my own, on our march. Toward
night we went in dOnble-quick, and the
baggage began to feel very heavy Every
body else was tired too, and as for Jenny,
if l had not lent him AN arm now and then
he would have dropped by the way. was
all tired out when went into camp, and
then it was Jemmy's turn to be sentry, and
/ would take his place; but was too tired,
father. | could not have kept awake if
had had gun at my head. But didn't
know mtil-Nell it was too late!n
'God be thanked ~ interrupted Mr. Ow-
en-, reverntly. 81 knew Bonnie was not
the boy TO sleep carelessly at his post"
"They tell me to-day that have short
reprieve given TO me by circumstances
time to write to you, our good Colonel
says. Forgive him, father-he only does
his duty. He would gladly save me if he
could. And don't lay my death against
Jenny. The poor boy is broken-hearted,
and does nothing but beg and entreat them
to let him die in my stead. Il
al can't bear to think of mother and
Blossom. Comfort them, father. Tell them
that die as brave boy should and that
when the war is over they will not be
for me as they must he now.
God help me, il is very hard to bear. Good
hive father. God seems near and dear IN