Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-06-09
Asleep at his Post.
AN INCIDENT OF THE LATE WAR.

| struggle. One day message arrived
which fell like thunder-bolt upon th,
anxious, yet hopeful family. The lac
had been found asleep at his post, and
was condemned to- be shot.
The terrible news spread in the vii
lage and the good minister, Mr.. Allen
came at once to see if it were not posi-
BILE to administer consolation to the
broken hearted parents.
"Ol sir" cried the sorrowing ole
man, "such dear, precious noble
boyl l thought when l gave him tc
his country, that not father in al
this broad land made so precious /;
gift-no not one. God forgive me i
my gift is sin. Mr.. Allen the dear
boy only slept minute, just one littlt
minute at his post. l know that wa:
all, for Bennie never dozed over ,
duty. How prompt and reliable he
was!' And Mr.. Owens eye wander
ed over the brown fields with such {
perplexed wandering look,
"I know he only fell off one littl,
second; he was SO young and no
strong, that boy of mine. Why, h
was as tall as I, and only eighteen
and now they shoot him, because ht
was found asleep when doing duty"
Mr.. Owen repeated these words very
slowly, asif endeavoring to find ou
their true meaning.
"Twenty four hours-th the telegraph
said, only twenty -four. Where is Ben.
ME now?'
"We will hope with his Heavenly
Father" said Mr.. Allen, soothingly.
eyes, yes, let US hope. God is very
merciful, and Bennie was so good
do not mean holy" correcting himsel
sharply--''there is none holy, no not
one; but Jesus died for sinners. O.
Bennie! Bennie!'
The mother raised herself as she
heard his name called, and turning,
said with smile, "Don't call SO loud
father, Bennie is not far off, he will
soon come"
"God has laid his hand on them
both, you see," said Mr.. Owen, with
out making any direct reply. "She
has not been just herself since. 1t is
merciful thing she is sort of stun.
ned, it seems to me- She makes NO
walls"
Mr.. Allen looked in astonishment al
the bowed man, as he now came and
stood before him. These few hours
had done the work of years. The
sinewy frame was tottering now, the
eyes were dimmed, and the sudden
sorrow had written itself in deep wrin-
kles all over his manly face. "God
have mercy on you; he is trying you
in furnace seven times heated" he
exclaimed almost involuntarily.
The daughter, fair young girl
Blossom they called her-sat uear
them listening 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 mechanical
ly in household duties, which her mo
theirs condition devolved entirely upon
her. Now she answered gentle rap
at the door, opening it to receive a let
ter from neighbor's hand. "It is
from him." was all she said.
Twas like a message from the dead.
Mr.. Owen could not break the seal for
his trembling fingers, and held it to-
ward Mr.. Allen with the helplesness
of child.
The minister opened it, and obedi-
ent to a motion from the father, he
read as follows:
"DEAR FATHER:-When this reaches
you l shall be in eternity. At first il
seemed awful to me, but I have
thought about it 80 much that now il
has no terror. They say that they
will not bind or blind me, but that !
may: meet my death like a man. ]
thought, father, it might have been on
the battlefield of my country, and that
when I fell it would be fighting glori-
ously: but to be shot down like dog
for nearly betraying ito die for neg
lect of duty! o, father! l wonder
the very thought does not kill mel
But shall not disgrace you. l am
going to write you all about it, and
when am gone you may tell my COM
rades. l can't now.
"You know l promised Jenny
Carr's mother that l would look after
her boy. and when he fell sick / did
all 1 could for him. He was moi
strong when he was ordered back into
the ranks, and the day before that
night carried all his baggage, besides
my own, on our march. Toward
night we went on double quick and the
baggage began to feel very heavy
Everybody else was tired, too, and as
for Jenny. if ! bad not lent him an
arm now and then; he would have
dropped by the way. 1 was all tired
out when went into camp, and then
it was Jemmy's turn to be sentry, and
/ would take his place; but l was toe
tired, father. l could not have KEEP
awakeif had had a gun at my head
But didn't know until-well, it was
too later'
"God be praisedP' interrupted Mr.
Owen, reverently. 81 knew Bennit
was not the boy to sleep carelessly a
his post"
"They tell me to-day that ! have
short reprieve given to me by circum
stances--time to write to you, oul