Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-02-11
A From The Dead.

| AT the memorable Drst Dattle 81. hhhassas
noted South Carolina regiment just going into
action was Joined by strange sergeant, whose
shabbiness of uniform and general air of dis
comfture were moro indicative of stragglcr
than hero Noticing that his new comrades
| eyed him askance, he briefly explained to those
nearest that ho belonged TO the Fourth Alabama
| which had gone on ahead and was so far behind
because his desitution of shoes and stockings
| made quick marching for him an almost intOier-
able torture. This was the truth, the stranger
being James III. Franklin, a young English
man, who had volunteered for the Southern SER
vice at Selma, Ala, and who found the novel
experience of barefoOted soldering much harder
to endure than the more deadly risks of his new
profession. But it was not story to be readily
credited by harder inca of war, and the appa'
rent laggard perception of the sceptcal man
ner in which the grim Carolnians received it
made him eager to vindicate himself at the first
opportunity, When came the dash of arms
presently for the Palmetto warriors the bare
footed sergeant availed himself of his detached
condition to press forward to the iarthest front
of the line and seek an exploit calculated to re-
deem his honor at once from all suspicion.
Amongst the troops of the United States advanc-
ing for close engagement in that part OF the
field was an officer theoretically leading the way,
sword in hand; and him the English volunteer
singled out for his FIRST victim. Leaping forward
to meet the equally exposed Notherner, he aim
ed a shot at him with his revolver at short range,
and saw the stricken man spring Immediately
the universal excitement and fcrocity Of the mo-
ment, Franklin no sooner witnessed the effect
of his act than he was overcome by feeling OF
sorrow for it Very soon thereafter, when the
charge carried him to the spot where the late
swordsman's rctreating command had left his
bleeding form, he paused beside the body, and
noticed that the fallen mans right hand cluched
a letter which he had seemingly drawn from his
breast in the agonics Of dissolution Of this
missive the regretful victor possessed himself be-
fore going onward to resume the fray, and sub
sequently found it to be message Of ardent
affection from lady, confessing not more in
geniously her love for her dealzed hero than
her spirit of rebellion against the kindred who
would compel her heart to a more sordid choice.
Perceiving that such "a missivC should have but
one other claimant than its slaughtered first re-
cipient, Sergeant Franklin chiyalrous!y enclos-
ed tito his brothcr-in-lAw in Mobile, with an &C.
count of the fatal means by which it bad been
obtained, and the request that it should be re-
turned without delay to its fair writer But the
brOthcr-in-law was not man OF particularly
fine sentiment, and thought that this captured |
revelation of union romance should be con-
EsCated 10 public service. Accordingly, instead
of going to the young lady again, it was dis
published IN Il Mobile paper under
record OF the name and exploit of the
office. who had slain him, to whom it was ad- |
dressed. Even for wartime such publication, !
in such spirit, was cruel: and the republica- !
ton of the whole matter soon alter by paper !
issued in the very town OF the ladys residence |
that respect Franklin was shocked and panied |
at the coarse transaction which deepened in !
his mind the unpleasant impression still remain |
ing from tho scene at Manassas. That stimuli |
taneously with the news of her lover fate, the |
bereaved girl should see her tenderest words to |
70 him fared in common print, seemed to the |
EngHshman a reflection upon his commonest |
humanity; aad he would have given much TO |
recall the victim of his revolver from the grave |
and assure him thathis hand had not also want |
only wounded the heart of his betrothed. To the |
end of the war, however, he did this duty |
bravely, and then went back to Selma. where he |
yet resides. The Montgomery ALA Advertiser, |
after giving the above facts, makes no note of |
further Incident of special interest in career
Ill very short time ago, when friend, lately |
arrived from New Orleans, presented him with |
On me for you" said his friend, 'by Northerner
who spends the winters in the Crescent City for |
he benefit of his shattered health. Hearing
hat was acquainted in Selma, he sought me
to ask if l knew you, and ntrusted
% me q card which he said had a private in
inscription for you on its diverse side" AT
his intimatlon Mr.. franklin curiously scruti-
lized the side in question, and read thereon, in
aiHt penclling: Tho man whom you killed
,ept his heartily profered hospitality when
next you visit New Orleans" The cheeks Of
he eX-sergeant of the Fourth Alabama blanched
Is he read this ghostly summons; but since then
nc has had ample proof that the Northern off,
,er, of whose death he believed himself the
cause. is yet in the flesh. They haye met and
Exchanged pledges Of amity although, after
reatment in Southern hospital for q long TING,
he Northerner was compelled 70 accept invali-
1ago for fife, and tho lady of his heart beiev-
ng him dead, bowed at last 70 the favor of
her family for another suitOr.