The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-02-05
: 4 Story Of the War.

~ A singular circumstance was related in our
hearing few days ago, which, at the risk
of marring we shall endeavor to repeat:
James II. Franklin, of Selma, noble and
gallant young Englishman, was, during the
war, sergeant in the "Governor's Guards "a
company of the Fourth Alabama Regiment.
At the first Battle of Manassas, franklin, who
MAS, barefooted, fell behind his, own command
and. Joined a South CAROLINA regiment which
Basjust about going into action He inquired
the name of the company to which he found
himself, temporarily attached, and was sur
prised to find it, too, was called the "Gover'
nors Guards"
A few moments later the clash of conflict
came, and Franklin, always cool and collected,
singled out an officer whom he saw IN his front
and fred upon him. The officer fell, but in
falling he was observed to throw away letter;
which. when: the. enemy. fed few moments
later. Franklin put himself at some trouble to
recover. He found it to be letter from a
young lady, and, in the generosity of his heart,
Esent it to his brother-inlaw at Mobile, to be
Ereturned'to to the writer. Now this letter con-
tanned one or two rather broad illusions, and
the brother-in-law on reading it determined to
show tito the editor Of the Mobile Register,
who took copy, published it, commented
quite freely on the indelicacy manifested by
the lady in writing such things to q young
gentleman. This copy of the Register found
its way to the home of the lady where the
local journals republshed u beth letter and COM
ments. - = - "a -
When franklin passed oyer the body of the
officer hetappeared to be in the throes of death;
He was, lying on. his face, the blood gushing
from his mouth, and each short, convulsive
gasp, to which his frameAuiyered, appeared to
be his last. His arms were extended-his form
apparently limp and lifeless-his whole ap-
fpearance indicating speedy dissolution
I With a sigh of regret, Franklin passed on;
and all through the rest of the war the memo
~ of that bleeding officer haunted his imagina-
| ton. 1t was the only man of all the leglons
he had faced whom he knew that he had killed.
In this letter to his brother-in-law he men,
toned the fact that he had killed this officer,
and the Mobile Register, in its comments on
the ladys letter, stated the same fact.
The war wore on to close. Peace came,
and Franklin returned to the city of Selma,
where he is still located. A year ago or more
friend of his who had been to New Orleans
called upon him at his place of business, and
l:delivered Franklin card, which, be said, was
sent to him by friend in New Orleans.
Franklin looked at the card, but without being
eaabled to recall any acquaintahceship with
the individual whose name it BORE Turning
it curiously and scrutuizingly over, his cheeks
blanched and his heart sunk as he read the
following: 20
."The man whom you killed at the first battle
of Manassas invites you to discuss the matter
over bottle of champagne, should you ever
visit New Orleans ,.,.
So his only known victim was no victim after
all and great weight was lifted from his
mind. Inthe. course of the conversation that
ensued he learned that his friend had met the
former soficer in New Orleans, who finding
that, he. was from Selma, inquired after Frank
lin with the result already known. The officer
stated that he was carried to Confederate
hospital and so skilfully treated that he recov-
cred. "But you may tell Franklin" said he,
"that he ruined my prospects with the lady in
question, because after that publication she
would have nothing to do with me. Besides, |
was, and am, cripple from his wound, and
even now feel it in my lungs whenever l
cough" The singular feature of this incident
is that one so long accounted dead, should, of
all Others, be the only man in the country to
send his foe an invitation SO very decided
ly unghostH5e.-Montgom'ery Adpertiser and
M,;y '-