Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-02-12
VESTOL GRIT.
The Tennessee Quaker Wh0 Re-
fused 10 Fight in tho Late War.

The following interesting account Of a
young Quaker who could not be induced
to fight in the late war, though conscript.
ed, is from the pen of prominent citi'
zen of this State-a leading member Of
the bar of an adjacent county, and "a
ex>Judge Advocate AMI officer of the
Confederate States army in the late war,
1t is a faithful narration of one of the
most interesting AMI curious events OF the
war:
have Just read in the Banner of tha
10th inst. fragment of Gov. Foote's re.
miniscences, headed, "How a Quaker
Refused to fight" As l am familiar
with the facts and circumstances alluded
to, and as the case greatly interested me
at the time, | have thought it might be of
some interest to your readers to 60 into
details more than is done in Gov. Foote's
brief allusiOn to the case.
The young Quaker alluded to is Til
CHAM r. Vestol, who lived near Colum-
bia, Tenn. When Gen. Bragg's army
was at Shelbyville, Tenn, young VestOl
was coDscripted and sent to that place /;
he was assigned to duty in the Fourth
Tennessee regiment, commanded by Col.
McMurray, Of Nashville. lie reported to
the regiment as required TO do, but ut>
terly refused to perform military duty of
any character or description. Neither by
threats nor persuasion could be be in.
duced to alter his determination. The
officers Of the regiment were as humane
as they were true and gallant, and, after
every effort had failed to induce YeStol
to perform the duties Of soldier, they
gave the matter up in despair, and told
him to leave and 60 home, which he DID.
But shortly thereafter another conscript
officer came along and Vestol was again
duly enrolled as conscript, and ordered
to report at Bragg's headquarters. Not
being ready just then to leave his home,
he asbed.a obtained the time of two
weeks within which to report, some citi.
zen of Columbia a-Chancellor Flemmisg,
as now remember-going his security
that he would report at the end of the
time. Before the two weeks had ex-
pired, Gen. Bragg had fallen back to
Chattanooga. All alone and on foot
Vestol went to Chattanooga, and reported
at Braggs headquarters. By most sln>
gular coincidence, he was again assigned
to the Fourth Tennessee. Col. McMur-
ray, from his Shelbyville ex perience,
knew he had tough customer to deal
! with. He concluded he would try the
force of moral suaSon, so one day he sent
for Vestol to come to bis quarters, aud
undertook to convince him from the
Scriptures that he was wholly wrong in
his ideas and position. But the young
Quaker was rather too much for the gal
liant Colonel in the Scripture argument,
and the Colonel sent for his Chaplin to
talk to Vestol and convince him that he
was altogether wrong in his refusal to
fight or perform military duty. The
Chaplain came aud opened the argument
after this wise: d wouldn't give a cent
for a religion that is opposed to my
country" Said Vestol. 81 wouldn't
give cent for country that is opposed
to my religion" The argument lasted
for some time, but left the young Quaker
unconvinced, and determined to do no
military duty of any description. He re,
fused to police the camp, or do the least
thing that could be tortured or construed
into military duty. At last, Col. McNIur
ray, wholly unable to do anything with
Vestol, sent him to brigade headquar.
ters. Here he WIS reasoned with, and
every effort made to induce him to 60
and perform the dutieS Of soldier, but
he was firm and inAexible as the ever
lasting hills. He was told that if he per-
sisted in his course he would be subjected
to severe punishment, and finally would
be shot for disobedience of orders. He
replied that they had the power to kill
him, but neither the Federal nor Confed.
crate army possessed the power to force
him to abandon his principles, or prove
false to his religion. l remember en-,
deavoring to persuade him one day to pay
$500, which the law provided Quaker
might pay, and be exempt from military
duty, and asked him if he couldn't raise
that amount to pay it, and thus get rid Of
the troubles that l plainly saw ahead Of
him is be persisted in his course.
He said if he could raise the money
without any difficulty. "But," said he,
suppose | pay the CoDfe derate Govern.
msns S500-that will enable them to sm.