National Republican., 1883-07-18
AFTER TWENTY YEARS.
An Incident In the Life Of an Old Soldier.

All lhCtuent tne SOINtcr.
Grafton Sentinel.
While in Washington the other day, we had
the pleasure of meeting Gen. b. f. Kelley
well-known to many of our citizens as tn"
man who struck the first effective blow for
the union, at Philippi, in the war of the re.
bellion. The old veteran is hale and hearty
and possesses the same jovial nature which
characterized him in years gone He is
greeted everywhere with warmest feelings by
his old comrades and friends of the days
when, with dauntless courage and rare mill
tary genius, he planned and won victories for
the union cause, To this day Gen. Rosecrans
refers to him as his Irish shellalah, because"
says the old warrior, "he was ever prompt in
action and never missed fire." One day, week
before last, an incd ent occurred at the Ma
tional hotel which shows that individuals are
not always, like republics, ungrateful, and
which we give to the readers of the Sentinel
fresh from the lips of the general himself.
In the spring of 1862 Kelley was stationed
for while with his regiment at Clarksburg.
One day a Capt. Gordon, a confederate spy,
we'll known to this section of the state, was
captured by some union men and turned over
to Kelley, who Immediately forwarded the
prisoner to Fort McHenry, where he was tried
and condemned to be hanged according to the
usages of war. His execution was fixed for
a certain day within very short time after
the trial. Meantime, during some skirmish-
ing in the vicinity of Petersburg Capt
Rhaub, of Wheeling, and an officer of Kelley's
regiment, was captured by the rebels and held
as a sort of hostage for Capt. Gordon. The
confederates sent Gen. Kelley word that if
Gordon was hanged they would retaliate by
a similar treatment of Rhaub. This reused
the sympathies of the general and he at once
sent statement of the case to President
Lincoln, concluding his letter with request
that, in order to spare the life of Rhaub, who
was brave and valuable officer, the President
would commute Gordons sentence. Mr.. Lin
coin granted the request, and Gordon was
sent to Fort Delaware. Of course Rhaub's
life was spared, and he was soon after re-
turned to his regiment. Kelley did not hear
from Gordon after his removal to Fort Della
ware, and was never able to learn his fate
Twenty years passed. Last Tuesday week,
while the general was sitting in the lobby of
his hotel in Washington he was approached by
stranger. who said:
"Have l the pleasure Of addressing Gen. B.
F. Kelley, of West Virginia"
On being answered in the affirmative, he
continued: 81 see you do not recognize me.
The last time we met was under rather try
ing gcircumstances-to me. I am Capt. Cor
don, the confederate spy whom you captured
at Clarksburg and caused to be condemned to
die. ! recognized you instantly, and as this
is the first opportunity have had to thank
you personally for saving my life, do so now
You possibly may not know how near to death
was when you asked Lincoln to spare me.
Well, sir it was within three hours Of the time
set for my execution. My father, mother,
and, in fact the entire family had taken what
we supposed was their last farewell Of me. 1t
was a sad interview-more than even soldier
could stand, and as they bade me the last sad
goodby, never expecting to see me alive again,
/ completely broke down. After they de-
parted set about making my preparations to
die, for it wanted but three hours until
the time would arrive for me to meet that
terrible death. But Lincoln's message came
to withhold the execution of the sentence.
1t is beyond the power of tongue to describe
the feeling of relief that came over me on re-
ceipt of the news. None but man under
similar circumstances can understand or ap-
preciate my feelings. When / learned that
it was you, my captor, to whom | owed
thanks for my deliverance, l resolved |
would thank you at the first opportunity,
and here / am to keep my resolution"
Then the two who had been such mortal
enemies years before Shook hands across
the bloody chasm," and Immediately became
fast friends 1t was remarkable meeting
because of the peculiar circumstances of their
parting in 1862. The incidents of the capture
and sentence of Gordon arc familiar to many
readers of this paper.