Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-10-29
HIS LITTLE SISTER.
A War Episode. Told by an Ex-Con'
tederate Soldier.

q document dated about September 8
1854, wherein Joseph Wilson was sen
fenced to be shot, and on the back OF
which is the Endorsement, "Approvet
Jefferson Davis, President
You see, my command was then In
Virginia, and IL was war times of a
certainty. We rebels were hard pushed
on all sides. having little to eat and less
10 wear, and il did seem as II a fight
had got to be a matter of daily occur
renee. Some Of US were philosophers
enough to endure what we couldn't
cure. but the young men, and Specially
the chaps who had been conscripted
were terribly uneasy. They was ready
to give it up as lost cause and start
for home. &sE
Well, this feeling, coupled with star
vation rations. ragged uniforms, and
daily fighting, sent good many of our
boys over to the Union lines as desert
ers, and this brings about my story.
IL One OF the conscripts in my company
was a boy of seventeen named Joe Will
son. All US fellers of thirty or there
abouts felt like a father to him. Aside
from his youth he was poor and pale,
with no march or fight In him. Bless
you but the idea of little Joey Wilson
helping to breast back Yankee line of
battle would have set .us all in a roar.
He orter been home with his ma, and
none Of us felt anything but pity for
him.
One night, after the deserttons had
gone on and become so numerous that
the big officers had to take notice of'em,
trap was sot, and 10 | our poor leetle
Joe fell into it. Yes, sir-nabbed ain
the act of deserting to the enemy" and
maybe you know what that signifies,
specially VIXEN that enemy isn't can
non-sbot away? 1t was surprise to
us that the lad had plucked up courage
'nuff to make break, but / reckon he
was desperately sick Of the Confeier-
acy. and hoped in some manner to get
back to his home.
1t was determined to make an exam
pie of little Joey, and / guess it wasn't
over ten days before he was convicted,
and sentence approved at Richmond
and an order read that he was to be
shot at certain hour. I suppose it
was all quite proper and according to
army regulations but it must haye gone
hard with the men on that court-mar-
tial to conyict him. Had he been gull
ty of murder I could not have aided to
bring in a verdict against him.
Nobody had seemed to know or care
whether he had relatives or not, and so
our surprise was great to learn, on the
day before he was tn be shot, that lit
tie sister had arrived in camp to plead
for little Joe's life. 1t was too late.
She had been denied by the President.
and of course nobody in the field had
any authority to stop the execution.
She was in camp all day long ard most
OF us got to see her. II / should tell
you that she was the brightest, chippi-
est, smartest gal of ten I ever saw I
would only be telling you the truth.
She was exactly like Joe in looks, 'cept
few points handsomer AM she had his
size and walk and ways. Tell you COM
rades, when / saw that gall belieye
her name was Nell-breaking down
under the bad news and realizing her
helplessness. I'd haye been willin' to
let 'em shoot me in Joe's stead Deed,
I would, though say it so long after.
just wanted to lay my hand on her
curly head and say:
"There, there, poor child-don't cry
any more I'm all alone in the world
and nobody III miss me, and I'm going
to take Joe's place."
However, that couldn't be done.
Joseph Wilson was the deserter, and
Joseph Wilson must be shot to death as
the penalty.
While the big officers couldn't prom
Use anything,they die grant her favor.
She asked for an hours visit with her
brother, and they gave it to her. We
had him shut up in the granary of a
barn, and on that very morning I was
given six men and told to guard him
until he was wanted for execution. 1t
was thus that the gal came to me with
a bit of paper on which was written
"Pass Nellie Wilson to see the pris.
oner for an hour. See that she carries
| no weapons"
1t was signed all straight, and I could
not question her right. was directed
to see that she had no weapons hidden
away, but Lord save you !! dye think
even referred to such thing? No sir
When she looked up into my face, hel
| eyes full of tears and her heart beatinl
like that of a wounded bird, says tt
her /: -
$50 right in, my dear. and may Coz
bless you for what you have tried t.
do"
Well, now, in about twenty minute
after she had passed in, what snoul'
enter my head but an idea which lifte
my heels clean off the floor. IL that ga
was as smart as / took her to be, sh