Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-03
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His Little Sister.
How A PLUCKY SOUTHERN GIRL SAvEI
HER BROTHERS. LIFE

Somewhere among the archives of the
Confederate government may be found a
document dated Sept. 3. 1864. wherein
Joseph Wilson was sentenced to be shot,
and on the back of which is the indorse-
ment:
'Approved-Jefferson Davis. President
You see, my command was then in Vir-
yinia, and it was war times of certainty
We rebels were hard pushed on all sides,
having little to eat and less to wear, and
it did seem as if fight had got to be a
matter of daily occurrence. Some of US
were philosophers enough to endure what
we couldn't cure. but the young men, and
Especially the chaps who had been con-
scripted. were terribly Uneasy. They
were ready to give it up as a lost case and
start for home.
Well, this feeling. coupled with starva-
ton rations. ragged uniforms and daily
fighting, sent a good many of our boys
over to the Union lines as deserters, and
this brings about my story.
One Of the conscripts in my company
was IA boy of II named Joe Wilson. All
Us fellars of 80 or Whereabouts felt like q
father to him. Aside from his youth he
was poor and pale, with no march or fgh,
in him. Bless you! but the idea of little
joey Wilson helping to breast back a
Yankee line of battle would have set Us
all in u roar. He orter been home with
his ma. and none of felt anything but pity
for him.
One night, after the assertions had gone
on and become so numerous that the bic
officers had to take notice of 'em. trap
was sot, and 10! our poor leetle Joe fel
into into. Yes sir-nabbed in the ac
of deserving to the enemy and may
be YOU know what that signifies
specially when the enemy isn't cannon
shot away? 1t was a surprise to us that
the lad had plucked up courage enough te
make break. but reckon he was des
peratelv sick of the confederacy, anC
hoped in some manner to get back to his
| home.
1t was determined to make an example
of little joey. and | guess it wasn't over
ten DAYS before he was convicted, the sen.
tence approved at Richmond. and an or.
der read that he was to be shot at a certain
hour. suppose it was all quite proper
and according to army regulations. but il
must have gone hard with the men on
that court martial to convict him. Had
he been guilty of murder could not have
aided to bring in verdict against him.
Nobody had seemed to know or care
whether he had relatives or not. and SC
our surprise was great to learn. on the day
before he was to be shot. that sister had
arrived in camp to plead for little Joe's
life. 1t was too late She had been de-
MED by the President, and of course
nobody in the field had any authority to
stop the execution. She was in camp all
day long. and most of us got to see her
If | should tell you that she was the
brightest. chippiest, smartest gal of 10 !
ever saw, would only be telling you the
truth. She was exactly like Joe in looks,
'cept few points handsomer. and she had
bis size and walk and ways. Tell you,
comr1ies, when saw that gall believe
her name was Nell-break down under
the bad news and realizing her helpless
ness, I'd have been willin' to let 'em sho,
me in Joe's stead Deed, would
though say it so long after list want.
ed to lay my hand on her curly head and
say:
There. there. poor child-don't cry anv
more! I'm all alone in the world and
nobody'll miss me, and I'm gong to take
However, that couldn't be done. Joseph
Wilson was the deserter, and Joseph will
son must be shot to death as the penalty.
While the big officers couldn't promise
anything they did grant favor. She
asked tor an hours visit to her brother.
and they gave it to her We had him
shut up in the granery of barn. and en-
that very morning | 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 bit of paper on which
was written:
Pass Nellie Wilson to see the prisoner
for one hour. See that she carries no
weapons.
1t was signed all straight, and l could
not question her right. l was directed to
see that she had no weapons hidden away
but Lord save you! dye think / even re-.
ferred to such thing? No. sir! when
she looked up into my face, her ewes full