The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-07-02
WAR REst1NIscENcEs

AStory Of Your Uncle Ben Wilson, Ills Native
Cuteness.
Special Correspondence eftA lahligatH.
WASHINGTON, D. o., June 3O-I had q
short conversation with our Uncle Ben
Wilson the other night, and congratulated
him upon the boom he Is getting for the
Democratic nomination. He said to me:
~ have not mentioned the matter to
any one; have not had q conversation
with any Democrat in my district with
reference to the subiect Of running for
Congress. The boom comes without any
exertlon whatever on my part. / have not
even answered any olthe numerous letters
I have received from people all over the
district urging meto announce myself as q
candidate for the nomination"
do not know how to reconcile Col.
reinstatement with the rumor that he was
in West Virginia few weeks ago work.
ing like q beaver, and the further allega-
ton, made by Democratic friends OF his,
that the present boomlet is the result OF
that trip. There must be mistake some
where. / am quite sure that, at the time
mentioned, Col. Ben assured me his trip
TO West Virginia was merely for the pur.
pose OF taking some rest, alter the hard
work imposed upon him during the hear
Ing Of the French spoliation claims. l sup
pose some malicious gossip started the
story that he was at home working up q
boom for Congress. Col. Ben has Ger.
tainly received q boom, whether he sought
1t or not. The main fight In the conyen-
tlon for the nomination will be between
Judge John Brannon and Col. Wilson.
Lhe contest will be very warm. Judge
Brannon may have the most friends to
start with, and 90 into the convention
with what will appear ear TO be the largest
following, but Col Wilson is one Of the
shrewdest wire workers and willest poll.
ticlanB In the State, and that 10 where he
will have the advantage of the Judge.
Col. Wilson has some ways that are very
mysterious and is an adept at tricks that
are past finding out. Every politician that
has come In contact with him has been
made TO realize this.
A WAR INCIDENT.
The other evening l heard General B.
F. Kelly relate o war incident, Of which
your Uncle BENJAMIN 10 the hero, that
will serve very we'll to illustrate his
Shrewd practices in business matters, and
the illustration 10 equally applicable to
his political methods. General Kelly
delshts 10 tell the btory Ia the presence
Of Col. Wilson whenever he can get him
In crowd, and II 10 worth repeating 10
the readers OF the 1NrELLtuHEcRR, many
Of whom may recognize II 40 an old
friend, for, / have heard II said that
Col. Wilson has been known 70 tell II
himsell-Alwayg, however, giving Gen.
Kelly aB the author.
AS ID well known, when Kelly took
command at Grafton, In the early days Of
the war, he enforced military regulations
rlRldly and impAftlally. He made y OBJ.
llgAtofy upon oil the "doubtlul" citizens
10 take the oath Of allegiance 10 the Cow
eminent OF be held aS prisoners ol war.
Among those under arrest wac Col, Ben
Wilson, Of Ulatkebufg, which place, oi
course, was within Gen. Kelly'a juiiAdlG.
ton, Meeefai Nathan and Waldo God
visited Kelly 10 intefcede iot him and
told the General they would youch iof
Wilson II he would allow him 70 take the
OATH And 10 home. This the commander
Io0naeniod 70 do, and Uncle Ben aWofe
loyalty 10 the Union and went his way
Ieioi6InR. Shortly after Col, wilkinson
Well known Ia Wheeling, whose regiment
Waa atalibned al Olafkgbutg, ADVERTISED
iof eeyefal hundred cords Of wood for thl
dso Of the ifuopS, and Uncle Ben Appll.et
liot lhe contract The aulssesme'se