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

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TO have dealings with you"
III prove 10 you that am not Q rebe
can have the contFaptH" asked Uncle
Ben,
''Certainly," replied the QuRrtermasteI
who had a warm personal feeling for him
"Thsn, sir, read that and Uncle Ben
tTiumphantly pulled from his pocket and
thrust into the hands Of the officer his
credentials Of loyalty, signed by General
Kelly. The paper proved satisfactory
and In q very short time the contract was
closed, Uncle Ben agreeing to furnish the
required amount Of wood tSS 50per cord,
Hs owned q very fine piece oi woodland
q short distance from Parkersburg, upon
which was an unused cabin and very
fine spring OF water, and II was from this
land he proposed to fill his contract with
the Government.
YOUR CUTE UNCLE BEN.
Uncle Ben went down to Grafton and
had an interview with Gen, Kelly. He
reported to the General that there were a
number Of disloyal people in bis neigh,
borhood, and that there was liable to be
an outbreak among them at any time.
The Union citizens were in danger OF
their depTedations, He advised Kelly to
station some soldiers in the vicinity Rs Q
menace TO these threatening rebels. He
told the General that he had 9 piece Of
land upon which was located q cabin and
a fine spring OF water, and proftered him
the use Of both for the soldiers II he would
order them there, He further said that
he would agree to furnish them with milk,
butter, &C., as long as they remained
there, since he was anxious that his prop
erty should be protected from the rebels.
Kelly accepted Uncle Ben's offer, thank
ing him ior his generosity, immediately
wrote an order to Col. Wilkinson, be-
lleve, to dispatch twenty-five or thirty SOL
dlers to Wilson's cabin in charge OF a ser
geant and keep them there until further
orders, In day or two the squad was at
the designated place, and remained there
for several weeks.
Meantime Colonel Ben repaired again
to Olarksburg and laid in supply Of two
dozen axes aud barrel OF "0'.bs,ioyful," !"
which he ordered sent to his place, He
followed them up and went into camp
with the soldiers, whose acquaintance he
proceeded to cultivate with the assistance
OF the aforesaid barrel. Succeeding in
making himself agreeable In day or 80,
he became bold enough to make them o
proposition.
"Boys," said he one day; "boys, while
you are loaHng about here taking things
easy, how would you like to make little
extra money, and at the same time de-
velop your muscles so as to make better
soldiers Of yourselves"
"First rate" they replied.
"Well, then, l will pay you fifteen cents
per cord for all the wood you will cut for
me while you are here"
The offer was accepted and in a few
weeks the soldiers had cleared for Uncle
Bsn ten acres OF as fine land as you ever
saw, and had lat fifteen cents per Cord)
piled up several hundred cords Of wood,
which he delivered to Colonel McKinson
in Olarksburg, aud got So so per cord for !
There may be some tmmaterial points
about the above aneCdote that are erro-
neously stated, but, in the main, the story
is correct.
Speaking Of Gen. Kelly reminds me Of
another little war-incident told me by
Rev. Father Sullivan, OF Wheeling, while
In Washington this week: -
FATHER suLLlvAN's "REMINISCENCES.
"At the beginning OF the war;" said
Father Sullivan, ~ was one Of those citi.
zsns OF Wheeling who were looked upon
with suspicion and regarded as disloyal,
though considered myself o good loyal
man, according TO Webster's definition OF
the term; that is, was 'obedient to the
laws could not, however, take the
iron.Clad oath required, and, refusing to
do 80 was, as have said, regarded with
suspicion by the ultra Union men.
II finally became necessary for me, in
the line OF my duties as pastor, to apply
to General Kelly for a permit to take a
trip occasionally out the road between
Wheeling and Grafton to attend to the
spiritual wants OF my people. frankly
stated TO the Provost Marshal that l
would not take the iron.ClRd oath, at the
same time expressing my definition OF the
term "loyal," aud told him that Consid.
cred myself loyal enough to be trusted
under such circumstances. asked him
for q permit and to trust to my honor as a
man not to violate the confidence. He
Immediately wrote to General Kelley,
stating to him the circumstances and ask
Ing for instructions. Pretty soon General
Kelly's answer came. 1t was brief and
to the point, and characteristic Of the
brave, honest old man whom / now de-
Light to honor. 1t read:
~ know Of no reason why Catholic
priest should refuse to take the oath Of
loyalty to the Union"
Father Sullivan delights TO tell this
story, as illustrative OF General Kelley's
strong devotion to the Union cause and
his taithfulness as an officer. Although
he did not get the permit he applied for,
he holds the General In great esteem. 1
saw them together at the National Hotel
Monday evening, and 1t was then that
Monsignor Sullivan told me the above
circumstance. (.
Have tho Presidents Approval.
WASHINGTON, D. O., July 1.-The Pres
ident has approved the act to reduce the