The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-01-10

them that ii we did not Join them pretty
soon we would look after their families
and the loved ones whom they must
leave behind.
Among our visitors one day was a
large, pleasant-faced, Quaker like gen
tleman, whose countenance could not
hide the sympathy he felt for us. was
80 pleased, indeed, with his looks and
manner that / stepped forward, and re.
spectfully greeted him, handed him
slip of paper containing the following
pencilled words
RICHMOND, Va.
Hon. Judah p. Benjamin, Secretary
War, c.. S. A.:-The man who befriend-
ed YOU on a Mississippi steamboat ten
years ago, when suffering from small
pox, is now in Knoxville Jail, unjustly.
accused of bridge burning"
JOHN WILKINS.
Tleo' gentleman adjusted his spec
tacles, read the slip carefully, and then
looking in my face, asked me what l
wished him to do with it.
II want you to enclose it in an en-
velOpe to that address"
He sorrowfully shook lis head.
II cannot do that; thosa words may
mean a great deal mole than they
SEEM
"You are mistaken" 1 hastened to
say; there is no writing between the
lines. They mean simply what they
say, no more"
at won't do" he added, with another
shake of his head; 81 am watched and
it would be worth my life to show any
friendship to any of you. ,
He handed the slip back, but | declined
to take it.
keep it," said /, "as it may serve to
remind you of the slight reque-t you re-
quest you refused to fellow-being
standing on the threshold of the grave. ="
think it was the look of dispair in
my face. more than my words, that
touched him. He crumped up the pa
per, showed it into his vest pocket and
muttering, "Til see about 1t, passed out
of the Jail.
| confess that based little hope on
anything coming from this blind ven
ture, but reasoned that it could not
harm if 1t did not hel p me. When the
better part of week had gone by and l
was still a prisoner. | agreed with those
Of my friends, who knew what | had
done, that my hope was rope OF sand.
1.-The old gentleman was too tlmld TO
send it, | concluded.
He NAV have sent" said grim old
Parson Brownlow, but the man who
received it has forgotten his gratitude TO
you or is afraid to xercise it,
"No," said |, COMPRISING my lips, 1T
isn't that"
Mean hile, as our number were added
to, they were also decreased in the ter
rifying manner have intImHed, Hard
ly a day passed that several were not
called out. Then followed the hand
shaking, the farewell words, the singing
and D edges, followed shortly after by
the sharp reports of the volley fired on
the outside, which told the fearful end
of the hasty passionate trial.
At vt there came a day when the
guard who stood at the door pronounc'
) ed but a single name. That was
John Wilkins"
"Well, boys" said 1, my turn has
arrived, thought it was slow IN coming
am ready"
passed around and shook the hand
Of each in tuIn, and the words which
had SO often uttered to other friends, al
they were about to pass out to then
doom, were now spoken to me. The
"fghling parson" gave me an UNUSUAL lJ
warm pressure of the hand, and thrilled
, me by his burning words, as he assured
me that | was martyr, and my namt
would be ever held in grateful recognl'
, tion by all lovers of their country.
kept up better than l thought couiC
and waving them final good by, walk
ed out of the Ill to the accompaniment
of burst of patriotic melody. The su51
pense had been so painful, that | recall
there was a strange feeling of relief, a
the knowledge that all now would soor
: be over.
| was conducted 10 the Provost Mar
, shal's office, where that officer, wl'hou
; speaking. handed me the following tele
grim;
Office Secretary War, C S A.
, "R'chmond, Va. Dec Is, 1861.
, Provost Marshal, Knoxville, Tenn:
, You will release John Wilkins al once
and suff ar him to pass our Ines at VIII
uraues toned. 1t is absolutely forbid
den that he shall be molested or inter
fered with in any manner whatever.
) Judah P. Benjamin,
Secretary of War, q. S A."
, For few seconds everything swan
before me, and my hand trembled 81
violently that the paper on which thos
words of life were written, dropped t.
, the floor saw the chagrin stamped oil
, the face of the officer, and rallying,
= could not help saying:
II am glad to see that the COnfederacl
is well provided with postal facilities.
$50 it seems he drvly remarked; 80
, course Won are now at liberty to &,
whittier won choose, Since you hav,
mart of your family In the Federal arm,
, YOU are specially favored, for no one i
likely to trouble you ON either side"
, III am not so sure of that" remarked
, deeminp il prudent to conceal my ex
ultation from the officer, who | knew
would be nightly pleased to order m,
nm as a target for his marksmen.
7 was moving away. when he lowered
his voice. and said
"Wilkins %
I stonned and turned inuuiringll
about.
"Take nv advice" he added, land b,
, careful: keep away from any bridge
that look invitingly combustible; don
wander around too much on dark night
, where there is so much promiscuou
firing, YOU know a fellow may be acci
dentally shot,
There was no mistaking the signifi
cance of the expression. accompanied Al
it was by 6 meaning grin and wink o
the eve. | thanked the officer for hi
, words and assured him they should no
be forgotten. Then left him.
The days grew darker in Knoxville
No one who was not a resident of tina
, city during those lurid times can appre
ciate the frigbtful rule which passion
held over men, There were period
. | he, Zoe nnhannilv xyaa the caae in 9TH