Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-08-13
SLEPT ON HIS Pct
How Soldiers Life was Saved by
the Late Judge Kelley.

In 1864 young soldier Of Peuusyl
vania regiment was convicted By a court.
martial for sleeping on post, and sen.
tcuced TO be shot. Friends Of the IN.
fortunate boy hastcncd 20 Washington
and enlisted the sympathirs Of the late
Hon. William D. Kelley IN his behalf
Their statements Of the boys grave Of.
fcnse indicated that there were mitigatiry
circumstances which rendered him a
proper subject for executive clemcncv.
1t was claimed that the soldier was In
feeble health, but Ind refused to 20 10
the hospital, remaining with his COM
pany, which WAS engaged IN the cam
paign against Nichmoad. lie had been
marching and fighting for two days aud
nights without sleep, aud it WAS under
such circumstances that. overcome by ex.
haustion. he had suffered himself to fall
asleep while On picket. Military law was
rigidly enforced at that time and little
mercy WAS shown to offenders.
Mr.. Kelley at once went to the Prcsi-
dent, with whom lac wg5 on terms Of
close intimacy. Few men enjoyed 10
fuller extent than he the confidence Of
Mr.. Lincoln. iIr. Kelley laid before the
president th2 case Is presented by the
friends OF the soldier. Both agreed that
tcncc might properly be revoked in the
interest Of humanity, and without preJu-
dice to the service. The time was short,
as but a few hours, or days ut most, in.
tCrycncd between the sentence of a court.
martial and its execution. Mr.. Kelley
volunteered to go ut Cncc 70 The army
and investigate To enable him TO do
this Mr.. Lincoln handed him a rcpricva
for three days. So fully did lac trust the
Judgment Of Nj Kelley that he also
wrote and signed q pardon which Kelley
was to present IN case be found the state.
Hcnts Of the soldiers friends to be cor
rect. If, upon the other hand, he should
ind the case 10 be without cxtcnUating
features he should not interfere with tho
execution beyond the rcpricvc granted
for the inquiry.
Mr Kelley took the first train for The
front. Trnvcling as far rs he could by
rail, be rode on horseback nearly all
night through the .-at camps to reach
tho regiment hc srG.hf. The execution
was to have taken place that morning,
hut was stayed by the Presidents order.
Mr. Kelley satisfied himself TINT the de-
mands of justice and the discipline Of the
army did not require the sacrifice Of the
young life, produced the pardon and the
soldier was restored 20 duty
Naturally Dir. Kelley watched with in.
lcrcst the future career Of the boy whose
life he had held in his hands, and was
gratificd to know that he had not erred
in his judgment. The soldier fully re-
deemed himself by conspicuous gaIlantry,
and lost IN arm in tho final assault upon
Petersburg. After the war Mr.. Kelley
| secured his appointment in one Of the
departments of Washington, where he rc
mained till his death two OF three years
ego IN after years Mr. Kelley often re-
marked that no act of his life, public OF
private, gave him more satisfaction than
his services in behalf Of that condemned
soldier. it goes without saying that ;he
lsttcr's affection for Mr.. Kelley was lie.
yond any power Of language TO express,
continuing till the Last moments OF He.