Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-01-27
THE LITE JOIN YATES BEALL.

Sseing r.certly AN account OF the sad
death OF a bright young man VINO pore a
part of the honored name placed III Tue ''eau
of this article. revived memories OF one OF
the noblest, bravest, geniiest spirits ina. II
was eyer my privilege to know 4: one who,
in the prime of early manhood, periSheu-
ignominiously, as his enemies thought;
but from that throne Of iniquity, paSseu
to the throne of the Eternal by whom = c-
tions are weighed, and who will not Ju'ge
harshly those who die for their country ana
their kind.
A lucky incident recently brought to my
notice sketch of the life witt an account
of the death of my young friend, John \.
Beall. writ en- by the Hon. d. b. Lucas
It's pages were perused wiki the deepest IN
terest. and often would turn back to the
first page to sean anew the calm features
portrayed there Of the pure, heroic YOUTH
whose brave deeds and undaunted courage
in the last hours of waning earthly exist
ence challenged he admiration OF his eA-
containers Nor can doubt that with him,
81 to die was gain
When this writer, who is Z" native and to
the manner born" removed from the good
county of Jefferson, John Beall was BOY
unknown to him. But he knew well the
noble father of the future martyr; ana
that venerable grandfather, whose good
grey head" seemed ever " a crown OF glory,
associated a. it WAS with the gentle, refined
manners that always bespeak the true gen
tleman and characterize nobleMan by ma
ture.
Soon after the battle at Kernstown, where
Jackson gave the enemy "a taste OF his
mettle "-proving that he feared no odds
in contending for just cause,-a strange
Young man entered my editorial sanctnm.
and announced his name. 1t was John
Beall; and felt as if had known him a.
WAYS. He had just returned from FLORIDA,
where he had been to recuperatr bis health
and recover from the effects of CHASTITY
wound in the breast, received in action at
Bolivar Heights. From him learned that
our mutual friend, Richard Henry Lee,
having been wounded in the action at
Kerns,own, had been removed TO Lynch
burg. We set out to find him, and togeth
er visited every hospital in this city But
our search availed not nor could we OBJ
tain even clue TO the whereabouts OF the
wounded Jefferson county soldier, who, at
that very time, a. | learned after John
BealI had left, was resting, with young pa-
vid Howell as his attendant, at the hoSpi-
table home OF VIM. VI Backford, Esq. 1t
was great disappointment to john Beall
that he was not able to find his friend 1t.
Lee, and il is probable that they did not
meet again.
During his two or three days soinurn
here had much OF the company OF Mr..
Beall, which WAS greatly enjoyed. We
talked sadly about the stirring scen-s that
were then Transporting in a country Trent
| with civil f.ud aud drenched with -f-aio---
nal blood" My friend told me solemnly
that he had no expectation OF surviving
the war: but little did dream then that
such a tragic, and, from one point of view
onlv, disgraceful fate awaited the highborn,
modest hut br; We and impeiuouS you h
who sat before me, instinct with life, and
having so much to live f r. |. WAS the
irony of fate, cruel and relentless in every
feature, aud to The last degree.
After most agreeable expert. &c, 20 me,
we two parted: I, TO plod along in the quiet
duly assigned me; he to face danger and
death in their most appalling forms, at the
behest OF his cnun,ry heard no more of
John BeaIl until there came waited to Us
through he storm cloud that overbung our
whole land, tidings of his noble effort to
rescue his imprisoned fellow countrymen to
whom throu h q criminal disregard Of the
laws of civilized warfare, were denied the
right of exchange and parole alike. And
then-the last sad scene; when one prison
er at least, Was set free from the battle
SCARED tenement. and his uncaged spirit
received into everlasting habitations 70 en-
Joy the company Of the ransomed souls that
have gone thilher through great lrlbula-
ton"
Noble John Bcal. How often in the
years that have since come and gone, have
thought of Thy modest, manly, ingenious
demoanor: called to mind thy calm and
placid features; and deplorrd thy cruel
fate, with the deep sorrow that it brought
to the loved ones at home.
But enough The storm Of war has passed
by. The atmosphere is clearer now and
the men who, in the hour of strife, mis-.
Judged the character and motives of John
Yates Beull can no longer have excuse for
the opprobium with which they once re-
garded them Z. ". b.
Lynchburg, Va.
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