Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-01-19

seventy-five thousand men to crush
the rebellion, Ben Brown was one
among the first to fall into line the
day George B. Lemon made his war
speech in the old courthouse, and
John Stoker, Grin Hoyt and Jack
Robinson beat up for recruits with
| fife and drum. Those were stirring
days in Clinton, as they we're all over
the north.
Ben Brown never thought that be-
cause he was southerner his place
was in the ranks of those who were
committing treason by firing on the
flag under which he was born. He
was patriotic American, and
the call for troops measured. up TO
his idea of patriotism.
The same day James M. Hall, who
was mustered out" recently, ranged
up alongside of Ben Brown as they
formed into line on the courthouse
square. Jim and Ben were strangers.
Jim came from his country home
down in Barnett township. He left
the pillow in the furrow on that bright
April day in '6l and came to town
to see what all that trouble was
about firing on the old flag at Sum-
ter.
jim, like the rest of the boys,
didn't know anything about war.
There was little skirmish down in
Mexico away back in the 40's, but
Jim was too young to remember
anything about it.
No drawer man than Ben Brown
was mustered into the United States
service on the day when the Twen-
tieth Illinois was organized at Jol-
let. Ben was every ipca a soldier.
From the first he took fancy to
Jim Hall. When Company e went
Into camp Ben-and Jim became East
friends, and as they marched to the
field ofbattle side by side that friend
ship became stronger; they stuck to
each otter closer than brothers.
On that morning, the 9th of April
1862, when the Twentieth Illinois
was ordered into line at Shiloh, Ben
Brown felt presentiment that bis
soldering days were over; that he
would be one among the first that
would fall in the leaden hail. He
had been in other fights and skir.
mishes, but never till that morning
did his heart fail him. Not that he
was going to show the white feather
Ben Brown was too brave. How
many a brave man went on the bat
tlefeld with the same feeling, and in
how many cases did the present.
ment prove true
Before marching out Ben tool
Lieut.. Sam Denton aside, and, pull
ing out fine gold watch, some mon
ey and few little trinkets, said
"Here, lieutinant, take these, ant
when I am gone send them to my
good old mother in Tennessee. Tel
her they are from her hayward DO.
who has made her heart ache TO
many years. Tell her that the las
thoughts of her boy were of her ant
the home in which he was so happ,
in his childhood. Tell her that N,
last hours were spent in praying 70
her, and for father, and for the othe
children, and in asking forgiveness
for my own shortcomings"
Sam Denton tried by word G
cheer to brighten up Ben and to pei
suade him that his were only tn
gloomy thoughts that some tim
oyershadowed tie bravest men
But Ben could not be persuaded.
On that morning at Shiloh only
forty three of Company E went int
the fight, and when the sun wen
down that night four of the BRAY
fellows were cold in death and twenty
three were suffering from ghastl
wounds.
q Ben Brown was one of the fou
who went down in that terribl
storm of shot and shell, and by hi
side fell Jim Hall, badly wounded.
/ BenBrown's body was brought I
Clinton and was among the first in
tered in Woodlawn in the little pic
that surrounds the soldiers monu
ment.
The other day Jim Hall was lai
to rest side by side with his old CON
rade. There was no design in il
There is no sentiment about grave
digger, but we had to find q place 70
Jim's grave, and the one selecte'
was merely by chance. The grave
digger knew nothing OF Ben Brow
and very little of Jim Hall, bu
when Company E boys happened 4
look at the surrounding graves afte
they had lowered Jim's body int
the earth they saw the remarkabl
Observation-Disclosures Butler, i
National Tribune.