The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-31

AFTER rHIRrY.rwo YEARS.
VIM j. Sale Receivers . Testament Lost
on tho Battlefield.


VIM j. Sale Receivers . Testament Lost
on tho Battlefield.
(Springaold, o., Repubnc-Timos, May 1911
At the second charge. ct the long siege
~ Petersburg, Va, the Rev. @. b. Walk
ley, OF the Church of the Heavenly
Rest. of this city. then . drummer boy
in Company Q, Fifty eighth Pennsyl-
vAnia Veteran Volunteers, Third Brig
ade, First Division Of the Eighteenth
Army Corps. picked up little Tesla
ment which rebel soldier. in his aste.
had left behind in the deserted camp.
Mr.. Walkley treasured the relic, both
- Testament OF the Word which he
symbol Of the inevitable brotherhood Of
man.
On the inside OF the cover, beAuti-
fully and clearly written In pencil, was
the name and address of the owner,
civilian j. Sale, Burton Farm, Va, :"
and under this Mr.. Walkley wrote his
own name and army address, as given
above. together with the date of the
find.
Mr.. Walkley served another year In
the army, four years In all, and during
that time and ever since he has inquired
diligently after Sergeant Sale ana Bur-
ton Farm, but with no results.
Here is note which he received
from the Rev. Churchill I. Gibson, Of
Petersburg, Va, whom he had asked to
| assist him in learning the Whereabouts
of the owner:
REV AND DEAR BROTHER in
quiries about the owner Of the little
Testament and about Burton Farm are
all in vain. just keep IL and les 1t
descend to your posserity. May you
preach Its blessed Gospel Of peace and
love and bring poor lost souls to the
feet Of the Prince of Peace.
Yours affecsionately,
"CHURCHILL GIBSON.
June 10, $780,"
few weekssgo Mr.. Wslkley WAS tell
ing big Four" Chief Engineer G. Mel
son Of his find and how he had tried ever
| since the war to asoertai the where
abouts OF the owDer. Mr.. Nelson, " no
is . Virginian, offered his services in
| the search, and soon after sent . note
to the Richmond Dispatch. The note
was published, and as . result Mr..
Walkley received the following letter:
Confederate Memorial Literary Society
"RICHMoND. VA, April 6, 1896.
REV. @. 8 Wslkley.
DEAR SIR: -Seeing the above notice
In bne hic nmonQ DlSpktCn, L Wr1t6 TO
ask If you would be willing to send me
the Testament, to be deposited as Q relic
here, subject, of course, to the claims of
| Sergeant Sale or his family. Should
| you be willing to comply with my re-
quest, 1 will see that 1t 10 placed in the
| museum and carefully preserved. Hop
ing that you will give me favorable re-
ply, am very respectfully,
MRS. M. L. VAN DOREN"
Mr.. Walkley felt that he would rather
keep the little treasure himself until IL
should 20 directly from his hands co the
rightful owner and &C q reward for this
feeling he received Monday morning
the following letter, which will explain
Itself: 'l-i
ROANOKE, Va, May Is, 1896.
Rev. G. 8. Walkley, Springfield, o.
DEAR SIR: A friend enclosed clip
| ping from the Richmond Dispatch of
| your finding Testament with my name
on the fly leaf, near Petersburg, Va.
Please inform me OF the cost. will re-
init stamps to cover IL. I Am very much
obliged. indeed, for your kindness, and
you will ever be remem bered by myself
and family. Should you ever -wend
| your way TO our city I would be more
than glad to meet you and become bet
ter acquainted. Very respectfully
yours. WILLIAM j. SALE
up. 8 1t was my misfortune TO be
| captured, and 1 lost all clothing, with
| knapsaok, etc., around Petersburg"
nh