The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-06-14
A THRILLING ROMANCE.
THE NAN WHOM rnr parsrDrsr rAaDosr

A correspondent of The Philadelphia In
qHirer makes the following statement con
corning William Scott, who was condemned
to die for sleeping at his post. near the Chain
Bridge on the Potomac, and pardoned by
the PresiIent-but recently killed at the
battle near Lees Mills. Va. If our kind
hearted President will cherish gratful re-
membrane of any act of his life, it will be
the pardon of this heroic and patriotic young
soldier:
s.Never till we stood by the grave Of the
Green Mountain boy did We realize how
much stranger is truth than fiction. Your
readers will all recollect that last summer q
private was court martialed for sleeping on
his post out near Chain Bridge, on the Up
per Potomac. He was convicted; his sen
tence was death; the finding was approved
of by the General, and the Jay fixed for his
execution. He was youth of more than
ordinary intelligence; he did not beg for par
don. but WAS willing to meet his fate. The
time drew near; the stern necessity of war
required that an example should be made of
some one; his was an aggravated case. But
the case reached the ears of the President;
he resolved to save him; he signed par
don and sent it out; the day came. "Sup-
pose," thought the President, "my pardon
has not reached him" The telegraph was
called into requisition; and answer did moi
come promptly. Bring up my carriage
he ordered. 1t came, and soon the impor-
tant state papers were dropped. and through
The hot broiling sun and dusty roads he rode
to the camp. about ten miles, and saw that
the soldier was saved! He has doubtless
forgotten the incident, but the soldier did
not. When the Third Vermont charged
upon the rifle-pits, the enemy poured vol
lev upon them. The first man who fell. with
six bullets in his body. was William Scott, Of
Company K. His comrades caught him up,
and as his life blood ebbed away, he raised
TO heaven, amid the din of war, the cries of
the dying, the shouts Of the enemy. pray
er for the President, aud as he died he ie-
marked t. his comrades that he had shown
he was no coward and not afraid TO die.
He was inferred. in the presence of his
regiment. in little grove about two miles
to the rear of the rebel fort in the center Of
group of holly and vines; few cherry
trees, in full bloom, are scattered around the
edge. In digging his grave skull and bones
were found. and metal buttons, showing
tina; the identical spot had been used in the
Revolutionary war for our fathers who fell
in the same cause. The Chaplain narrated
the circumstances to the boys, who stood
around with uncovered heads. He prayed
for the President, and paid the most glow
ing tribute TO his noble heart that we ever
heard. The tears started in their eyes "a
the clods of earth were thrown upon him
in his narrow grave. where he lay shrouded
in his coat and blanket.
"The men separated; in few minutes all
were engaged in something around the
camp, as though nothing had happened un-
usual; but that scene will live upon their
memories while life last; the calm look OF
Scott's face. the seeming look of satisfac-
ton he felt, still fingered; and could the
| President have seen him he would have felt
that his act of mercy had been wisely be
sfoWedn