The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-04-15
NUMBER s.
ABRAHAM .LTNCOLN.
A Hitherto Unpubsished AnecdOte
Of the Late. .Erealdeml. Sc
From the New York World !

From the New York World j
New anecdotes Of President Lincoln
are sufficiently rare, but here is one
which is authentic and characteristics,
whether we consider the Presidents
goodness of heart or the naivctte with
which 1t found expression. When Col,
Mulligan's Chicago regiment lay in
camp, away down South, one of the pri:
Yates, call him Barney Der, in mo-
ment of passion and intoXication, stab
bed and terribly mangled a comrade.-
Barney was one of the hard chafdcters
of the command, and it was matter ct
no surprise when the court martial SEN
fenced him, for this last and gravest Of
his many offenses. to be shot, and fixed
the day of his execution. Meanwhile,to
the surprise OF every one, including the
surgeons, the wounded man began to re-
cover, and was soon pronounced out.pf
danger. Public opinion took the usual
turn. 1t was thought pity, after all, to
shoot a fine young fellow, such as Bat.
ney was in his better moments; besides,
he was one Of the boys; had been born,
like them, in Chicago; grown up with
them, enlisted With them, aud fought
with them. A movement Cooking 10 d
petition for the culprit's pardon was set
on foot, in which none Joined more
heartily than the wounded man, and the
camp which, but yesterday, was tor
lynching Barney, now yearned to sats
his life. But the General COMMANDING
had approved the finding of the court
martial, and only the President could in
terfere, and the regiment was encampe,ls
away from the telegraph lines. So that,
though the necessary documents had
been forwarded, backed by strong re.
commendations,there were grave doubts
lif the merciful message which Mr.. Linz
coin was almost certain to send would
reach the camp in time, Anexpress was
sent to the nearest telegraph station,
thirty miles away to carry the message
with all haste-and all waited impatient.
lly. i,
The night before the fatal day -afriveS.
Barney was to be shot next day at sum
rise. no reprieve had arrived, and re-
lluctantly the Adjutant prepared the me-
cessary orders, detailed the firing party
aud arranged for the parade. The night
wore on. IL is safe to say that not aii
eye was closed in camp, and every ear
was strained for horse hoof beats from
the east Past midnight; !, 2, o'clock.
There were movements in the gray east
ern sky the brilliant southern stars fa
ded; it was almost dawn.
Suddenly faint sound was heard, as
of shout away to the east. The ex,
citement became electric. Men rushed
from their tents, half-dressed, and gath
cred in anxious groups. The officers
were hardly less excited, and mingled
with them. Then, in rapid succession;
were heard challenge and reply as tho
party passed sentry after sentry, then the
tramp and splash of hoofs, and at last
burst into view the long looked for mes.
senger, covered with mud from head to
foot, wan and worn out, his horse pant
| ing, and travel stained and bruised, for
he had ridden thirty miles since mid
night: along roads that were sluices of
mud and water. The rider held his way
straight to The CololeIs tent, and deliv-
cred his telegram. 1t read thus >
| WAsHINGroN. .s--, 1885,. "a
Col. MULLIGAN: = II you haven't shot
Barney D-yet, don tsgs sS
M s A. LIEcoLN.
They hadn't and they didn't