Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-05-02
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
A Hitherto Unpublished Anccdote
of the Latc President.

New anecdotes of President Lin
coin are sufficiently rare, but here
is one which is authentic and char
acteristic, whether we consider the
Presidents goodness Of heart or the
naivette with which it found express
sion. When Colonel Mulligan's S
Chicago regiment lay in camp away
down South, one of the privates, call
him Barney D., in moment of
passion and intoXication stabbed
and terribly mangled comrade.-
Barney was one of the hard charac-
ters of the command, and it was a
matter Of no surprise when the court
martial sentenced him for this last
and gravest OF his many offences to
be shot, and fixed the day Of his ex-
ecution. Meanwhile, to the surprise
Of every one, including the sur
geons, the wounded man began to
recover, and was soon pronounced
out Of danger. Public opinion took
the usual turn. 1t was thought a
pity, after all, to shoot Il fine young
fellow, such as Barney 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, and fought with
them. A movement locking to a
petition for the culprit's pardon was
set Oh foot, in which none joined
more heartily than the wounded
man, and the camp, which, but yes
tcrday, was for lynching Barney,
now yearned to save his life. But
the General commanding had ap-
proved the finding of the courtmar-
tlal, and only the President could
interfere, and the regiment was en-
camped away from the telegraph
lines. So that, though the nece. sa-
ry documents had been forwarded,
backed by strong recommendations,
there were grave doubts if the mcr-
ciful message which Mr.. Lincoln
was almost certain to send would
reach the camp in time. An express
was sent to the nearest telegraph
station, thirty miles away, to carry
the message with all haste--and all
waited ;mpatiently.
The night before the fatal day ar
rived. Barney was to be shot at
sunrise next day. No rcpricve had
arrived, and reluctantly the adju-
tant prepared the necessary orders,
detailed the firing party, arranged
for the parade. The night wore ON.
1t is safe to say that not an eye was
closed in the camp, and every ear
was strained for hoof-bcats from the
East. Past midnight-one! two
three o'clock There were move
ments in the great Eastern sky; the
brilliant Southern stars paled; it
was almost dawn.
Suddenly a faint sound was heard,
as of a shout away to the East. The
excitement became electric. Men
rushed from their tents, half dress
ed, and gathered in anxious groups.
The officers were hardly less excit-
ed, and mingled with them. Then
in rapid succession were heard
challenge and reply as the advanc-
ing party passed sentry after sentry,
then the tramp and splash of boots,
and at last burst into view the long
looked-tor messenger, covered with
mud from head to foot, wan and
worn out, his horse painting and
travel stained and bruised, for they
had ridden thirty miles since mid
night, along roads that were sluices
of mud and water. The rider held
his way straight to the Colonel's
tent and delivered his telegram. It
read thus:
WASHINGTON, -, 1856.
Col. MuLLIGAN:-If you haven't
shot Barney D. yet-don't.
A. LINCOLN.
They hadn't and they didn't.