Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-05-23
Abraham Lincoln.
A HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED ANECDoTE OF THE
LATE PRESIDENT.

hAihfhIo lNfl bllSllED ANICDOTE OF THE
LATE PRESIDENT.
New anecdotes of President Lincoln are
sufficiently rare, but here is one which is
authentic and characteristic, whether we
consider the Presidents goodness of heart
or the naiyete with which it found express
sion. When Colonel Mulligan's Chicago
regiment lay in camp away down South, one
OF the priyates, call him Barney D.. in a
moment of passion and intoxication stabbed
and terribly mangled comrade Barney
was one of the hard characters of the com
mand. and it was 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 execu-
ton. Meanwhile, to the surprise of every
one including the surgeons, the wounded
man began to recover and was
soon pronounced out of danger
Public opinion took the usual turn. 1t
was thought n pity, after all, to shoot
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 look
ing to a petition for the culprits pardon
was set on foot, in which none Joined more
heartily than the wounded man. and the
camp, which, but yesterday, was for lynch
ing Barney, now yearned to save his life.
But the General commanding had approved
the finding of the cOurt-martial. and only
the President could interfere and the regi-
ment was encamped away from the tele-
graph lines. So that, though the neces-
sary documents had been forwarded, backed
by strong recommendations, there were
grave doubts if the merciiul message which
Mr. | fuanlp oil I
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 impatiently.
The night before the fatal dav arrived.
Barney vas 10 be shot at sunrise next dav.
No reprieve had arrived, and reluctantly
the adjutant 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 hool-beatS
from the East. Past midnight. one. two.
three O'Clock. There were movements in
lhe grey eastern sky; the brilliant southern
stars paled; it was almost dawn.
Suddenly faint sound was heard, as Of
a shout away to the East The excitement
became electric Men rushed from their
tents, half dressed and gathered in anxious
groups. The officers were hardly les ex-
cited, and mingled with them Then in
rapid succession were heard challenge and
reply a. the advancing party passed sentry
after sentry, then the tramp and splash of
hoois and, at last, burst into view the long
looked for messenger. covered with mud
from head 10 foot, wan and worn ont, his
horse painting and trayel-stained and bruis
ed, for be had ridden thirty miles since
along roads that were sluicc- Of
mad and water. The rider held his way
straight To the Colonel's tent and delivered
his telegram. Ii read thus
WASHINGTON, --. lS6-.
COLONEL MrILicAN If you haven't shot
Barney D. yet.-don't
\. LINCOLN.
They hadn't. and they didn't