Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-09
LincOln's Kind d-heartedness,

Here is recollection of Abraham Lin.
coins kind-heartedness, which will not be
forgotten by the Boys in Blue who orig.
inally went to the war enrolled in the old
Third regiment of Vermont. The command
was stationed for awhile Just beyond the
Chain bridge, in Virginia, opposite Wash
ington (early in the second year of the re-
bellion,) and among the privates was young
man of twenty, who had been found one
night asleep at his post of sentry. He was
arrested, tried by courtrmartial, convicted.
and ordered to be shot for this offense.
This soldier had been out on picket duty
the night previous to that on which he was
unluckily caught sleeping at his post, and
thus, by army regulations, he was exempt
from being called to perform guard.duty on
the occasion referred to. But the comrade
whose turn it was to serve was sick, and
young P volunteered to serve in the
others place, and fell into doze from weari-
ness. The adjutant of the regiment knew
all the facts, and he obtained leave for day
and hurried to Washington, where he waited
on President Lincoln, and begged him to
interpose in P--'s behalf He was de-
layed, however, and next day, at noon, the
condemned man was marched to the field of
execution. His grave had been dug, the regi.
ment had been formed into hollow square,
the chaplain had finished his final prayer,
and the file OF soldiers had advanced in front
OF poor P, who stood, pale and trembling,
beside his rude coffin, awaiting their shot,
when an officer upon a horse came, at a
fierce gallop, rushing upon the scene with a
reprieve The announcement was made in a
loud voice by the rider, when the culprit fell
TO the earth, senseless, as a wild shout of
joy rang forth from the sturdy lungs of his
fhnuganH al atrit -, IN
president gave the matter attention at his
earliest moment of leisure, but had not
reached the case until about one hour before
the time set for the execution. Then, sum.
moning an aide, he dispatched him to the
scene, ordering stay of proceedings, while
he telegraphed a similar order to army head.
quarters-which latter message did not
reach the regiment until it would have been
too late for the service of the aide. The
young man was afterward fully pardoned
and restored to duty. Mr.. Lincoln took his
carriage the next morning. and accompanied
by Mrs. Lincoln, visited the headquarters
OF the third regiment. While there, he sat
conversing with the commander, and another
soldier had just received telegram from
Vermont informing him that his house had
been burned the night previously and his
child had been lost in the flames" He was
'"~o"' " ooOain iuIlouSu 10 visit his
home and afflicted wife, but army rule would
not permit. He applied to his company cap
tain, obtained company blank, filed it
hastily, and, rushing to Lincoln's presenoe
placed this and his dispatch in the presi.
dents hands, imploring him to approve.
Sign 1t !" exclaimed Mrs. Lincoln, in an
earnest tone, as she read it, Aud hurriedly
glancing at the documents, the kind-hearted
commander-in-chief, with pencil handed
him by his wife, wrote quickly, Approved
"A. Lincoln" and sent the humble soldier
on his way rejoicing. 1t was but a few
weeks afterward that the presidents gen.
eral order was published and sent through
the army OF Virginia, putting stop to the
shooting OF condemned Union soldiers with
out the express command of the commander.
in-chiet "a humane act never to be forgot
ten.-Boston Traveller.