Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-05-21
A Memoir Of Lincoln.

Here is recollection of Abram Lin
coins kind-heartelncss, which has never
been published. that | am aware of but
which will not be forgotten by the Boys
IN Blue. who originally went 10 the war;
enrolled in the old Third Regiment Of
Vermont
The commanl was stationed for while
Just beyond the Chain Bridge. i'll Nir-
e1nia. opposite Washington (early in the
second year of the rebellion. and among
the privatcs in Company - was II Young
man of twenty. who had been found one
night asleep at his post Of sentry.
lie was arrested. tIicd by court mar
tial, convicted. and ordered 10 he shot for
this offence.
This soldier had been out on picket
duty on the night previous 10 that on
which he was unluckily caught sleeping
nj his post. and thus. by army re3ula-
tions. he Was exempt from being called 10
perform guard duty ON the occasion re
fcrred To-
But the comradc whose turn it WAS TO
serve was sick. and young p yolun-
tccrcd i'll the others place, and fell INTO II
doZc, from wcarincss.
As court -martlals are commonly insti-
tutcd To- ccnrict, rather than to crDHcrdf,,
this aforementioned fact was either not
made known or it went unnoticcd, and
poor p was doomed
The adiutant Of the regiment knew nll
the facts. and he obtained leave for II day
and hurried f. Washington, where he
waited "n President Lincoln. and begged
him to- uirr,..h,' IN -. b,ii;tif
1 4.
day, 1T noon, the condemned man WIS
marched to the field Of execution. His
%rayr had been ding, the regiment had
been formed INTO II hollow square, the
chaplain had finished his final PRAYER,
and the file of soldiers had advanced IN
front Of poor L -, who stood. pale and
trembling, beside his rude coffin. await
ing their shot, when an officer upon It
horse came, ut Il fierce gallop rushing
upon the scene, with rcpricvc
The announcement was made III n loud
voice by the rider. when th" cuprit fell
lu the earth, scnsrless, ms wild shout of
Joy rang forth from the sturdy lungs of
hls Thousand electrified companions in
arms.
The President gave the matter aiicn-
tiun ut his earliest moment uf leisure. but
had NOT reached the ease until about one
hour before the time SGT for thc t.Accu-
iiun. Then, summuniug an aide. lac
despatched linn Ia the scene, ordering II
stay Of proceedings, while he trl'Eraphcd
Il similar urder in army headquarters
which idH'r message did not reach Tia,
regiment until IT would have been too
! late. but for the service of the aide.
The young man waa afterwards fully
| par,luncd and restored to duty.
Mr.. Lincoln took his carriage the next
morning, and accompanied 10y Mrs Lin
coin, visited the headquarters of Tia,
The Third Regiment; While there, ht
sat convcrsng with the commander and
another soldier had inst received IL t'lc
'his house Ind been burned the night
previously. and his child hnd been lost il
/ the ilamcs
! He was nnXious to obtain fIrlru"h {,
visit his home and afflicted wife, but army
rule would not permit. He applied IL
his company captain. obtained printed
blank, filled it hastily, and rushing t,
/ Lincoln IS presence. placed tins and his
/ despatch in the Presidents hands. i'm
! pl"rlng him to approve.
''SIgm IT :" exclaimed Mrs. H.. in nj
earnest tone, as she read it. And hur
ricdly glancing at the two documents TIA,
/ kindhcnrtcd commander n-chief, with ,
/ pencil handed him 10y his wife, wrui,
quickly "iplr"rcd, A. LINCOLN :" ano