Connecticut western news., 1880-05-19
A STORY OF LINCOLN.
Further Instances of the Presidents Kind Interpretation in Behalf
 of Soldiers.

Here is story of Abraham Lincoln's kind-heartedness. The old Third Regi- ment of Vermont was stationed for awhile just beyond the Chain Bridge, in Vir- ginia, opposite Washington, and among the privates was 8 young man of twenty, who had been found one night asleep at his post of sentry. He was arrested, tried by rt-martial, convicted, and ordered to be shot for this offense. This soldier had been out on picket duty on the night previous to that on which he was unluckily caught sleeping at his post, and thus, by army regulations, he was exempted from being called to per form guard duty on the occasion referred to-. But the comrade whose turn it was to serve was sick, and young P- vol unteered in the others place, and fell into doze, from weariness.
 The Adiutant of the regiment knew all the facts, and he obtained leave for 8 day and hurried to Washington, where he waited on President Lincoln, and begged him to interpose in P-s' be- half. He was delayed, however, and next day, at noon, the condemned man was marched to the field of execution. His grave had been dug, the regiment had been formed into hollow square, the Chaplain had finished his final prayer, and the file of soldiers had ad- vanced in front of poor P-, who stood, pale and trembling, beside his rude cof- fin, awaiting their shot, when an officer upon horse came, at fierce gallop, rushing upon the scene with reprieve! The announcement was made in a loud voice by the rider, when the culprit fell to the earth, senseless, as wild shout of joy rang forth from the sturdy lungs of his thousand electrified companions in arms.
 The President gave the matter atten- tion at his earliest moment of leisure, but had not reached the case until about one hour before the time set for the exc cution. Then, summoning an aide, he dispatched him to the scene, ordering a stay of proceedings, while he telegraphed similar order to Army headquarters which latter message did not reach the regiment until 1t would have been too late but for the service of the aide. The young man was afterward fully par doned and restored to duty.
 MT. 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 an other soldier had just received tele- gram from Vermont informing him that 't his house had been burned the night previously and his child had been lost in the flames" He was anxious to obtain furlough to visit his home and afflicted wife, but army rule would not permit. He applied to his company Captain, ob- tained printed blank, filled it hastily, and, rushing to Lincoln's presence, placed this and his dispatch in the Pres ident's hands, imploring him to approve. "Sign it P exclaimed Mrs. Lincoln, in an earnest tone, as she read 1t. And, hurriedly glancing at the two documents, the kind-hearted Chief, with pencil handed him by his wife, wrote quickly, "Approved-A. Lincoln" and sent the humble soldier on his way rejoicing. It was but a few weeks later that the Presidents famous "General Order was published and sent through the Army of Virginia, putting stop to the shooting of condemned Union sol diers " "without the express sanction of the Commander-in-Ch Chief"