Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-06-03
E,NCOLY.k KIND HEARTED.
NESS.
Farther Instances Of His Kind
LnterpOsittOn in Behalf Of
Soldiers.

A
Lincoln's kind heartedness which has
never been published, that l am aware
of, but which will not be forgotten by
the "boys in blue" who originally went
to the war enrolled in the old Third
regiment of Vermont. The command
was stationed for while just beyond
the chain bridge, in Virginia, opposite
Washington (early in the second year Of
the rebelliOn), and among the privates
was a young man of twenty, who had
been found one night asleep at his post
OF sentry. He was arrested, tried by
court-martial, convicted and ordered to
be shot for this OffenSe. The soldier had
been out on picket duty on the night
previous to that on which he was un-
luckily caught sleeping at his post, and
thus, by army regulations, he was ex-
empt 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 vOlun-
teered in the others place, and fell into
a doze, from WEAKNESS.
The Adiutant of the regiment knew
all the facts, and he obtained leave for a
day and hurried to Washington, where
he waited on President Lincoln and
begged him to interpose in P's behalf.
He was delayed, however, and next day
at noon the condemned man was march
ed to the field of execution. His grave
had been dug, the regiment had been
formed into hollow square, the Chap
lain had finished his final prayer, and the
lile 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 horse came
at fierce gallop rushing upon the
scene with reprievel The announce
ment was made in 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 thou
sand electrified companions in arms.
The President gave the matter atten-
ton at his earliest moment of leisure,
but had not reached the case until about
one hour before the time set for the eX-
ecution. Then, summoning an aide, he
dispatched him to the scene, ordering a
stay of proceedings, while he telegraph
ed similar order to army headquarters
which latter message did not reach
the regiment until it would have been
too late but for the service of the aide.
The young man was afterward fully
pardOned and restored to duty.
MI Lincoln took his carriage the next
morning and, accompanied by Mrs. Lin
coin, visited the headquarters of the
Third regiment. While there he sat
conversing with the commander, and an
other soldier had just received a tele-
gram from Vermont informing him that
''his house had been burned the night
previously and his child had been lost in
the fames" He was anxious to obtain
a furlOugh to visit his home and afflicted
wife, but army rule would not permit.
He applied to his company captain, OBJ
tanned printed blank, filled it hastily
and, rushing to Lincoln's presence,
placed this and his dispatch in the
Presidents hands, imploring him to ap
prove.
"Sign itr' exclaimed Mrs. Lincoln in
an earnest tone, as she read it. And,
hurriedly glancing at the two documents,
the kind-hearted Commadder-in-chief,
with pencil handed him by his wife
wrote quickly, "Approved-A. LincOln,5
and sent the humble soldier on his way
rejoicing. 1t was but few weeks af
terward that the Presidents general
order" was published and sent through
the army of Virginia, putting a stop to
the shooting of condemned Union SOL
diers "without the express sanction of
the Commander-in-Chief' humane
act never to be forgotten.