Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-08-09
Mrs. Lincoln's Brother,


When the war broke out, Mrs. Lincoll
had two brothers, DR.. Todd and San
Todd, residing in New Orleans and in
business there. DR.. Todd was early APP.
pointed surgeon in the confederate army
and, we believe, came to Virginia.
Young Sam Todd was gay and happy
youth, not over 80, of good social stand
ing aud pleasant address, handsome in
person, very popular, and III every re.
spect manly fellow. He was, of course,
known as the brother-in-la Of the Presi.
dent or 'Old Abe" as he was generally
called; but being an ardent southerne1
that did not affect his relations with his
friends. In Marcel, 1852, wien Beauregard
was appointed to the west and sent out to
stay the progress of the federal army
under Grant and Sherman through Ken
lucky and Tennessee, he made q call
upon Louisiana, his native state, to
come to his aid. This was promptly re-
sponded by several thousand young
men of New Orleans, of all grades of
society, who eagerly volunteered, and
among the number was young Sam
Todd. He enrolled himself in the Cries.
cent Regiment. A month after voluu-
teering the great battle of Shiloh was
fought. On the day before that battle
the writer and others gave ga dinner"
to some half dozen of their personal
friends of the Crescent Regiment, WASH
lngton Artillery, Seventh Texas, ETC.,
and Sam Todd was one of the favorite
guests. Jovial Sam Todd! Who that
ever knew him can never forget him!
All soul, all fun, and all fire, too! They
separated for the march, and the next
day were all in the midst of battle by
sunrise. The first day went merrily
enough for our side. It was delightful
game of baseball, and, though the bat
tie was fierce, desperate, and holly con-
tested, when night came we had scored
great victory.
The night was a fearful one; we slept
on the field in most drenching rain
storm that was ever experienced, accom-
panied by some of the very loudest thun-
der, which could only be distinguished
from the roar of the columbiads fired at
intervals on the gun boats by the fact
that the first was harmless but the latter
beng loaded their shrieking shell and
ringing shot caused our fellows often
to change the logs selected for their
pillows.
Betime in the morning of the Tth we
were all up and in line, but rested
while to cook breakfast before advancing.
While engaged over a pot of boiling
Patatoes, while SOMEBODY else was pre-
pairing coffee, surrounded by many of
the staff and the correspondents of
Beauregard's army proper, the Louisi-
ana and Texas men, a young fellow in
the uniform of the Crescents came up
and expressed the wish for Zone of them
murphys when they were DONE" Turn
ing and recognizing our friend TODD, we
grasped his hand and congratulated him
upon his good fortune in the fight; for
although the Crescents were in reserve
they had yet participated largely in the
battle, and it was the leading regiment
ID the capture of Prentiss and his men,
its Colonel, Marshall J. Smith, of Nor
folk, receiving his sword; but the next
moment number of round shot came
plupging over the field, one of which
overturned our potato pot, and the Or
der was to fall in at once, as the enemy
was advancing III force. It was the new
troops of Buell. and Nelson, and we were
at once holly engaged. Sam Todd reg
iment was thrown to the front prompt
y, soon followed by ours, when almost
the first object we met was the lifeless
body of poor Sam, Mrs. Linsoln's broth
er with a bnllet hole in his forehead!
Driven back and still back, our dead
were left on the disastrous field for
Grant to bury; and among those who
shared those grim and hasty funeral
rites there was no better man or more
devoted soldier Of the confederacy than
this gallant young brother of the ''Lady
of the White House"