Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-02
MRS. LINCOLN'S BROTHER.
HIs Tragic Death Mt the Battle Of
Shiloh.
Richmond lYd.l State.


When the war broke out, Mrs. Lincoln
had two brothers, DIR. Todd and Sam Todd,
residing In New Orleans aud in business
there. DR.. Todd was early appointed
surgeon in the Confederate army, and, we
believe, came to Virginia. Young Sam
Todd was gay and happy youth, not over
thirty, of good social standing and pleasing
address, handsome In person, very popular,
and in every respect a manly fellow. He
was, Of course, known as the brother-!n law
OF the President, or cold Abe" as he was
generally called; but being an ardent South
erner that did not affect his relations with
his friends. In March, 1862, when
Beauregard was appointed to the
West aud sent out to stay the progress
OF the Federal army under Grant and sher.
man through Kentucky and Tennessee, he
made call upon Louisiana, his native
State, to come to his aid. This was prompt
lY responded to by several thousand Young
men OF New Orleans, of all grades of socie-
", who eagerly volunteered, and among
the number was young Sam Todd He en-
rolled himself in the Crescent Regiment.
month after volunteering the great battle of
Shiloh was fought. On the day before that
battle the writer and others gave "a din
ner" to some half dozen of their personal
friends of the Crescent Regiment, Wash
iugton Artillery, Seventh Texas, etc, and
Sam Todd was one of the favOrite guests.
Jovial Sam Todd! Who that knew him
can ever forget hint All soul, all fun. and
all fire, toe! They separated for the march,
and the next day were all in the midst of
battle by sunrise. The first day went mer-
rily enough for our side. 1t was a delight
ful game OF base ball, and, though the bat
tie was fierce, desperate and hotly contest
ed, when night came We had scored a great
victory.
That night was a fearful one, and we
slept on the field in the most drenching
rain storm that was ever experienced, &C
companied by some of the very loudest
thunder, which could only be distinguished
from the roar of the columbiads fred at In
tervals on the gunboats by the fact that the
first was harmless. but the latter being
loaded their shrieking shell and rolling shot
caused our fellows often to change the logs
selected for their pillows.
Betimes on the morning of the 9TH, we
were all up and in line, but rested for q
while TO cook breakfast before advancing.
While engaged over pot of boiling pota-
toes, while somebody else was preparing
coffee, surrounded by many of the staff and
the correspondents OF Beauregsrd's army
proper, the Louisiana and Texas men, a
young fellow in the uniform of the Ores
cents came up and expressed q wish for
lone of them murphys when they were
done" Turning 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 vet
participated largely in the battle, and It
was the leading regiment in the capture Of
Prentiss and his men, its Colonel, Marshall
J. Smith of Norfolk, receiving his sword
but the next moment a number OF round
shot came plunging over the field in which
we were assembled, one of which over
turned our potato pot, and the order was to
fall in at once as the enemy were advancing
IN force. 1t was the new troops of Buell.
and Nelson, and we were at once holly en-
gagged. Sam Todd's regiment was thrown
to the front promptly, soon followed by
ours, when almost the first object that met
US as we passed over the field, was the life
less b0iy of poor Sam, Mrs. Lincoln's
brother, with a bullet hole in his forehead.
Driven back, and still back, our dead were
all left on the disastrous field for Grant to
bury; and among those who shared these
grim and hasty funeral rites there was no
better man or more devoted soldier to the
COnfederacy than this gallant young brother
OF the "Lady of the White House"