The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-07-25
AN INTERESTING STORY.
A Grateful Father Remembers a Service
Rendered Twenty Years Ago.
Relair Times. WLu 17th.

DetdF 1tWes, 0uty liM'
There is an interesting story connected with
the gold watch and diamond studded chain which
was among the wedding presents received by
Miss Bessie Webster, daughter of Col. E. II. Web
ster, this week. Twenty years or more ago when
Col. Webster was q member of Congress, he was
called upon one Wednesday morning at his hotel
in Washington by fine looking middle-aged
gentleman, from Baltimore, who was accompa-
MED by refined young woman and her baby.
These last were the wife and child of the gentle
mans son, and all were in great distress. The
old gentleman stated that his son, who was con-
nected with leading business house, was some
what wild at times, and that while on business
trip to a distant city he had given way to his in
clination for dissipation. While in condition
that he hardly knew what he was about the
young man joined regiment which passed
through for the front, and when his sober senses
returned to him he found himself in the trenches
in front of Petersburg, an enlisted soldier. He
wrote to his wife, but enjoined her to keep the
news of his whereabouts from his father, who
supposed his son was engaged in his ordinary
business pursuits. The wife wrote TO her husband
urging him to come back home. He replied that
he c6aid not; he was bound by the obligations of
a soldier. A second letter from his wife informed
him that she was sick, and again urged him to
return. His reply was that he was bound by his
duties and could not come. A third letter was
sent him. The baby was i'll now, and if he loved
his wife and child he would come. The young
man, rendered desperate by these appeals of his
wife, made his way into the Confederate lines
and in accordance with Lees proclamation, issued
shortly before, was permitted to return to his
home. At the Relay House he was arrested as
deserter sent back to the front, tried by court
martial and condemned to be shot with six others.
When this news reached the father it the
first intimation he had of his sons whereabouts.
This was Wednesday, and the young man was to
be shot on Friday.
Col. Webster at once started with the distress
ed people to see Mr. Lincoln. But two days re-
manned, and communication with the front was
uncertain, and whatever could be done must be
done quickly. When the party were admitted to
the Presidents Office at the White House, Mr..
Lincoln, with friendly greeting to Col. Webster,
walked at once over to the young woman and be-
gan to make friends with the baby. Being told
that they were "come upon serious business"
the President resumed his seat at his desk and
prepared to listen. The young mother busted
herself with her baby, and the old gentleman said
never word, but stood erect in the floor with the
tears streaming down his face, while Col. Webster
told the story and pleaded With u the
Festigate the case. The baby cried and the
mother sank down at the Presidents feet and
hushed it, saying brokenly that "father was to be
shot on Friday" As the story was told Mr.. Lin
coin took up his pen, to order suspension of the
sentence but when Col. Webster felt constrained
to state that the condemned man had deserted to
the enemy's lines, he dropped his pen. "That
was death in all cases; he could not interfere"
But the story was continued; the baby's illness
and the mothers piteous pleading with the SOL
der father to come to them greatly moved the
President and he at length consented to interfere.
81 will see what can be done," he said, and the
party LETT the White House.
Thursday passed On Friday morning Col.
Webster was called upon in the House of Repre-
sentativss by the Presidents private secretary
and asked to go to see the President. As he en-
tered thu Presidents room, Mr.. Lincoln said,
"Here is dispatch thought you would like to
see." 1t was from the front, and read:
"Private Bias been pardoned and restored
to the ranks. U. S. GRANT"
The newspapers of the next day reported the
execution of six men for desertion in front of Pc
tersburg, and added that "Private B-had been
pardoned by the General of the Army"
The young man whose escape from an ignomin-
ious death was narrow, is now dead the baby
has grown to womanhood and is the wife of
cessful New York merchant; and the old gentle
man, by this beautiful and costly present, shows
that he still gratefully remembers the service that
Congressman Webster rendered him 20 years and
more ago.