Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-06-13
SAVED AT THE LAST MOMENT.
A Detective Story of the war and President
Lincoln

Detective Carter tells story of the saw
ing OF his brother-in-law' life during the
rebellion says the Washington Star. The
person whose life was spared was Charles
H. Scott, who has since died. In 1860,
when Scott was still'a boy, =" said the detec-
tive tC 4 reporter. he was learning black
smlthing at little place called Annandale
III Fairfax county, Va. He became dis
satisfied with his country home and work
shop and enlisted in the Union army. He
was with General Twiggs in Texas when
the latter surrendered his small army to
the opposing forces and himself Joined
their forces. Young Scott refused to go
with the enemy and was consequently made
a prisoner. He was afterward exchanged
when Gen. Banks was on the Red river.
Scott fought CALAMITY in the battles in
which he participated, and was afterward
transferred to the English regulars. I'm
der the command of General Mcclellan he
served in the Peninsular campaign and
took part in many battles Having be-
come a sergeant. he was sent in the early
part of 1864 to Johnsons island n Y.
with rebel prisoners.
While In New York he managed to get
separated from his comrades. and instead
of going to Johnson island he cot under
the influence of liquor. Some days after
wards he was arrested in New York city
as a deserter, and as such was sent to
Governor island. He had not been there
long before he was tried by court-marshaI
and sentenced to be shot
Although under sentence of death -
continued Detective Carter Il continued
to receive letters from him. but he did not
even intimate where he was. and |, of
course. was under the impression that he
was still doing regular duty. until one Sat
| urday night, | received a letter from him
IN which he stated his case and asked me
to do what | could for him. He asked me
to see President Lincoln and plead for his
life. | went out IN search of some one
who could get an audience with the presi-
dent and | met John H. Semmes, who
was then running for mayor. | stated to
him the case of my brorher-in-law Scott,
and asked him to Go what he could
Certainly, was his reply. and together
we went to the National hotel, where we
met Senator J H. Lane. who was an init
mate friend with the mayorality candidate
Tho senator was on his way to the sick
chamber of a friend hut agreed to go to
the white house and intarcede in behalf of
the condemned man.
1T was then after s o'clock Saturday
| night and Scott was to be shot on the fol-
lowing Monday morning. | called car
| rlage and IN a few minutes we reached
the white house. The senator card was at
once hOnOred and were we admittsd There
was a New York delegation occupying
| the presidents attention at the time
! President Lincoln was Just finishing a Joke
| when we entered and the New Workers
| had a good laugh, as though they enjoyed
| the president story.
When the senator approached the
| president the New Workers stepped back
and Mr.. Semmes and were introduced I
related the story of my brother-in-
laws arrest and sentence. After a brief
conversation the president had telegram
| sent to Gen. Dix. who was then in COM
nand In New York, instructing him not
| to inforce the sentence until the papers
| had been forwarded to Washington for ex-
animation, and, added the president III
assure you that the young man will not be
| shot unless he deserted in face of the
| enemy.
AT The direction of the president Mr..
SemmeS and myself returned to the execu-
| tive mansion the following day, which was
| Sunday. While we were waiting 10 see the
| president Secretary Stanton passed through
| the room, and in a couple of minutes the
president sent for US. He had a dispatch
in his hand, which he had received from
Gen. Dix, stating that under a general
order all persons in confinement charged
with military otfenses were entitled to dis
charge, and that Scott came under that
order. The president feelingIy assured US
that IN any case he would have spared
Scott life as he had done gallant service
and had not deserted when his services
were most needed Scott afterwards re-
enlisted and few years ago he died at
Little Rock, Ark. | still have the dis
patch, " concluded Detective Carter,
which was received by President Lincoln
from Gen. Dix.