The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-29
The Story OF Herber, Beck with.

They were speaking at one of the camp fires
OF a Grand Army post in this city Of the offence
which President Lincoln gave sometimes to
Secretary Stanton and tho Generals by tho
clemency which he showed to those sentenced
Ivy court martial to the death penalty.
And yet" ono grizzly veteran said. Lin
coin seldom made n mistake in showing this
clemency. Everybody has heard the story of
the Vermont boy who was sentenced to be
shot and who was pardoned by Lincoln after
his mothers intcrcossion. and how he became
a brave soldier and died after showing SPLEEN
did courage on one OF the battlefods
in tho Virginia swamps. can tell you
another story which matches that, ana
W"isednr has never yet been in nrn,;
BeeIwiih went iiom tho lish ' School Of Of his
native town into one of the New York rcgi-
ments early in the war He came Of eXcellcnt
necticut's war Governor buckingham and he
rructnnty ut the hoy g into the army. ierl-
Hrh"r s nn Of Tp the r is to o 10 'Inr
coins cali. iounE Ncckwith pleaded 80 hard
that his father gave him his blessing ana told
him to Toe brave soldier. and always to bear
in mind amid the temptations Of the camp.
the lesson he had received IN his home.
Beckwith. though mere lad. was model
soldier. never shrkin.; and gained the favor
Of his officers and the friendship Of his com
panions: There had been lighting. steadily Tor
and for two nights BrcHwlth had had scarcely
any sleep. One night he did not sleep at all.
SO utterly tagged out that he, could
sGaFsey see wen nacTd on nost At mid
OF the guard saw Bcckwith Standing notion
loss; The customary Challenge was not sent
was no response. and approaching Bcckwith
he cal ed again without receiving any answer.
da.sl he 2S sort nS Pny sam mq 10 Bis
senses. and then it was discovered that Beck
with had been fleepinE on post: He was
slightly upon his gun, the butt Of which was
placed between hi, feet.
"0f course. there had to DO 2 court martial;
tlnt he vas to use % his eXpr"S,iop almost
RAPIDLY back and forth, pnched himself. and
suffered every terror and horror lest he should.
before he became aware {; 81 it, sucG,umb to his
though he would iaiI At last no heard what
he thought was noise and stopped to listen.
iie, said that 10 must tavo fallen asleep rs
but Simply told n that story. and everyone Who
heard it, knew he told the truth.
"But there was no help for him. He had
been caught sleeping on post and IN the face
Of tho enemy. and he was CONVICTED and sen
To De s tney 10 be the
would be secretly reJoic-d il the President
failed to approve tn" sentence. and ono or two
Of Becn witti's friends. getting brief leaves Of
absence. won't to the nearest telegraph station
and sent a message t. his father, stating that
he shot as soon as the President approved Tho
closetoI with GOV. - ckinGham. and with n
he e%rss was on way 70 aaS
lIe saw Prasiicnt Lincoln. tod him That
as sie"l. and insist"a that there must 10 soma
tia next day Wien was ho very
cciyed tho report OF the court martial and road
also a summary Of Young Brckwith's state
sn nyh ne Thrice l a"sn" VIII shonl ies
like a murderer il approved this. sentence on
these rer VIII In nqi n anyr9tIb" s t. tnt M,I
/ Fan learn more about it. Three days later
iecE with. who was in the guard house. was
s;mp,y usaid: Herbert. tho President las par
doncd you. Go Lack to your company and re-
~" During the rest Of the Peninsula campaign
and especially ut the battles OF Antietam and
Gcttyshugg young, lieck wth showed himself
s url; he displayed remarkable comr.
age. la tho hancellolsville campaign he was
taken prisoner ana ns mio" NJ
oh nieo'l Mt tho end Of that time he, with other
living skeletons. WAS brought North ny trans
r was dethroncd. 10 weighed not over
ninety pounds, although he was 100 when ho
noor fellow would die. for his vitality had te"n
snrncd One morning the nurse and ono or two
OF hi family friends who were with him trying
him open his eyes WI, h the glance OF conscious
ness in them. lle asked in . whisper whrre ho
was and they told him, and smile played on
the Old nag aGan. Ho made a sign and tho
nurse, bcndns over him. heard him whisper:
Put mo where can seq tho nagn and lhoy
could sae tho camp hai. floating upon lis staff
A looS Of unuiteinbe 10Y cnme over tho boys
face, seeing which one of the attendants put u
ii,tie flag IN his hands. Bcckwith coul'i not
speak, but no tenderly drew the flag to his
lips. there was, a ,conyulsive sob or sigh. and