The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-29

and said: Governor. should feel like
| murderer if approved this sentence on
| these papers. / will not approve IT, put 1
will send for some one who knows the
/ facts so that can learn more about IL:
1 Three DAYS later Beckwith, who was In
| the guard house, was called upon by an
| officer, who was a friend, who Simply
said. "Herbert, the president has par
doned you. Go back TO your company
and report yourself
| During the rest of the Peninsula cam.
| paign-and especially at the battles OF
/ Antietam and Gettysburg--yOug BeckwIn
| showed himself so good soldier that he
| wa, promoted. At Fredericksburg he dis
| played remarkable courage. In the Chan-
| cellorsviie campaign he WAS taken prs
| oner and was removed to Andersonyiile,
| where he remained nine months. Elk
| changed at the end of that time he, with
| other living skeletons, was brought North
| by transport and placed in hospital at
baltimore; His reason was dethroned.
| although he was $50 when he went
| into the army, and the surgeons
| said the poor fellow would die, for
| his vitality had been Slapped. One morn
| ing the nurse and one or two OF his family
| friends, who were with him trying to coax
| him back to life, were amazed to see him
| open his eyes with glance of conscious
| ness in them. He asked in whisper were
he was and they told him, and smile
played on his lips, as though he was re-
joiced to be under the old dag again. He
made sign and the nurse, bending over
him, heard him whisper: "Put me where
can see the fiag!" and they drew his cot
near window, through which he could see
the camp flag floating upon its staff
look OF unutterable Joy came over the boys
face, seeing which one of the attendants
put little flag in his hands Beckwith
could not speak, but he tenderly drew the
flag to his lips, there was a convulsive sob
or sigh. and when they looked in his eyes
again they saw that he had passed away,
the flag for which he had fought pressed
caressngiy to his face.
President Lincoln was told of this Incl
dent afterward, and it affected him so
greatly that he could not control himself
and stepped from the library into an nd
joining room for few moments. When
he came back there were traces of tears on
his face.
ado you suppose Lincoln made any mis-
take when he pardoned that boy?"
THE LAST SOLDIER WHO WAS SHOT.
Visiting the historic field of Appomat-
tox some years ago. the writer was shown
over the country by gentleman living in
that town, who had been an eyewitness of
many of the scenes of that closing day OF
the war; as it practically was.
Said he: 81 suppose the last shot-at
least the last cannon shot of Lees army
was fired from my front doorstep. There
had been some mistake about the flag Of
truce. 1t was, as l remember it, an old
towel or napkin taken out by some one OF
group of officers who were sitting under
that apple tree yonder," and here the gen.
tleman pointed to an orchard upon the
easterly side of the Appomattox creek.
General Lee and his staff were sitting
there and he had already received the
communication from General Grant which
caused him to reach the determination to
capltulate. There was part of the Fed
erai army coming through those woods
yonder, and little battery of two pieces
was brought up and the guns numbered
and placed ready for action right here, ex-
actiy In front OF my doorstep. The Fed
erals evidently were not aware that
flag OF truce had gone out, and
the Confederates were determined
| to check their advance, for they,
too; had received no intimation OF
cessation of hostilities. The guns were
loaded and fired once, and then one of
them was loaded more speedily than the
other and, getting good aim, the gunner
discharged IL at what seemed to be group
OF officers. Before the other gun could be
fired the flag Of truce was seen, and, of
course, the engagement ended. I was told
afterwards that this was the last cannon
aiding Of the war;"
1t was something Of coincidence some
narrate an incident which happened IN
der his eye at Appomattox. He was lead
ing his brigade, he said, through the
woods, advancing to take position to
threaten Lees army. which was on the
crest of hill on the other side Of the APP
pomattox.
Word had not reached him of the flag of
truce. OF sudden he saw a battery of
two guns drawn up in front of brick
house, the object being plainly to check his
advance temporarily at least. Just as he
was preparing to charge upon the battery,
an aide came to him from General Custer.
announcing that flag of truce had been
sent out by General Lee and that hostilities
would be suspended. While he was receiv-
ing this news the Confederates attacked
with their battery, but did no damage. not
having range. Then, he said, one of
the gunsewas again discharged, and the
ball decapitated a young officer of his
brigade OF whom he was very fond, who
had been brave soldier and had fought
almost scathless for nearly two years.
The shock injured no one else, and the
firing was Immediately stopped, the Con-
federates having received instructions.
and they abandoned their guns and made
their way back to General Lees camp.
This officer was undoubtedly the last sol.
der killed of either side in Virginia, and
but for misapprehension he would have
been alive.
The writer being anxious to discover the
truth concerning the traditionary apple
tree OF Appomattox was escorted by Mr..
Hix, who was the owner of the field In
| which the apple tree was said to have
stood. Mr.. Hix led the writer through
the orchard to place where there was
considerable hollow in the ground and
then he told this story. He said: at is
too bad, perhaps, to spoil this tradition,
but 1t Is purely myth. General Lee
| came. up with his army and encamped
on that ridge you see yonder lust
back of that old farmhouse, and. by
the way. that was the home of Dan
Sweeney, who used to be famous in the
North as a negro minstrel Lee had
hoped TO get around by another road
80 as to get into Lynchburg, which is
practically an impregnable town, but
ne found that this could not be
done. Sheridan had cut off his retrea.
by all the roads. General Lee had also
received letters from General Grant sug-
costing the hopelessness of further hos
tilties, and when he saw Sheridan's army
beyond him he realized the truth of that
suggestion. | saw him ride down with
ms stan until they came nearly to the
brink OF the Appomattox creek They
halted right here, alongside of the orchard.
Then they dismounted and went into the
orchard, and somebody made rough seat
for General Lee out of fence rails. Hewas