The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-29
ANOTHER LINCOLN STORY.
Why He Came 20 Pardon Young Bsck-
with for Sleeping nj His Post.

Chicago Mail.
Four five theatrical men were having
in Manager William j. Davis,s office. yesteT-
day Among them were BILLY Crane. Sol
Smith Russell Bob Hiiard Paul ud Arthur
two Others Objection was taken TO the par
don of the ensign by President Lincoln in
reasonable-that Lincoln would not think Of
issuing a pardon to man condemned by
court martial.
show you. Lincoln's failing was issuing par
dons, and yet he rarely made a :, mistake take
in showing his clemency. Herbert Beckwith
went from the high school of his native
town into one of the New York regiments
early in the war. He came of excellent fam
oy as fdher w Was BucR
ingham, and he reluctantly let the
boy go into the, army. Beck
der. There had been fighting steadily for
four or five days in the Chickahominy
swamps. and for two nights Bs ,oHs h S.d
not sleep at all and the next not more than
two hours. On the third night he was on
picket duty, but was SO utterly tagged out
that he fell asleep. At midnight the officer
of the guard discovered that Beckwith had
been sleeping on post
"Of course there had to be court-rnar-
tial. Beckwith, when called TO make de-
Tense, said that when he went on the post
he found that he was, 10 use his express
sion, almost killed with sleep TO keep
awake he walked rapidly back and forth
pinched himself, and suffered every terror
and horror lest he should. before he be
came aware of IL, Succumb to his drowsi-
ness. He said that he must have fallen
asleep as suddenly as though he had be-
plead for mercy, but simply told that story,
and very one who heard 1t knew he told
the truth.
was convicted md sentenced to be shot. 1t
was plain that the officers. although they
appeared 10 be stern, would be secretly re-
If the and one or Mo of of
friends getting brief leaves of absence.
went to the nearest telegraph station and
Herbert had been court-martialed and
would be shot as soon as the President APP
Beckwith was closeted with Governor
Buckingham. and within two hours the
Governor, laying aside his great cares. was
on his way TO Washington. lie saw Presi-
dent Lincoln, told him that Herbert had
been Sunday-school scholar of his, a boy
who was as true as steel. and insisted that
there must be some extenuattng circum-
stances. Lincoln was very much affected,
and the next day, when he received the re-
port of the courr-rnartial, and read also
summary of young Beckwith's statement.
he turned to Buckingham with tears in his
eyes and said Governor. | should feel
on these papers. 1 will not approve it, but
/ will send for some one who knows the
facts SO that l can learn more about It.
guard house, was called upon by an officer
who was a friend. who simply said: Her
bert. the President has pardoned you. Go
back to your company and report yourself
During the rest OF the peninsula cam
paign. and especially at the battles of An
tietam and Gettysburg young Beckwith
showed himself so good a soldier that he
was promoted. At Fredericksburg he dis
played remarkable courage. In the Chan
cellorsville campaign he was taken pris-
and removed to Audersonville, where
he remained nine months. Exchanged at the
end OF that time, he. with other living skel-
etons. was brought North by transport and
placed IN hospital at Baltimore His rea-
son was dethroned. He weighed not over
ninety pounds, although he was $50 when
he went into the army. and the surgeons
said the poor fellow would die. One morn
ing the nurse and one or two of his fam
lily friends were amazed to see him open
in them. He asked in a whisper where ne
was. and they told him, and a smile played
on his lips, though he was rejoiced to
be under the old flag again. He made a
sign and the nurse. bending over him,
heard him whisper: Put me where / can
see the flag and they drew his cot near
window. through which he could see the
camp flag floating upon it's staff. a 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, and Her
bert Beckwith was dead.
do you suppose Lincoln made any mis-
take when he pardoned that boy?"