Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-07-29

he called again without receiving an
answer. Then he roughly shook the
picket, who in dazcd and bewildered
sort of way came to his senses, and
then it was discovered that Beckwith
had been sleeping at his post. He was
standing almost erect, but was leaning
slightly on his gun, the butt of which
was placed between his feet.
OF course there had to be court
martial. BecIwith, when called to
make his defense, said that when he
went on the post he found that he was,
to use his expression, almost killed
with sleep" To keep awake he walked
rapidly back and forth, pinched him
self, and suffered every terror lest he
should, before he became aware of it,
succumb to drowsiness. At last he
heard what he thought was a noise and
stopped to listen, and that was the last
he remembered until he was awakened
by the corporal of the guard. He said
he must have fallen asleep as suddenly
as if he had become unconscious by u
blow. He did not plead for mercy, but
simply told his story, and everyone who
heard it knew he told the truth.
But there was no help for him. He
had been caught sleeping at his post
and in the face of the enemy, and he
was convicted and sentenced to be shot
1t was plain that the officers, although
they appeared to be stern, would be
secretly rejoiced if the president failed
to approve the sentence, and one or
two of Becliwith's friends, getting brief
leaves of absence, went to the nearest
telegraph station and sent a message
to his father. stating that Herbert had
been court-martialed and would be
shot as soon as the president approved
the sentence. Within an hour Mr.
BeclSwith was closeted with Gov. Buck
ingham, and within two hours the gov
ernor, laying aside his great cares, was
on his way to Washington. He saw
President Lincoln, told him that Her
bert had been Sunday-school scholar
of his, that he was true as steel, and in
sisted that there must be some eXtenu-
.ating circumstances. Mr.. Lincoln was
much affected, and the next day when
he received the report of the court
martial and read summary of young
Beckwith's statement he turned to
Buckingham with tears in his eyes and
said: Governor, / should feel like a
murderer if i approved this sentence
on these papers. / will not approve it.
but will send for some one who knows
the facts SO that can learn more about
it." Three days later Becltwith, who
was in the guard house, was called
upon by an officer who simply said
Herbert, the president has pardonet
you Go back to your company and re
port yourself"
During the rest of the peninsula cam
paign, and especially at the battle o.
Atietam and Gettysburg, young Beck
with showed himself so good soldier
that he was promoted AT Fredericks
burg he displayed remarkable courage
In the charlottesville campaign h,
was taken prisoner and was removed Il
Andcrsonville, where he remained nin
months. Exchanged at the end of tina
time, he, with other living skeletons, wa
brought north by transport and place.
In the hospital at Baltimore. His rea
son was dethroned. His weight wa
not over ninety pounds, although |
was one hundred and fifty when h
went into the army, and the surgeon
said the poor fellow would die, for hi
vitality had been sapped. One morning
the nurse ana TWO OF his ianllly irlenus
who were with him trying to coax hin
back to life, were amazed to see hin
open his eyes with the glance of con
sciousness in them. He asked in whis
per where he was, and they told MIN
and smile played on his lips as thoug
he was rejoiccd to be under the old fla
again. lie made a sign and the nurse
bending over him, heard him, whisper
PUT me where can see the flag," an
they drew his cot near windoy
through which he could see the cam
hng floating upon staff. A look @