Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-02-21
The Sleeping Sentinel.

The story of President Lincoln ana
the Vermont hoy sentenced to be
shot for sleeping at his post has
never been told more graphically
than in L. L. Chittenden's new book
entitled "Recollections of President
Lincoln" published by Harper Broth
ers. The young man, William Scott,
was not yet INJURED to camp life and
had volunteered to take the place OF
sick comrade detailed for picket
duty The next night Scott was ap'
pointed to the same duty, but found
il impossible to keep awake two
nights in succession. His comrades
set about saving him, and went to
| T incoln to intercede for his life. The
Young man was allowed to plead for
his own life.
Scott's own version Of the affair is
as follows;
The President was the kindest
man I had ever seen. | knew him at
once by a Lincoln medal l had long
worn. I was scared at first; but MIR,
Linec!a was so easy with me, and so
gentle, that ! soon forgot my fright
He asked me all about the people at
home, the neighbors, the farm, and
where I went to school, and who my
scbooImates were. Then he asked
me about mother, and how she looked
and 1 was glad l could take her pho
tograph from any bosom and show 1t
to him. He said how thankful l
ought TO be that my mother still
lived, and how, if he were in my
place. he would ivy TO make her a
prond mother, and never Saaks heF
sorrow OF q tear. I cannot remember
it all, but every Word was so kind!
"He had said Rsthipg yet abon'
that dreadful next morning. tth9pgh'
if must be that he was 80 kind heart
ed that he didn't llkS 10 speak of it
But why did he sAy SO much Abeu
nv mother, and my not causing PEI
sorrow or a tear, when I know tina
7 must die the next morning? But
5 supn9sed that was something tina
would have no be explained; and 81
= | determined to hEsee up aud tel
4 him that did not feel y lalt guilty
o and ask him wouldn't he fix it 50 tt'nR
o the firing party would not be fror
n our regiment. That WAS going to b
the hardest of ALTO die at the RG2d
of my comrades. just as 1 was g
o ing to ask him this favor be stood VI
" and he says to me, My hoy, stand u
g, here and look me in the faee,' l. al
10 as he babe me. My boy he SAL
on are not going to be shot to mo
J v l believe you when you tell n
&c., ga, ,,ould not keep awake
st s am going SGn to t. ust you and send y'
y back to your F ',s.4 1 n', Of trouble
Ne your account. had to con- up Ut
A from Washington when 4 he'd q IL
n deal to do; and what / want TO knt
er is, how you are going to pay my Dill
ry There was big lump IN my tnfo'
is T cou,d scarcely speak. l had
he pected to die, you see, and had kl
he Of got used to thinking that way
i've have 1t all changed in minute! 1
I'VE I got it crowded down and manas
at to say: 4 am grateful, MIR. Llnce
,od I hope am rs grateful as ever n
ind can be to you for saving my life
ap- it comes upon me sudden and un
The pected-hke. l did not lay out io'
in at all. But there is some way to
g to vou and | will find it after a III
am- There is the bounty in the saw
lar. bank. guess we could borrow s.
lries money on the mortgage of the ia
hon. There was my pay was sometn
vet and if he would wait till pay da'
But was sure the boys would help
God thought we could make it Up l
him wasn't more than five or six hum
Life, dollars. But it Is great deal
THIS than that he said. Then l sa'
nd it didn't Just see how, but l was su
Dir. would find some way-lf l lived
Then MIR. Lincoln put his b
on my shoulders, and looked int
face AS If he WAS sorry, and SAID
,r;t;sh how. nv bill is a very large one,
Will friends cannot pay 1t, nor your DO