Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-01-10
WROTE TO LINCOLN.
SAVED THE LIFE OF HER CON-
DEMNED FATHER.
Lincoln's Kind Heart Could Not With
stand tho Piteous Appeal for Mercy
From the Hand of the Delinquent
soldiers Daughter.

CereSUeu IN looking over fle oil the
Washington Chronicle for the year
1864, commencing the first day of the
month. writes ID. Turner to the
Washington Post. / found many
paragraphs of great interest-troops
marching to the front. battles that
had just occurred, capture of Confer
crate soldiers, arrival OF refugees, ar
rest of spies, and blockade runners
and deserters from both armies north
and south; all of which brought back
fresh to memory dear" many Incl
dents that happened ut that time, the
truth of which | could vouch for, be-
ing an eye witness, or near enough to
get personal knowledge of the
thrilling events which transpired dur
ing the month of January, 1864.
Under the caption c. --latest from the
Potomac" my eye caught brief para
graph, which | read with special en-
terest. Here's the miniature record:
1.-The sentence of death for deser-
ton in the case of James w. Clifton,
John Nilsson, Ira Smith, and Allan &.
Mason have been approved by the
president, and the execution fixed for
Friday, the Doth inst"
James w. Clifton, Sixth New Jer-
sey, was the fortunate one who re-
ceived executive clemency. He was
the husband of II worthy and affec-
tionate wife and the father OF five
children, their ages ranging from to
II years. The mother, on receiving
the dreadful news, at the earliest pos
sible moment left her little ones in
charge of kind friends and boarded the
first train for Washington, with de-
termination TO throw herself at the
feet of the great and good man pos
sessed of the power to take tho lives
of all offenders.
Tho distressed woman arrived at
Washington alone, without friend to
aid or guide her, to the executive
mansion or to the capital when per-
chance she found u friend indeed in
the person OF the fair Portland cor
respondent, and as she has told the
story far better than anyone else can
tell | will transcribe her narrative
without further comments:
1T was now Wednesday, the 9th,
aud the next Friday, the 29th, was
the fatal day. About 10 o'clock u
gentleman of my acquaintance came
to my room saying there was wo-
man below whose husband was con-
demned to be shot, and couldn't do
something to help her. The woman
was indeed there and IN great dis
tress, for her husband was one OF the
doomed four. He had deserted, and,
what was still worse, this was the
second time he had attempted to join
his family, and another circumstance
"a doubtful position--he had done so
while excited with drink. The wife
and mother had already tried to get
an audience with the president till
heart and hope had failed her. The
next thought was to get an interview
with the private secretary, and we
soon gained admission to that great
man.
"'Do you think we can get an inter
view If we waltz
Madam, / cannot tell
THAT was all the great man said,
and we left his august presence pro.
foundry convinced that he was the
most important parsonage upon the
premises, except, perhaps, the lackey
who first met us at the door. We re-
turned TO our place in the waiting
room, and seeing a female servant
crossing the hall, / asked:
"'Will you carry card to Mrs
Lincoln?'
"'You cannot see her; she is sick. ;
81 do not wish to see her Will
you carry her cardP
1.-The servant asserting, penciled
few words upon card, the purport
of which may be guessed. At length
Secretaries Chase, Seward and Stan
ton came out, so / knew the cabinet
meeting was over. And now, is 1t
possible, the usher approached us:
+" Have you a letter for the presi-
dent?'
Il handed him one, the letter of a
little child, the daughter OF the con-
demned. II was the child's own
thought, as she had written it without
prompting or aid, and while the presi-
dent is reading it you may do the
same:
ITO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRE>IDENT OF
THE UNITED STATEs-Most Honored and Elk.
cellent Sir: How shall child like me attempt
TO write to you on such business as this, con.
corning my father, who Is sentel ced-oh, how
can / wr.te-to be shot Spare his poor life,
beseech yon, and many thanks shall be given
you II his life is taken mother cannot stand
hat nd yytl w alsn II m
the eldest OF five children; have three sisters
under years OF a O. Do not leave US father.
less beseech you ! would freely give my
life to save his VIRGINIA CLIFTON
1.-The usher soon returned, the door
that seemed as adamant opened before
us, and with bewildered feeling we
entered. The president was sitting
near table and nearly facing the
door, and greeted us politely. l
noticed traces OF tears upon his
checks, and his voice, too, betrayed
emotion.
:" Mr.. President / said, with what
steadiness | could command the hus-
band of this lady is sentenced to be
shot, as you have learned from the
letter, and we have come to ask you
to spare his life. Mems lives are get
ting to be precious.
- Il know it, but ! must do some
Al I'll L.lf II