The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-26
LEES LIFE SPARED By SCOUT.
wisconsin Soldier whose Thought or Homo In.
spired Mercy.
From the Ati,raukes Sentinel.

From the Mitcaukes Ssrtfnei.
Gen. Robert Z. Lee, the Confederate COM
mander, owed many years Of life to the leniency
Of Thomas w. Burton, a well.to-do farmer of
Racine county. Burton enlisted in an Ohio
regiment at the beginning of the war. He
was an expert woodsman and a crack shot.
and had lived in Virginia several years In the
ffties. His experience in woodcraft and
knowledge Of the country adjacent to the
James River and around Richmond COM
mended him for the duties of a scout, and early
in 1852 he received orders to report for special
duty. He served as scout until wounded at
Chancellorsville in May, 1858. He was dis
charged, and a few years later came to Wis
consin and engaged in farming. He attended
the G. A. r. encampment at Buffalo. and re-
lated the story OF Gen. Lees escape from death
to the group of veterans in the smoking car.
Yes" he said. Il could have killed Lee as
chuck in the head. But / didn't. 1t was
early, in the Wharf.-The day that Ice took com
mand, Of the Confederate Army Of Virginia
and the death at that time Of the ablest leader
OF the rebel forces might have had a powerful
effect on the fate of the Confederacy. Lee sat
on a horse not over twenty feet from where l
lay concealed behind a log. For Ave minute 5
my rife covered his heart and my fingers rest.
dead and could. have escaped without trouble,
but didn't. Lee was a great man. and l
have been thankful always that I did not
Did Lee ever KNOW Of his escaper' asked
me man with the sixth Wisconsin Artillery
Yes. After the war / wrote to him about
it. He sent me this letter." and Mr.. Burton
signature: "R. E. Lee" and was as follows:
"RIcHMoSD, Va. Feb. l, 1866.
hand. ! think I remember the day to which
taken IN % the troops &C. s. A. about
Richmond. and in company with Gen. G. w.
Smith; whom ! sucssedcd; made a personal ex.
statement. and while several words here illeci.
bleI God. I thank you. Cordially. r.. f. LEE"
After the battle OF Seven Pines Mr.. Burton
on both sides Of the Chickahominy. our left
reaching into Chickshominy swamp, Twas at.
corps as a scout, and had spent several DAYS in
working through the big Chickahominy swamp.
was in the swami between our lines and the
into tho Chickahominy. had sat down on a
when heard something moving through the
bushes on the, o,her side of the stream. l
rife over, cooking ii, and as I did SO two men
IN gray rode, into plain, view. AT. a glance I
Correctly. it a spp pear ID" Iater1 Us~sF G s1tP smi1h.
Joe Johnson had been wounded in the fight OF
Lee. we knew. in turn. had succeeded Smith.
and ! held the lives Of both OF them-one, at
least in my hand.
and down 10 the edge of the brook and let their
horses drink. They were talking earnestly. and
! heard Stuart's name mentioned. They prob.
ably were discussing plans for the raid his cav
airy made around us q few days later.
We'll, Lee and Smith sat on their horses and
talked. My rife sights covered a spot on Lees
gray coat directly over his heart. Then I
thought I'd get the two in line and kill them
both. Twice ! pressed the trigger to kill Lee.
and once ] started 10 pull TO kill both. WHY
didn't II I thought OF my wife and babes back
in Ohio-and then Of Lees dear ones. Tears
came into my eyes, and when l got the mist out
OF them the party was riding away. II would
have, beer. murder, and, praise God. my hands
are clean"