The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-10-27
Lees Life Spared by a Scout.

| life to the lenlency OF Thomas W.
Burton, a well-to-do farmer, of Ra-
cine County. Burton enlisted in an
Ohio regiment at the beginning of the
war. He was an expert woodsman
and crack shot. He 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 Rich
mond commended him for the duties
of scout, and carly in 1862 he re-
ceived orders to report for special
duty. He served as scout until
wounded at Charlottesville, in May,
1863. He was discharged, and few
years later came to Wisconsin, and
engaged in farming. He attended the
G.. A. R. encampmcnt at Buffalo, and
related the story of Gen. Lees es-
cape from death to the group OF vet
erans in the smoking car.
"Yes," he said, II could have
killed Lee as easily as boy would
knock a trapped woodchuck in the
head. But I didn't. 1t was early in
the war-the day that Lee took COM
mand of the Confederate army in Vir-
ginia-and the death at that time OF
the ablest leader Of the Rebel forces
might have had powerful effect on
the fate of the Confederacy. Lee sat
on horse not over twenty feet from
where lay concealed behind log.
For FIVE minutes my rife covered his
heart and my fingers rested on the
trigger. might have shot him dead
and could have escaped without
trouble, but I didn't. Lee was a
great man, and have been thankful
always that I did not shoot.
"Did Lee ever know Of fhis eseape?'
asked man with 9Th Wisconsin ar
tillery badge pinned on his lapel.
eyes. After the war | wrote. to
him about It. He sent me this let
ter" and Mr.. Burton produced sheet
Of paper yellowed by age, the writing
faded and barely legihle. It bore the
signature: "R. E. Lee" and was as
follows.
"R1cHMoND, Va, February1, 1866.
"T. w. BURTON, RAc1NE-DEAR
SIR: Your favor Of goth ultimo at
hand. I think I remember the day
which you refer. Ihad,. on the day
previous, taken command of the
troops &C. S. Az about Richmond,
and, in company with Gen. G. W.
| Smith, whom I succeeded, made a per
sonal examination of the field. do
not doubt your statement, and while
(several wol IS here illegible) God, I
thank you. Cordially,
"R. E. LEE"
"After the battle Of Seven Pines,
Mr.. Burton began his story, "our troops
took up position on both sides Of
| the Chickahominy, our left reaching
into Chickahominy swamp. J. was at
tached to Gen. "Si'" ,Casey's .divis-
ion, of Keyes's corps, as a scout, and
had spent several, days in working
through the Big Chickahominy
| swamp. One afternoon was June
2 or 3, I think-I was in the swamp
between our lines and the Rebs. A
| little creek ran through the swamp
and into the Chickahominy. | had
sat down on log behind a sumao or
some other small bush, when I heard
something moving through the. bushes
on the other side of the stream. l
dropped down behind the log and
swung my rifle over, cooking it, and
as I did so two men in gray rode into
plain view. At "a glance l knew one
to be Lee, and the other l surmised
correctly, it appeared lafer-was
Gen. Smith. Joe johnson had been
wounded in the fight Of Seven Pines,
and Smith had succeeded him, and
Lee, we knew, in turn, had succeeded
| Smith. And I held the lives of both
of them-one, at least-in my hand.
"The Confederate leaders rode out
of the bushes and down to the edge OF
the brook and let their horses drink.
They we're talking earnestly, and l
heard Stuart's name mentioned.
They probably were discussing plans
for the raid his cavalry made around
us few days later.
s'Well, Lee and Smith sat on their
horses and talked. My rifle sights
covered a spot on Lees gray coat, di-
rectly over his heart. Then | thought
I'd get the two in line and kill them
both. Twice Ipressed the trigger to Kill
both. Why didn't L? l thought OF
n;fo ond hobos hack i'm Ohi0-and