The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-02
LEES LIFE SPARED.
Wisconsin Soldier Whose Thought
of Home Inspired Mercy.

Gen Robert E, Lee, the Confederate COM
mander, owed many years of life to the leni-
ency 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 crack
shot, and had lived in Virginia several years
in the 50s. His experience in woodcraft and
knowledge of the country adjacent to the
James river and around Richmond commended
him for the duties of a scout, and early in
1862 he received orders to report for special
duty. He served as scout until wounded at
Charlottesville, in May, 1863 He was dis
charged, and few years later came to Wis
consin and engaged in farming. He attended
the G. A. R. encamnment at Buffalo, and
related the story OF Gen. Lees escape from
death to the group of veterans in the smok-
Yes he said, 1T could have killed Lee
as easily boy would knock trapped
wcodchuck in the head. But didn't. 1t was
early in the war-the day that Lee 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 horse. not over twenty feet from
where I lay concealed behind log. For five
minutes my rife covered his heart, and my
fingers rested the trigger. I might have
shot hom dead and could have escaped with
out any trouble but didn't. Lee was great
man. and l have been thankful always that
I did not shoot"
''Did Lee ever know of his escape?" asked
the man with the Sixth Wisconsin artillery
badge pinned on his lapel.
Eyes. After the war l wrote to him about
it. He sent me this letter." and Mr.. Buc
ton produced sheet of paper ye.lowed by
age the writing faded AMI barely leai5le
1t bore the signature r. E. Lee, and was
as follows:
Richmond Va, Feb. l. 1867. w. Bur-
ton. Racine-Dear Sir Your favor of 20ih
to which you refer. 1 had on the day pre-
vious taken command of the troops &c. s.. Al
about Richmond, and in company with Gen.
G. W. Smith. whom / succeeded. made per-
sonal examination of the fed. do not
doubt your statement. and white Several
words here illegible) God, thank you Cor
daily. r. E. Lee.
E'After tie battle of Seven Pines Mr. Bur-
ton began his story "our troops took I'D a
position on both sides If the Chickahominy,
our left reaching into Chckahominy swamp.
of Keyes' corps as a scout. and had spent
several days in working through the big
Chickaf om:pv swamp: One afternoon-it was
June or g. I think-I was in the swamp
between cur lines and the rebs. little
creek ran through the swamp and into the
Cbickahominy. l had set down on log
behind a sumac or other small bush.
WREN I heard something moving through the
bushes on the other side of the stream.
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 I knew one to be Lee. and the other
I surmsed-correctlv lit appeared later-was
Gen. Smith. Joe Johnson had been wounded
in the fight of Seven Pines. and Smith had
succeeded BIN ard 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 tire edge of the brook
and let their horses drink They were talk
ing earnestly, and heard Stuart's name men
toned. They probably discussing plans
for the raid his cavalry made around US a
few days later.
|"Weil. 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 I pressed the trigger
to kill Lee. and once I started to pull to
kill beth. Why didn't I? I thought of my
wife and babies beck in Ohio-and then of
and when I got the mist out of them the
party was riding away. 1t would have been
murder and, praise God, my hands are
clean"