The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-06
FEEDING YOUNG "MASSA."
Old Slaves Generosity to a Fallen
Enemy.

Old Slaves Generosity to Fallen
Enemy.
While reminiscing the other even
ing, Colonel Koch of Chicego, a vet
eran OF the civil war. related little
anecdote in the life of Abraham Lin
coin, as told him by Schuyler Colfax.
One day, on his way to the executive
mansion, Colfax came upon an old man
just outside the capitol grounds, lock-
ing so detected and miserable that the
genial speaker stopped and spoke to
him. The old man begged for aid in
getting an audience with the president,
as so Ear all his efforts had been I'M
availing-and added that it was case
of life and death.
Colfax, moved by the old mans dis
tress, brought him, trembling with con-
fliCting hope and fear, directly into the
great and kindly presence. Without
wasting a moment upon Dreliminaries,
the petitioner plunged into the heart of
his trouble-an old story now grown
sadly familiar to the presidents ear.
Briefly, his son had been sentenced to
death for having slept at his post. He
had relieved a sick comrade the night
before, and o'er-Worn nature had sue
cumbed. Lincoln listened, all the kind
ness of his great heart reflected in his
eyes; but he had already issued so
many Dardons for this offense that it
was beginning to have a demoralizing
influence u9on a most important part
of the service, and congress had
thought best to give the power of con-
firming the death sentence directly to
the generals in charge. In this partic-
ular case. too. Butler had written the
president, strenuously urging him to
turn deaf ear to anyone pleading for
the offenders pardon, as the discipline
of his army absolutely required an ex-
ample.
With troubled air, therefore. Lin
coin said: My good sir, 1 would give
anything 1 possess for the power to
help you. But the president himself is
Dowerless here. I am under orders not
to issue another pardon for this par
upon the vigilant sentinel. 1 sympa
thize deeply with your sorrow, but
must refuse your request.
so that is all the president of the
United States can do for me, faltered
the old father.
AL" replied Lincoln.
The old man stood motionless in the
deep silence that followed the presi-
dents ultimatum Then, taking a step
forward, he said: The president of
the United States has done his duty.
Now, l want to hear from Abe Lincoln.
Put yourself in my place, your son in
my sons place. Then what would you
do?"
After a minute of intense thought,
Lincoln's face took on an expression of
radiance. rs he exclaimed:
Butler or no Butler, here goes" And
Selling his pen, he rapidly wrote two
duplicate orders, handing one to the
petitioner. who read:
Sentence in case of Private - Of -
regiment is not to be executed until
further orders from the executive Of
fee"
This" said the broken-hearted
father, "only postpones the agony. If
the hoy must be shot, the sooner it is
over the better"
MY friend" said old Abe, taking
him by the hand, 'if your son doesn't
die until further orders for his decease
are issued from this executive office, he
will live to a green old age"
Some of my most interesting expert
ences in the war were with my colored
regiment" continued the colonel. Il
tell you. those people have some stall
wart qualities. / never knew one-put
upon his honor-to be faithless to a
trust; While their kindness of heart I'M
der all circumstances was certainly be-
yGnd the ordinary. We enrolled a large
number from the Mississippi planta-
lions. Among them was q rather mo-
rose appearing fellow, Frank Lawson,
who seemed to cherish more intense
resentment against his former environ
ment than any member of the regi-
ment; and when the boys We're sitting
around the camDfires telling tales of
plantation life, Franks voice could al
ways be heard above the others, heap
ing abuse upon young massa,' who had
evidently been responsible for poor
Franks getting many an undeserved
flogging. He always ended his remarks
I by saying:
You boys just wait until I get a
chance at young massa,' and see if
don't put one of Uncle Sans blue pills
clear through him.
Frank was no coward. On our way
down the Yazoo river we We're fire.
quently annoyed by the Confederate
Texas cavalry. One day, when we were
near Liverpool Heights, 1 went out to
reconnoiter, accompanied only by
Frank AS I started up the heights he
demonstrated: Mighty dangerous to
go up there, cap'n."
yes, 1 know it, Frank" I replied.
You do not need to go. Stay here and
if anything happens to me, join the
others at once"
eff you can go up there, capn, 1
guess I can go, too" replied Frank,
land if you can die up there, 1 sut'ny
can die with you
We therefore assembled the heights to-
gether, where we found fresh tracks
showing that the enemy had very re-
Gently passed by. Not far away were
the bodies of two negroes who had evil
IDENTIFY been brought there and brutally
murdered. We knew by their under
clothing. bearing Uncle Sans mark,
~, N L.;
died anew Franks hatred, and he
vowed with clenched fists that if ever
he got chance at young massa he
would treat him after the same man
ner.
The next year 1 was stationed at
Vici1sburg, where numbers of confeder-
ate prisoners taken to Mobile had been
sent, and some 30 officers were turned
over to me for surveillance. 1 put them
on parole, giving them the freedom of
the city, providing they never failed to
report at roll call.
One day Frank Lawson came to me
and asked for the loan of 81. 1 was a
good deal surprised as he was a thrifty
sort of fellow, and usually had plenty
of money about him. I feared that the
temptations of the city and army life
had proved too much for him, and so
insisted upon knowing what he wanted
the money for.
IT don't want to tell" said Frank
looking guilty and embarrassed.
Then, Frank" said /, Il can't Lot
you have the So If you are not willing
that 1 should know the use you are go
ing to put it to, 1 am not willing to let
you have it,
Slowly he shuffled up to me, and if
ever a darkey blushed, Frank certainly
turned red as he whispered: you tell
nobody? You not let the boys get
onto it?''
No I promised.