The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1899-11-23
THE BATTLE-FIELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl
dents of the Late War, and In Q
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell of Camp, March and Battle.


army is Major G. f. Robinson, who
saved the life of Secretary of State
Seward. At the same moment that
Abraham Lincoln was shot to death in
FOrd's Theater in Washington, on
April IA, 1865, and when, but for a
change of plans, Gen. U. s. Grant
would doubtless also have been killed,
/ Major Robinson, unarmed and unpre-
! pared, grappled with the armed and
desperate assassin, Lewis Payne, in the
darkened sick room of Secretary Sew
ard.
Recently Major Robinson for the first
time since the occurrence, gave the de-
tails of that thrilling encounter. Il
have never known" lie said, ''how l
came to be detailed to act as nurse at
the home of Secretary Seward in April,
1868. had been confined to the hospi-
tai for several months by a gunshot
wound in my leg.
"The evening of April IA was beauti-
full and clear. At little before 10 p. ~,
when the Secretary was sleeping cas-
lily, the house was closed for the night.
Mrs. Seward had gone to her sleeping
room. Frederick Seward, second son of
the Secretary, had retired. Miss Fannie
| Seward, a daughter, and l sat in the
sick chamber, on the third floor. Miss
| Seward was near the bed Her father
lay prOpped up in bed. Just before 10
the sound of man was heard down
in the hall. 1t was afterward learned
that the porter saw a tall young man
on horseback dash up to the stone
curbing. He claimed to be Dr. Verds'
assistant, and pushed his way into the
house. The first that l knew Of the
assassin in the house was when the
front door closed. Miss Seward heard
the sound Of someone coming heavily
up the front stairs, and remarked upon
the carelessness Of anyone who could
so nOisily approach 4 sick chamber. At
the top of the stairway Frederick Sew
ard met the supposed messenger.
What Is it" asked Mr.. Seward, in
low tone.
DR.. Yerdis sent me with this medi-
cine for Secretary Seward was the
mans reply. 1t must be taken immedi-
ately. l am the doctors student and
must tell Mr.. Seward how and when
to take the medicine
Frederick answered that he would
see If his father was awake. Then he
opened the door of the Secretary's
room and tintoad nvor 70 tho had ~, hara
his father lay. He went back and re-
naked that he would not disturb the
patient at that hour. AS he spoke he
closed the door behind him. In a trice
there came the sound of blows, as if
one had been struck by a rattan. Not
word was spoken. l sprang from my
chair, threw open the hall door in time
to see very tall. powerful. beardless
man about to open it himself, and back
Of him Frederick Seward, covered with
blood from wounds on his head
''The stranger jumped through the
door at me. saw a knife in the feeble
gaslight. He dealt me an awful blow
on the scalp and forehead. fell back
ward, while blood started down my
face and beard. The stranger, wearing
a long, light-cOlored overcoat, SLOUGH
hat and cavalry boots, gave Miss Sew
ard (whO had taken alarm and started
to call for help a thrust that threw
her aside. He pOunced upon the bed
side. The assassin had his now broken
navy pistol in his left hand and long,
Int in ;vht
over and across the bed and, placing
his pistol on Secretary Stewards chest, |
struck madly and frantically at the |
head and neck. l saw, thousand |
times quicker than it takes to tell it, |
the assassin strike at the Secretary's |
head and lay open a cash in his right
cheek and in the side of his neck.
leaped upon the bed beside the stranger
from the rear, caught his arm as his
right hand gripped the knife for
surer and more powerful stroke, and
thus diverted the blade. The knife went
into the Secretary's neck on the side
nearest to us as pulled him from the
bed
Then began terrible hand to- hand
,rapple. The assassin gave me a deep
.ut in the right shoulder as 1 pulled
him backward from the bed. A second
ater he gave me another cut In a
he turned on me with the
erocity of an enraged tiger, while Sec
'etary Seward rolled off the further
ide Of the bed. The assassin struck ut
ne several times, once giving me
lash in the left shoulder 1 clinched
ny arms about him with my utmost
trength, while he was trying to force
ne away so that he could use his arms
ither to thrust the bloody knife into
ne or to beat me into insensibility by
lows with his big pistol. Meanwhile
liss Seward had pushed up the win
ow in the sick room and had screamed
Murder. Murder! Although weak
rom my hospital experience and my
Sc of crutches for six months pre-
ious, 1 was naturally strong young
IAN at that time.
MY antagonist yainly tried to raise
is hands to beat or stab me. He sud
enly dropped his pistol and tried to
ush me from him or to throw me. | {
lung to the man with even greater {
ltensity. All saw was my desperate
ig antagonist and that knife blade. L I
rasped the assasSin's right wrist He
aased for a brief second his stabbing ]
lctics and tried to throw me. Then,
all my strength, | tried to
lrow him. My wounded leg gave way
nd partially staggered. The assassin
ade vain snatch at my throat
The despair of the moment brought Il
lex my full strength and tripped the
lain somewhat off his feet. While | o
I'd him In that position l urged him
few feet across the room toward the @
Ill door. When we We're about half
ay across the room and In fierce e
apple felt some one taking hold of
e from behind. 1t flashed into my e,
ind that there was an accomplice of n
e murderer. Then | saw in the dim II
int that it was Major A. H. Seward. al