The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-03-31
ANOTHER LINCOLN INCIDENT
His Kindness to a Distressed Mother
in Saving the Life Of Her Son.
Culpeper, Va, March -, 1904.

Culpeper, Va, March -, 1904
/ To The Free Lance:
have read Mr.. A. s. Marye's letter on
Abraham Lincoln, praising hisgoodness,
kindness of heart, etc.
Judge Samuels. OF Wood county. West
! Virginia. circuit Judge in that state,
son Of Green Il. Samuels, Oi Shenandoah
county, who was a member OF the
Court Of Appeals of Virginia, aud in a
contest before the people beat the late
Hon. John Baldwin. one of the Abest
members OF the Court. told me n story oi
/ Mr. Lincoln's Kindness OF heart To a lady.
Her son was engaged to a young lady
who was then not expected To live. Ap-
plication was made To Gen. Kelly Tor
permission for the young man To visit
his sweetheart. lie was bound over
10 secrecy 40 far as the army was con
cerned and permission being given he
went to see the young lady, and alter a
short visit found her improving, and got
permission 20 return. After passing the
Federal pichets short distance, he
stopped and was reading something, sit
ting on his horse 10 the road. A company
Of Federal cavalry rode upon MIN and
saw hlm stick something in bis boot
They arrested him. searched his boot
and found a statement of the number oi
Federals, both infantry and cavalry, un
der Gen Kelly aud their position. This
man was carried before ten. k-lly ana
the latter ordered "A court martial to try
him as spy. lie was found guilty and
sentencpd To be- shot The mother II the
Young man was notified aud she got per
mission to 20 TO see Gov. PierpOnt, who
went with her TO see President Lincoln
They made the trip TO Washington a.
quickly A. possible, for it WAS not many
DAYS before he was 10 lee executed. They
called At the White House at eleven
O'Clock aud were ushered into the Presl-
dents room, where they found him, as
usual smoking II cOrn-cVb pipe. The
I President got up, Knocked the ashes out
ol bis pipe and aid It aside. and the Gov
rrnor introduced the lady, who immedi-
Ately stated her businets. Alter hearing
| her statement aud that OF the Governor,
he stated that bis Cabinet would meet
that night and he would consult hls Cab
met about il and they must call at II
o clock the next day and be would give
them an answer.
They called promptly the next day and
found the President smoking the same
corn cob pipe lie greeted them cordial
ly and asked them 70 be seated tie then
turned to Mrs e. and said. We'll, sup
pose you came 10 hear the fate vi your
son. | called my Cabinets attention TO
il and the fret man was Mr. seward
and ne said he ought TO be shot, but ow-
ing 70 his youth and indiscretion he
would pardon him The next one was
MIR Chase, and be voted the same way
| The next was Mr. stanton, and he said
he had violated The rules OF war and
ought TO be shot, and all the balance
voted the same way" Mrs. {. gave way
10 her feelings and burst into tears, but
the President jumped up and raising his
| long. bOny arm said in a loud tone:
But voted the other way and my vote
outweighs them all. ] will take your
boy and keep him until this cruel war IL
over and return him to you sale and
sound" Mrs. &. finally recovered herself
and commenced thanking the President
for il. and he said: don't thank me; |
have only done what my conscience die.
| tated TO me and what | ought to do
He called an orderly, wrote telegram
to Gen. Kelly Of his action, aud as soon
/ as the orderly returned he stated that
the dispatch wassent. The President bade
them goodbye and again assured her that
her son would he taken good care OF.
Judge Samuels said he got the whole
of this statement from Gov. Pierpont
himself
Felix.