Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1904-02-12
LINCOLN SPARED SON OF CON-
FEOERATE cHlEFTAIN.
creat-Hearted President, Touched by
the Heroisn Of Southern Officer, De.
ferred Execution-War's Ending
Settled the Matter for All Time.

the Washington Post.
1T was after the battle OF Brandy
station. In which Gen. w. II. +. Lee.
called by his father and family
Rooney Lee, was not only badly
wounded. but captured by the Federal
forces. Upon being taken to the
headquarters OF the Union army his
Identity became known and there was
consequently great rejoicing over such
q capture. Subsequently a Federal
officer who had been captured by the
confederates was shot under peculiar
circumstances and the captors OF
Rooney Lee determined that he should
be executed by way of retaliation. A
day had been fixed when he was TO be
shot at sunrise. In some manner
Gen. Washington parke Gusts Lee,
who once owned the Arlington estate,
which was subsequently made ma
tonal cemetery by the United States
government learned OF his brothers
peril. BY means OF flag OF truce
Curtis Lee appeared at the headquar
tiers Of the Union commander. who
cordially received him and inquired
the nature OF his visit.
ITO save my brothers life, II pos
sible.' was the reply. and return him
TO his wife and children. You must
know. general continued Gusts Lee,
I am a bachelor, and not only that,
but ! outrank my brother. who is a
brigadier-general, while | am a major
general. II any one is TO suffer for
tho unfortunate occurrence by which
one of your officers forfeited his life.
let the blow fall upon me. There will
be no one to grieve and worry about
me. for | am single man and sol
der. able and willing to abide by the
arbitrament OF war With my brother
II Is different. for he is a man of fam
ily with a wife and four little ones
awaiting him at home. He knows
nothing of my visit. neither does our
father-Gen Robert Il. Lee. Know
ing both OF them as do II is my con-
lecture that II my purpose had been
communicated to either of them they
would have endeavored to dissuade
me from such an undertaking
Moved by this appeal the Union
general pointed out to his visitor that |
what he asked was not in his power /
TO grant Lots were drawn for the 1
execution, he said and fate willed 1t |
that your brother should draw the |
fatal number A time has been fixed
for the execution. the necessary or
ders have been given and II only re
mains TO carry out the details. There
Is nobody to help you In your ex-
tremity unless President Lincoln at
Washington sees ht to interfere
This suggestion. coming from the
source It did. aroused CLEAN of hope
within the bosom OF Custis Lee. and
he inquired OF the Federal commander
whether Il would be possible to stay
the execution of the death sentence
until President Lincoln could DO in
formed OF the circumstances.
Most assuredly was the reply.
and. furthermore. he shall be in
formed of your heroic and brotherly
oiIer OF sacrifice Immediately
This officer kept faith to the let
ter" continued the narrator. "and
sent detailed account of his inter
view with Castis Lee TO the President
OF the United States. Abraham Lin
coin. Within a few hours after the
message was received at Washington
there came reply from President
Lincoln to the Federal commander.
saying: I know Custls Lee means
what he says. Defer the execution OF
his brother until you receive further
orders from me.
These orders never came" CON
cuded the host. for shortly after
ward w II. f. Lee was exchanged for
a Federal officer OF the rank of
brieadier general and at once set out
10 reioin his family. His devoted wife
in the meanwhile learning the story
OF his capture and sentence and hav-
ing no means for ascertaining his
whereabouts had pinned
away aud died. Scarlet fever had car
rled on his four children. so that II
was TO darkcned and desolate fire.
side that Rooney Lee returned out OF
the Jaws of death. He knew nothing
At this time OF tho oifer made by his
brother TO tako his place and Il was
rot until long after the Civil War had
ended that he learned what the Dig
hearted Abraham Lincoln had done.
is Il any wonder continued the
narrator. that men OF the south
revere the memory OF Lincolng II
was the darkest day In our history
when he fell BY an assassln's act. and
none deplored his uutlmely end more
than brave Old Marse Robert and his
sons Gusts and Rooney Lee. the last
named afterward n congressman at
a son OF Rooney Lee.