Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-02-15
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed ON the Battlefield and In
Camp-Veterans of the Rebellion Re-


In the year 1864, by sentence OF
court martial for desertion, some
three or four soldiers were to be shot
at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, and the
day of execution was fixed and almost
at hand
Among the soldiers sentenced to
death was one with a wife and three
small children, in whose behalf strong
pressure had bene brought to bear for
mitigation Of sentence, but without
avail
The night before the morning on
which the execution was to take place
at sunrise, the wife Of the soldier and
her children, came to Washington to
intercede in person with the President
If she could In any way gain hts pres
ence, for the life Of her husband and
the father of her little ones.
Not familiar with even the ordinary
methods of reaching the President, a
stranger to every one, and guided only
by "a hope born of despair, and the
faithfulness of true wife and mother
this woman had come to make a last
effort and appeal
BY good fortune she was guided in
some manner to the very person, and
perhaps the only unofficial person who
could have secured her at that hour
of the night an audience with the
President This person was Mr.. c.,
who was on terms OF intimacy with
Mr.. Lincoln, frequently accompanying
him on visits to the army at the front,
and had access to him at any hour of
the day or night
The case of itself was an ordinary
one, and it was only the great anguish
of the wife that induced Mr.. G. to
take any interest in it, but his strong
and sympathetic nature once aroused,
he undertook to conduct her to Lin
coins presence, even at 50 late an
hour, and let her make such an APP
peal as the nature Of her woes would
prompt, and trust to its effect on the
President
SO taking carriage, and in it the
wife and children, he was driven rap
idly to the residence of Mr.. Lincoln, at
the Soldiers Home, where he was tenn
porarily residing, and being permitted
to pass the guard, was soon within the
cottage.
Mr.. Lincoln's sleeping room was on
the first floor, the entrance to which
communicated with the hall. Mr.. c.
raped on the door, in response to
which he was asked what was wanted.
He announced himself and requested
Lincoln to step to the door, as he had
matter of life or death to present.
Lincoln dressed only in a long night
wrapper and slippers, went to the door
as requested, and Mr.. c. made known
the object of his visit.
The President demonstrated with him
him for such an unseemly hour and
place, and refused to interfere in the
matter at all. Mr.. c. pressed the case,
and appealed to the Presidents sympa-
thy, but to TO purpose, as the Presi-
dent became more and more determin-
ed in his manner, and at last fatty
refused to take any action whatever.
At this moment tie wife, whom Lin
coin had not before known, was so
close at hand, came forward with her
babe in her arms, and with her other
children at her side, and there in the
midnight hour, kneeling at the feet of
that tall and wrapped form, they to-
gether poured out their piteous appeal
for the life Of the husband and the
father
And not in vain, for this was more
than his great nature could stand.
Brushing away tear and raising the
woman to her feet he hurriedly turned
aside, passed TO table and wrote this
telegram:
'"The commanding officer at Fort
McHenry will suspend the execution
of all prisoners sentenced to be shot.
A. LINCOLN"
And SO the lives Of all four were