The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-04-03
BULLET STRUCK LINCOLN.
Hitherto Unpublished story Of Presi.
dent Under Fire at IT. Stevens,

|
The histories do not record 1t, nor the
biographies. Those who saw the oc-
currence thought little OF 1t at the
time, so pressing was the work they
had In hand and the president is not
known ever afterward to nave men
toned the incident.
On the morning of July 12, 1864, a
young Lieutenant Colonel of the six
ty-fifth New York Volunteers, stand
Ing just outside FIT. Stevens, one OF
the series of forts that completely
surrounded and guarded Washington,
saw President Lincoln walk fearless
ly among his soldiers, discussing the
conditions and circumstances of the
then impending attack upon the city
by Lieutenant General Early and his
confederate forces while battle rag
ed outside the Dreastworks.
Watching with the curiosity OF a
soldier who had seen his president but
twice before the colonel was alarmed
when he saw him hit by bullet
which had sped through the air from
ofiicsr was William p. Roome, who
was adjutant general and chief OF
stan, OF Major General Upton. Colon
ell Roome now lives at ia West
Eighty-sixth street.
Colonel Roomes story is as follows:
"In July. 1854. Early, with orders
from Lee, started from Lynchburg,
went down the Shenandoah Valley,
fought a battle at. Harper's Ferry,
and also on the Monocacy River, and
was to make a demonstration against
Washington. IL was thought that II
he could arrive with his force and ind
the forts above the city not fully oc-
cupied (as they were noD II would
result In a great Northern scare, a
strengthening OF the Confederacy. and
possibly even greater results. He ar
rived In front of Washington. opposite
FIT. Stevens, on July II. in the after
noon. In order that they might be
fully prepared to take action, they
decided to rest the men that night,
and make the demonstration the fol-
lowing day. Their movements were
all knewn to Grant.
THE Sixth Corps OF the army OF the
Potomac was detached from that
army in front OF Petersburg, and sent
to thwart any demonstration that
might be made by Early. One di-
vision Of the Sixth Corps was left In
Baltimore. because the demonstration
was intended to be against that city
and Philadelphia as we'll The other
two divisions arrived in Washington
In detachments on steamers from the
10th TO the 18th. The first and sec
ond divisions were Immediately sent |
to TT. Stevens. which was about four
miles from the White House.
"The First Division, to which I be-
longed, remained in reserve in the VI
cinity OF the fort; the other was sent
out In front The country stretching
away from the fort to the north was
first q gentle lecline, then a little
plane for some way, with hills In the
distance. Every detail Of the move
ment OF the two divisions-ours and
one OF Early's--could be seen plainly
rom the fort, while the participants
themselves could see only what was
In their immediate front.
There was thus unrolled q panora-
ma OF war-a battle In progress. In
he distance a house was set attire by
he artillery, and formed a prominent
feature OF the picture.
"The engagement was sufficiently
ar from the fort to make a bullet
hat came to It practically harmless.
)ne illustration was interesting, as
the degree of danger In our
and also the comparative ef-
ect Of the emotions OF curiosity and
ear In women. A large tree which
lad been fslled very close to where
stood lay In horizontal position
o the works. and behind II two wom-
m, apparently mother and daughter.
lad taken refuge. They would look
With open-moiithed interest at the
movement Of the troops. when singing
through the air would come bullet.
Is hum would arouse the emotion OF
ear. and instantly they would crouch
own to the ground behind the pro-
Getting tree trunk, only to rise. inch
y inch. as the fear of the bullets
assed and curlousity became supreme.
AT about that time President Lin
oln. arrived. He was accompanied. l
hink. by at least two members OF the
abinet. though | did not know them.
hey halted but few yards from my
osition. at the side OF the road that
I'd from the fort. From where the
resident stood he could see the pam
rama have described.
THE fire from the enemy was thick
nd fast. and the cracking almost
ontinuous. Most OF II fell short of
le inclosure. {
While so standing. one OF these bull
'ts, fired at long range by a oonfed- q
rate, struck the president on the
ligh. The force was not sufficient to q
ound him; In fact, doubt II II pierre
his trousers. The bullet fell to the 8
round. President Lincoln paid no '
.tention TO II other than to glance !
,wn and permit a smile to linger !
II moment on his face. 8
young as was. l remember dis G
nctly the interest took In watching
at noble countenance, and wonder v
x what thoughts were passing +