The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1909-02-05
GLIMPSESOF LINCOLN
Tributes to the Martyr Presidents
Character and Leadership.
HOW HE PARDONED A SOLDIER

- {. chittsndsn Tells In Full Story
Of "Linceln and the sIeepins ssntI-
nsl'-Ihiraels Of HE style In Speech,
and Writins--Homass Of the People
a. HE Funeral.
Within a few days the formal ceIe-
bration Of the one hundredth annIver-
sary OF Abraham Lincoln's birth win
be observed. Many stories are being
told about the martyr president and
tributes paid to his character.
l. 2. Chittenden, who was register
OF the treasury rrom 1851 to 1866 and
personal friend OF Abraham Lincoln.
now for the first time tells in full the
story OF "Lincoln and the Sleeping
Sentinel published by Harper &
Bros, which has hitherto been known
only In its bare outline. He speaks as
one having authority, and with justice,
FOR he bore an important share In the
episode.
II was on a dark September morn
ing In 1881, he informs us. that he was
waited on at his Washington Office by
a party Of soldiers. They belonged to
the Third Vermont regiment, then sta
. toned at the Chain bridge, some three
miles above Georgetown. One OF their
number. youth Of twenty-one, had
fallen asleep at his post as sentinel.
A hardy boy, not as yet Injured to MILL
tary life, he had found II impossible
to keen awake for two nights in sue
cessioK He had been found by the
relief sound asleep. had been convicted
by q court martial and sentenced to be
shot. With tears In their eyes, his
comrades pleaded with Mr.. Chittenden
TO use his influence and save the boys
life.
Hes as good boy as there IL In
the army" said the leader, ''and he is
not to blame" Scott had never before
been up All night IN his life. He had
been ''all beat OUT by his first expe-
rience. The second night he had sue
cumbed 90 sheer physical exhaustion.
Mr.. Chittenden's heart was touched.
He determined to put young Scott In
personal touch with President Lincoln.
By using all his influence he succeeded.
This ls how Scott himself told the
story Of the interview:
The president was the kindest man I
had ever seen knew him at once by q
lincoln medal had long worn. I was
scared az Arst. for I had never before
talked with q great man. But Mr.. Lin
coin was no easy with me, no gentle, that
soon forgot my fright He asked me all
about the people nc home, the neighbors,
the farm and where I went to school and
who my Dchoolmates were. Then he asked
me about mother and how she looked, and
was glad could take her photograph
from my bosom and show Il TO him. He
said how thankful ought TO be that my
mother Still lived and how. II he was In
my place. he would try to make her q
proud mother and never cause her a sor-
row or q tear. cannot remember Il all
but every word was 90 kind.
He had said nothing yet about that
dreadful next morning. thought Il must
De that he was 90 kind hearted that he
didn't like to speak Of t. But why ala
he say % much about my mother and my
not causing her a sorrow or n tear when
knew that must die the next morn
tng7 But supposed that was something
that would have to go unexplained, and
% determined to brace up and tell him
that did not feel a bit guilty and ask
him wouldn't he nx II 80 that the firing
party would not be nom our regiment
That was going 20 be the hardest Of all
20 Gle by the hands OF my comrades.
Just az / was going to ask him this
favor he stood up. and he says to me-
MY boy. stand up here and look me in
the face" I did as he babe me- MY
boy" he said. you are not going to be
shot tomorrow. believe you when you
tell me that you could not keep awake.
am going to trust you and send you
back TO your regiment. But / have been
put 10 a great deal OF trouble On your &C
count. have had to come up here from
Washington when have got a great deal
to do. and what I want to know Is how
you are going to pay my bill"
There was a big lump In my throat.
could scarcely speak. had expected to
die. you see. and had kind OF got used to
thinking that way To have II all changed
in a minute! But got II crowded down
and managed to say:
ct am grateful. Mr.. Lincoln. I hope l
am as grateful as ever a man can be to
you for saving my life But II comes upon
me sudden and unexpected like. / didn't
Law out for Il at all. But there Is some
way for me TO pay you. and i Will find IL
out after a little. There IS the bounty in
the savings bank. I guess we could Dor
row some money on the mortgage OF the
farm. There was my pay. which was
something, and II he would wait until pay
day / was sure the boys would help. so
/ thought we could make II up II II wasn't
more than $500 or $500"
''But Il r. a great deal more than that"
he said.
Then I said didn't Just see how. but
was sure I would find some way-if l
lived.
Then Mr. Lincoln put his hands on my
shoulders and looked into my face as II
Ne was sorry and said: MY boy. my bin
A a very large one Your friends cannot
nay t. nor your bounty. nor the farm.
nor all your comrades. There Is only one
man IN all the world who can pay IT, and
.hh name IN william Scott. II from this
DAY william Scott does his duty, 80 that.
n / were there when he comes 10 die. he
-...NM ~, - a.. a (ara he does nOW