Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-02-13
Zeal more than that he said. Vhen


deal more than that. he said. ghsn
said i didn't just see how, but
waa sure would find some way
If | lived.
Then Mr. Lincoln put his hands
on my shoulders and looked into my
face as If he Was sorry. and said:
My boy, my bill s a very ,arge one.
Your friends can not pay -, nor your
bounty, nor the farm, nor all your
comrades! There f. only one man
in all the world WAC caa pay IL.
tad his name is Wi l am Seotti II
from this day William scott does
his duty so that, IL wagthere when
ne comes to die. he can look me I'm
the face as he does now and say. Il
have kept my promise, and / have
done my duty as sold er, then my
debt viii be paid. VIII you make
that promise and try to keep it?'
Scott did promise and did Keep his
promise. He soon earned the repu-
tat'on of being the bravest man in
n regiment, the faithfullest and
the kindest. III any man were need
ed for the most exposed service.
Scott was always eager to be called
upon. III any other man were in
trouble, Scott was his good Sa- nara.
tan. If any soldier were sick, Scott
was his willing nurse. He was ready
TO volunteer. for any extra service or
abor. Nevertheless he steadily re-
fused promotion saying tina he had
done nothing 10 deserve 1t.
The cad came in March, 1862,
near yorktown. The federal forces
were on one side of the James river,
che confederates on the other. Cen
eral Mcclellan had ordered General
smith to assault and capture the
works on the south bank. The con-
celebrates, however, Were too strong
y iltrenched. They drove their as
sailants back across the river. Scott
was almost the first to reach the
south bank, the first in the rifle pits
and the last to retreat. He was car
| rying one Of his wounded comrade .
| across the stream when the fire of
the enemy was concentrated upon
n m. He staggered with his living
burden to the shore and fell. "He
was shot all to pieces" said an eye
| Witness. I'VE carried him back out
II the line Of fire and laid him on the
grass to die. But his strength was
great, and such o powerful man was
hard to kill" They carried him to
4 cot N a nearby telt. Just at day
light the word was passed that Scott
wanted to sec all the boys. They
went into his tent and stood around
bic cot. His face was bright and
his voice cheerful.
! " Boys he said, I Will never see
another battle. 1 supposed this
would be my last. 1 haven't much to
say. You all know what you can tel
hem at home alb ut me- / have tried
% do the ght thing. | am almost
certain you will say that Then.
While his strength was failing, his
life ebbing away, and we looked to
see his voice sink into VIII sper, his
face lighted up and his voice came
out natural and clear as he said: "If
any Of you ever have the chance i
wish you would tell President Lin
colin that have never forgotten the
kind words he said to me at the
Chan bridge; that / have tried to be
I good soldier and true to the flag;
that | should have paid my Whole
lebt to him If / had lived, and that
low, when / know that l am dying,
think Of his kind face and thank
aim again, because he gave me the
chance to fall like a soldier IN battle
and not like coward ny the hands
IF my comrades. -
Then he closed his eyes, crossed
Il s hands on his breast, and that
vas ail.-From the New York Her
aid.