The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1909-02-05


most exposed service. Scott was al
ways eager to be called upon. II any
other man were In trouble, Scott was
his good Samaritan. II any soldier
were sick, Scott was his willing nurse.
He was ready to volunteer for any
extra service or labor. Nevertheless
be steadily refused promotion. saying
that he had done nothing to deserve It
The end came IN March, 1862, near
Yorktown. The federal forces were on
one side OF the James river, the Con-
federate on the other. General Nc
Gellan had ordered General Smith to
assault and capture the works on the
south bank. The Confederates, how
ever. were too strongly intrenched.
They drove their assailants back across
the river. Scott was almost the first
to reach the south bank, the first I'm
the rife pits and the last to retreat.
He was carrying one Of his wounded
comrades across the stream when the
IRE Of the enemy was concentrated
upon him. He staggered with his liv-
ing burden to the shore and fell.
He was shot all to pieces" said an
eyewitness. I'VE carried him back out
Of the line Of fire and daid him on the
grass to die. But his strength was
great, and such a powerful man was
hard to KILL" They carried him to a
cot In a nearby tent. Just at daylight
the word was passed that Scott want
cd 70 oil ka Ny,N.
his tent and stood around his cot. His
face was bright and his voice cheer
full.
Boys he said, 4 will never see an
other battle. supposed this would be
my last. haven't much to say. You
all know what you can tell them at
home about me. I have tried to do the
right thing. I am almost certain you
will all say that Then, while his
strength was failing, his life ebting
away. and we looked to see his voice
sink into a whisper, his face lighted
up and his voice came out natural and
clear as he said: If any Of you ever
have the chance wish you would tell
President Lincoln that | have never
forgotten the kind words he said to
me at the Chain bridge, that ] have
tried to be a good soldier and true to
the flag, that / should have paid my
whole debt to him II l had lived and
that now, when I know that / am dy-
ing. think Of his kind face and thank
him again because he gave me the
chance to fall like a soldier In battle
and not like a coward by the hands Of
my comrades"
Then he closed his eyes, crossed his
hands on his breast, and that was all
Richard Watson Glider in his study
Of Lincoln the Leader" published in
the February Century. presents some
interesting phases Of Abraham Lin
coins character. OF his speech, writ
Ings and belief In God he says:
"Lincoln's style In speech and writ
ing Is the same sort Of miracle that
gave us the cOnsummate art Of Shake
speare, the uncolleged actor; OF Burns,
the plowman, and OF Keats, the apoth-
ecary's apprentice, son Of livery sta
BILE man. 1t Is not easy to analyZe "a
miracle, but In discussing the leader
ship OF Lincoln 1t Is interesting to find
certain qualities in his literary style
that are traits Of his character and
thus elements Of his leadership.
Notwithstanding that the country
has been ransacked for every record
Of his public speech and every scrap Of
paper ito which he put pen, there has
been found from him absolutely moth
ing discreditable and little that can be
criticised In the way of expression.
Without the aid of any teacher he
early learned TO be moderate and rea-
sOnable In statement, so that on the
part even of the obscure young poll
tician there is a complete absence of
that kind of public speech which is
described i'm a passage he loved to
quote. where II is said Of the orator
that he mounted the rostrum. threw
back his head, shined his eyes and left
the consequences to God
"An intensely important feature Of
Lincoln's leadership would lie omitted
III nothing were SAID or the erect upon
his thought and conduct of his belief
In and conscious communion with an
almighty, mysterious and benevolent
power. concerning itself not less with
human affairs than with the march of
seasons and the sweep Of constella-
tons. The Deity was TO him an ever
present. ever regnant influence. There
was nothing of theology or dogmatism
I'm his religious opinions, but he lived
in the spirit. The strange silence of
the Almighty Sovereign perplexed
him. and he sought with passionate
eageTness TO read the DEGREES Of Prov
ldencc In the unfoldings Of events.
sometimes taking definite action in ac-
cordance with his Interpretation Of di-
rfpn Aud nj tho no.