The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-01-27

gaze passed beyond these to the
scenes of carnage, where brother
fought against brother, and the
flower of the land was laid low.
There came, too, the vision of that
Vermont home from which had come
that day an appeal for the life OF
William Scott of the Third Vermont.
1t was a simple little letter, eloquent
not in words but in the simplicity
of the mothers plea for her only
boy who was to die disgraced.
He received hundreds of such let
ters, and they never lost their appeal;
but he had granted pardons until
Secretary Stanton had declared that
he was destroying discipline and, had
made the President half promise that
he would withhold all pardons in the
future.
1t had only been a half promise,
and although he meant to keep 1t,
the President found it desperately
hard And something about this
etter, its convincing simplicity, per-
haps, had strangely moved him. Full
half the night he had worked over
plans, reports, and dispatches, his
heart strings torn by their stories
of death and defeat.
Out on the Virginia plains, on the
other side of the river, firing squad,
still dull with sleep, and with no
relish for their detail, listlessly made
their way to the scene of execution.
A week had passed, and Will Ssott
marched with head erect between his
companions, whose rifles he would
presently face.
Bravely he took his stand before
them. Bravely he raised his head
as the Sergeant gave the command
to make ready although he knew that
next would come Aim" and Fire.
and with the last deafening roar
that would be to him the last earthly
sound.
"Aim!"
His muscles stiffened and he wait
ed the last command.
Halt"
1t was not the Sergeants voice,
and the hoof-beats told of the ap-
proach of an orderly. 1t could not
be a reprieve. What could it mean?
The bandage was torn from his
eyes. An orderly from another regi-
ment was standing beside the Ser
geant, and through the dust that
mingled with the morning mist a
carriage was seen to approach, and
presently the tall form of the Presi-
dent, taller still for the old-fashioned
high hat, came upon the scene.
Il need live soldiers more than
do dead ones,' he said to the officer
Il pardon William Scott
He handed the formal pardon to
the man, and turned to Will, who
was speechless with JOY.
| Young man." he said severely, 81
have been put to lot of expense to
save your life. How are you going
to repay me?'
/. 1--WE en- mortgage the farm sug-
gested Will, offering the only solu-
ton he could find. Lincoln placed
his huge hands on Wills shoulders
THAT is not enough" he said
kindly. Repay me by showing that
have done we'll in saving a mar
from disgrace. Prove that he was
worthy of that effort and | shall moi
regret my lost sleep"
81 promise cried Will, as the
President turned away, and his words
had the sanctity of an oath.
| Again night and a city of tents
but this time they are crude shelters
the makeshifts of the Southern army
stained by storm and soil; and, owe
the field where all day the battle
ragged, the boys in grey, by Lantern
light, picked their careful way
searching for the least spark of lif'
in friend or foe. In the hospita
tents, the surgeons, soaked in blood
/. perform hasty amputations, or prob
for hidden bullets, and the BRAY
women of the South lend their gentl
ministration to their heroes and t.
their enemies without discrimination
It is enough that they suffer.
In one corner of the field, hal
: hidden by fence, VIII Scott move
, deliriously. Bravely he had tough