The Washington herald., 1913-05-18
MONUMENT TO A living VETERAN

any way excite suspicion. When she left
she gave Col. Warner a Bible for her
son.
Col Warner handed the book to Castle
man with the remark:
There Is a great deal in that book
that will do you good"
II Col. Warner had examined the Bible
more closely he might have realized the
truth of his remarks. The large backs
had been followed. In one were nine
steel saws, while in the other was 5000
In money.
! Hines and Mrs. Castleman tried to eff
feet plan for Castleman's escape, but
In vain. and Castleman did not even try
TO use his saws, which are in his posses
sion today. He was in peril at any time
of being tried and sentenced to death.
and his family was well-nigh distracted
by the danger.
Sister Pleads for Home.
In this crisis his sister Virginia, the
wife \of Judge Samuel Miller Brecken-
! ridge, of ST Louis, came to the front.
She knew Abraham Lincoln. She had
met him in Kentucky when he came
there on visits at the time of his mar
rage to Miss Todd, and she had formed
genuine friendship for the lank Illinois
lawyer, now the President of the United
States.
She resolved to appeal to him as a
;; friend, confident that her plea for her
brother would not fall unheeded.
She proceeded to Washington, accom-
panied by her husband. also a friend of
Lincoln. They secured an audience with
Lincoln. Their first interview resulted
in an invitation TO call the next morn
ing.
They went back to the White House on
4
coin was in a reminiscent mood. For two
days, his friends in Kentucky. and mat
tiers in general without referring to the
matter that filled their hearts.
Then he turned to his desk and wrote
something on a sheet of paper He hand
ed it to Judge Breckenridge with the re-
mark:
Sam. this is for you and Virginia, in
trusted in confidence, with the condition
that its existence shall not be known
this letter provides
The letter read:
Executive Mansion. Washington. Nov.
y. 1S6+-Maj. Gen. Hovey or Whoever
May Have Charge at the Proper Time:
Whenever John B. Castleman should be
tried. II convicted and sentenced, sus-
pend execution until further notice and
send me the record. A. LINCOLN"
With joyful hearts the two FASTENED
to Indianapolis and placed the order
where it would be a protection to Cas-
tleman.
The months dragged by for the young
officer in his prison. The war ended,
but he was not released. He had been
too Jealous a rebel, and II was not I'M
til June "a. 1866. that he was offered pa
role on condition that he leave the Unit
ed States, never to return
He accepted the harsh conditions and
went TO Europe, where he continued
the studies the war had interrupted. In
eighteen months President johnson
granted him full amnesty. Castleman
returned to Kentucky and has resided
ever since in Louisville.
Served In War of '9S.
Naturally, his interest in military mat
tiers never tagged. He became colonel
of the First Kentucky Regiment in
Louisville, and when the Spanish war
broke out volunteered the services Of
himself and regiment to President Nc
Kinley. He was made General Of Vol
unteers, served throughout the war in
Porto Rico, and at its close was offered
a commission as brigadier in the regular
army. He declined 1t, but the offer COM
pensated for the sting of Punishment
years before.
When the Goebel troubles stirred Ken
lucky in 1900 and the State was almost
plunged into civil war. Gen. Castleman
was in charge of the militia and il
was due to his calm but positive con-
duct in Frankfort that order was main
tanned.
In many other ways Gen. Catleman has
been of service to his city and State, IN
of which body of citizens,
including former Mayor Charles F. Grain
ger, decided more than year ago that
it would be a deserved tribute to Gen.
Castelman TO place his statue in Louis
willie while he is still living.
Nothing gives Gen. Castleman more
pleasure than the thought that Carolina
is to be preserved in bronze with him.
The president of the American Saddle
Horse Breeders Association, Gen. Cas-
tleman is a splendid judge of horsefesh,
and he considers Carolina the finest spec
linen he has even seen. She has been rid
den by her owner seven years continu-
ousIy at the rate of 45co miles a year. and
has carried him. 100 pounds and up, ap-
proximately $1,000 miles. She has never
been lame or sick.
When it was suggested that an Arabian
horse should walk across the continent
TO prove the stamina of this breed, Gen. |
Castleman offered Carolina to make the
march with the Arabian to prove whether
X entucky or Arabia produced the best
horses. The owners of the Arabian de- |
,lined the contest
Gen. Castlemans sister, the heroine of
his episode Of Abraham Lincoln, lived |
N Locust Street. between Sixteenth and
in st. Louis, until her death |
n 1895. She was married to Judge Brock |
enridge at 'Castleton." the family home !
n Fayette County, Ky. now part of
he estate of James r. Keene.
Judge Breckenridge was one of the |
foremost members of the st. Louis bar. |
He was president of the University Club |
Tor years and was a prominent member |
If the Northern Presbyterian Church. His |
ieath a few years ago was peculiarly |
.ragic and dramatic. He was one of the |
delegates to the General Assembly of the |