Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-08-11
BULLET STRUCK LINCOLN.
Hitherto Unpublished Story of Presi-
dent Under Fire at Fl. Stevens.

TO all but a few-certainly not
more than score, perhaps not more
than a dozen-it is news that Abra-
ham Lincoln was hit by bullet fired
by Confederate soldier in battle.
The histories do not record it, nor The
biographies. Those who saw the oc-
currence thought little OF 1t at the
time, SO pressing was the work they
had in hand and the president is not
known ever afterward to nave men
toned the incident.
On the morning Of July II, 1864,
young Lieutenant Colonel of the Six
ty-ffth New York Volunteers, stand
ing just outside FIT. Stevens, one OF
the series of forts that completely
surrounded and guarded washington,
saw President Lincoln walk fearless
ly among his soldiers, discussing the
conditions and circumstances of the
then impending attack upon the city
by Lieutenant General Early and his
confederate forces while battle rag
ed outside the breastworks.
Watching with the curiosity OF
soldier who had seen his president but
twice before the colonel was alarmed
when he saw him hit by a bullet
which had sped through the air from
the camp of the enemy. The young
officer was William P. Roome, who
was adjutant general and chief OF
staff, of Major General Upton. Colon
ell Roome now lives at ia West
Eighty-sixth street.
Colonel Roome's story is as follows:
'In July, 1864, Early, with orders
from Lee, started from Lynchburg,
went down the Shenandoah Valley,
fought a battle at Harper's Ferry,
and also on the Monocacy River, and
was to make a demonstration against
Washington. 1t was thought that II
he could arrive with his force and find
the forts above the city not fully oc-
cupied (as they were mott it would
result in a great Northern scare,
strengthening of the Confederacy. and
possibly even greater results. He ar
rived in front of Washington, opposite
FIT. Stevens, on July II, in the after
noon. In order that they might be
fully prepared to take action, they
decided to rest the men that night,
and make the demonstration the fol-
lowing day. Their movements were
all knewn to Grant.
THE Sixth Corps Of the army of the
Potomac was detached from that
army in front of Petersburg. and sent
to thwart any demonstration that
might be made by Early. One d.
vision of the Sixth Corps was left in
Baltimore, because the demonstration
was intended to be against that city
and Philadelphia as well. The other
two divisions arrived in Washington
in attachments on steamers from the
10th to the 18th. The first and sec
ond divisions were Immediately sent
to FIT. Stevens. which was about four
miles from the White House.
'The First Division, to which I be-
longed. remained in reserve in the VI
entity of the fort; the other was sent
out in front. The country stretching
away from the fort to the north was
first a gentle lecline, then little
plane for some way, with hills in the
distance Every detail of the move
ment of the two divisions-ourS and
one of Early's--could be seen plainly
from the fort, while the participants
themselves could see only what was
occurring in their immediate front.
"There was thus unrolled panora-
ma of war-a battle in progress. In
the distance house was set atire by
the artillery, and formed prominent
feature of the picture.
"The engagement was sufficiently
far from the fort to make bullet
that came to it practically harmless.
One illustration was interesting, as
showing the degree of danger in our
position, and also the comparative eff
feet of the emotions of curiosity and
fear in women. A large tree which
had been felled very close to where
| stood lay in a horizontal position
to the works. and behind it two wom-
en-, apparently mother and daughter,
had taken refuge. They would look
with open-mouthed interest at the
movement of the troops, when singing
through the air would come bullet.
Its hum would arouse the emotion OF
fear, and instantly they would crouch
down to the ground behind the pro-
tecting tree trunk, only to rise, inch
by inch. as the fear Of the bullets
passed and curiousity became supreme.
AT about that time President Lin
coin, arrived. He was accompanied. l
think, by at least two members of the
cabinet, though I did not know them.
They halted but few yards from my
position, at the side of the road that
led from the fort. From where the
president stood he could see the pam
Drama / have described.
1.-THE fire from the enemy was thick
and fast, and the cracking almost
continuous. Most of it fell short of
the Enclosure.
While so standing, one Of these bull
lets, fired at long range by confed-
crate, struck the president on the
I'M. 9Sn;n IN,