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Show ABE LINC0L'S HIDE. HOW HE INTERFETtED IN l'LRSOK TO S1VE A ELDIKn'S L1FI- "The grandW man America ever produced was Abraham Lincoln," Lin-coln," rtmarked a veteran of the late war, at the Urunswlck hotel yesterday as several of bis comrades moved their chairs closer to the speaker. "I enlisted In one of the eastern regiments and thall ne ir forget the event that gave to the army of tbe Potomac a true insight Into Lincoln's character, rrom that bonr there was not one of us but would have offered his life If necessary in Lincoln's deli.ne. A young roldler a mere boy, I forget his name tras caught asleep while on guard. As was afterwards learned, tbe boy was tilling the place of a sic!, friend, who was a member of the fame company, and bin watch falling a nLtht iuinic-diatily iuinic-diatily following his regular guard dutj, he yielded to fatigue and w a courtmartiAJed and seutinccd to be shot. "It was the firt execution of tlio kind that bad been ordered in the army of tbe Potomac and In order to maio It impressive nearly cery regiment In the neighborhood ottne capital was ordered out to witness the unfortunate boy's deith. His grave was dug, the squad that was to fire upon tho ictim stood witli guns in hand, and the death sentence sen-tence was being read aloud when a horse and rider w ere seen approaching. approach-ing. The man on horseback gesticulated gesticu-lated wildly as he planted the spurs dtepcr into the sides uf the nnlraal, and was carried forward at a reckless speed which indicated that he was Urrlbly in eamct. "'A reprieve! A reprieve,' hont-ed hont-ed a thousand glad voict, and the words were taken up and rejeated down the lines and away oil" in the distance as far as the ear could reach. The sound died away as the rider danhed Into tho presence of the luldiel-sand declared that by order of thepresldentthecxecutlon would not take place. IT WAS LINCOLN. Tho rider wns Abraham Lincoln At tho last moment ho had been Informed In-formed by tho boy's mother and sister of the true story, and fearing to take the time neew-ary In writing writ-ing out a reprieve lie spring uiwn a hore which was standing stand-ing at the doors of tho White Houvc and dashed to the spot jut in time lo save the soldler'd life. When it became know n among tho soldiers that Lincoln had taken upon himself such a ta-k he wis greeted with such an ovntlou as Is seldom accordenl to an mortal. I was standing near the grave which had been dug to receive the young solrlier and heard the President as he told the boy that he would be spared to trove an honor to hii counjiy. lie talked like a father to a son, and the young mau proved worthy of the confidence rcpoHiI In him by the President. A short time alteru ards he was killed iu the front line of battle. "It hag always been impossible, gentlemi n," continued the speakc r. "forme to And words in which to express my estimate of tliu character of Lincoln. IsballKveauddlewlth the belief that Abraham Lincoln was eiecially moulded lj an all wise provi Jence." After a silence, in which tach listener appeared to mu-e reverently uiwn the life of Ihe war president, Hon. John abaw, who was a member mem-ber of the part j , turned the suljtet to General bhernian "It was immediately im-mediately after the Intlle of Chattanooga Chatta-nooga '' said lit . "The army hid nilranrftl in n fllnti. if 1 ikl nr 1 WO people, but not joul wa i-ible. i-ible. r-couts were sent through the ton n and after some time the omit back w ith one man who w as the only living person that could In. found. The prisoner was a niau of great size and w 6lghed at lea-t 275 iwunds Iwing so fat Hint it wis n vcrj eljfTlcuIt thin for him to wills. He was taken before General bhcr-rain. bhcr-rain. ' What i your name,' demanded the general. "The name was given. " 'Your occupation?' ""I am engaged In the mtnufic-tureof mtnufic-tureof wooden ware,' was the re- rb- 'How long nae jeu lived in this place?' " 'Seven j car- " 'Yi ii are Just tin man wewaut,' said the general. 'ou will uiJu our army through that Jos.-,' glinting glint-ing to a defile iu the mountains alwut ten miles di-tant- The prisoner pris-oner demurred. -I know nothing of the mountain,' said he, cxeitetily, anil if I did I would notguideyour armj. bir, I am a IlritMi sul ject and as such I demand my liberty.' Then itwasGcnenl Shennau'sturn to get excited. " 'Your hlietty 1. ' exclaimed ex-claimed the general, growing red In the face. I'll let jou know tint the Ilrltish flag is not broad enough to cocr you, you enemy of the union. Corporalumarcli this man to Nashville and hold him until further fur-ther orders. "It was In vain Ihrt the ItntMitr remonstrated and begged for n horse, as he said the walk would kill him. Thelit wesiwof the wooilt n ware man he was moving off at double qjlek in the direction indicated. I nqulries showed that he had tated his business correctly lit Intln't told all the truth. He was engaged In making wocden gun stocks and etntcens for the confederate armj ." Then it was another old soldier's 'um to relieve himsclfof a section from his experience inthearmv "I aw a great many fine looking regiments In the war," he began, "but the Third Michigan was the haiitlnm4kf Ivitltr nf ,,.. (... eiei ever fell on The Third Mkhi gan was known as a railroad regiment. regi-ment. Nearly every man Un its rolls had been connected iu some capacity with the railroad bu.im, and a remarkable &ct was that there was scarcely a man iu the lommand ho was o er SO years of age. Tnev were all splendid looking fellow s anil full of Jevilmentand thegunpowder of war. We were endeavoring to diIodge the enemy from a hillside nearChambcrsburg, Va., oneaner-noon, oneaner-noon, wheu this regiment was sent forward to our aid. rhe confederates cktuj led safe portions behinil a line cf havstacks, while wewcre forced to lie down to avoid a constant fire which poured ujion our ranks. Quite a number of men were shot, and cur position became more critical crit-ical as the day advanced. Airivate of the Third Michigan arose and advanced to the comxianding officer. offi-cer. Giving the military salute, ho said. ' 'Gentral, if you will let me have three men and give me permission to go to that blacksmith shop I'll di'lodge the rebs In ten minutes.' Tile blacksmith shop was about 100 yards distant and 6ut of the line of tire. After tome explanation the general granted the request, and then tbe genius of the private was shown. Lighting the fire in the forge he heated pieces of iron red hot and rammed them Into a musket, flnt protecting the cartridge by a piece of wet cloth. Asfastasa rleee of red hot Iron was lodged in its place the musket was discharged nta haystack, hay-stack, the stacks were seton fire and we were soon having a pic-nlc in returning our compliments to the fleeing enemy. Lvtn the rebels appreciated the humor of the allalr and cheered as tbey tied up the hill. That Michigan man cugbtto have been promoted on the spot, for he accomplished something that would have cost many valuable lives had it been attempted in any other way." |
