Show hi humanity madgty I 1 of lincoln linco hl a it was president Lincol ns intense love tor for his fellow men that led him to disapprove of the findings of court martial martia whenever there was a possible excuse particularly in the cases of soldiers charged with desertion with having fallen asleep at a post of duty or with other offense offen sei secretary stanton always insisted upon the strictest discipline in the army and frequently urged that derelict soldiers receive the severest punishment of military law and custom but lincoln rarely took any advice on such matters he had meditated deeply on that subject and consulted his own judgment in disposing of cases of that kind that came before him the late joseph halt who recently died at washington was judge advocate general of the e army during the whole period of the war and it became his bis duty to report many cases of ef alleged cowardice of soldiers as well az other offenses president lincoln carefully read every line of the charges against such men and as soon as he saw the slightest chance to excuse the poor fellow a gleam of satisfaction would pass pa s over his serious face then folding the papers together he placed them in a pigeon hole of his desk and with his big eyes looking into those or of the judge advocate standing before him he would say holt we will let those soldiers go order them set free it was after the battle of chancellorsville lors ville that charges were brought against several men for falling failing to march with their regiments into the fight at a time when they were most needed the charge of desertion was made when secretary stanton heard of these cases he commanded judge holt to present the charges against the men to the president in the strongest possible terms we need stronger discipline in the army said the stern secretary of war to the judge advocate the time has come when the president must yield to our opinion judge holt was himself one of at the ablest lawyers of his day and had won fame as a forensic orator long before the war in presenting these cases said be bc to the writer a few months before his death in obedience to the wish of the secretary of war I 1 used all the legal acumen at my command one morning with my papers all ready and I 1 was deeply in earnest in the matter I 1 proceeded to the white house and as I 1 entered his private office the preal president dent looked up with his long sad face saying all ah holt what have you yon there 1 I have some important cs cas for y r careful consideration mr president with documentary evi evidence denew sufficient to condemn every man he took the papers and read them care caret nUy bily stopping at times to relle reflect ct I 1 I 1 I 1 inq t A R Z 7 r g A A T 11 1 1 R n a g mp q 5 0 r R st t agn 4 rt ON R T P I 1 V N W il WR 4 4 A F t 2 1 km XI 31 3 E rt MU A t 1 T var i vr e Z 1 ai pd T am I 1 was no change in athla time dinless tin eai less that it grew more mor es sadana anit elpi expression more serious I 1 h had covered the cases in question with strong and convincing argument sid and evid enri dence quee he finally raised ills bli eyes I 1 the last paper and gaz through abe the window at some object across the potomac then raisins from his chair with the papers an all folded together he placed them in a pigeon hole already filled with similar documents with his tall gaunt for form in facing me he be spoken spoke in deep bad tones th that at would ha have v e to touched u ch ed the heart of the is st ernest officer of the army aimy holt it was his custom to M mention only thel the last name you acknowledge those men have a previous ibus record tor for bravery it is not the first time they have faced danger and they shall not be shot for this one offense lense of 1 I then thought it was my duty as the head bead of the department of military justice to make further argument for I 1 knew stanton would nearly explode with rage when he heard rd of the presidents decision I 1 began to speak and lincoln sat down again giving me his closest attention then rising from his chair and riveting his eyes upon me he be said holt were you ever in battle 1 I have never been did stanton ever march in the line to be shot at by an enemy like those men dida did 1 I think not mr president well I 1 tried it in the blackhawk Blackb awk war and I 1 remember one time I 1 grew awful weak in the knees when I 1 heard the bullets whistle around me and saw the enemy in front of me how my legs carried me forward I 1 cannot now tell for I 1 thought every minute that I 1 would sink to the ground the men against whom those charges have been made probably were not able to march barcla into battle who knows that they were able I 1 am opposed to having S soldiers shot for not facing danger when it is not known that their legs would carry them into danger send this dispatch ordering them to be set free and they were set free that day G R prowell in chicago inter ocean |