Lincoln And The Sleeping Sentinel How the Newspapers Picked Up The Story

The pardon of William Scott became popular news. Prior to the presidential pardon, newspapers in Boston and New York City had commented on the decision to execute the boy for sleeping at his post so close to enemy territory. The pardon of the Vermont private was published throughout the North and the story became a popular tribute to the compassion of the President.

The story of Scott's pardon was picked up in Philadelphia, Boston, New York City and Washington. Newspapers throughout the state of Vermont carried the story and in Groton, Scott's story had a profound impact on the people living there. President Lincoln became something of a savior or saint to most people living in Groton at the beginning of the Civil War.

A classmate of Scott's recalled that she was with his grieving mother the day of the execution and when the story broke, Scott's parents and the town of Groton were overjoyed over Scott's pardon and were deeply moved by President Lincoln's personal order to spare their son.

So grateful were Scott's parents, that Thomas Scott somehow managed to make his way to the White House and thank the President for pardoning William and was later able to visit his sons at the front.

Although it is not known if Thomas Scott made his visit to the front lines before or after William Scott's death at Lee's Mills, Mr. Scott was able to visit his sons in an area where visitors to the front were forbidden. When asked how he could stay with his sons when other family visitors were ordered to leave, Mr. Scott said he had received a pass from President Lincoln.

There is no record of Mr. Scott's visit to the White House but Scott recollected in later years that when he met the President to thank him, Lincoln replied that it was always better to save a life than to destroy it.

When Scott's father told Lincoln that all his boys were in the service, the President directed that a pass be issued to him to visit his sons. On the way out, Lincoln asked Scott how he was going to get along on the farm with no help from his boys. The old man replied that he would "get along in some way or other". As he was about to leave, Lincoln slipped him a ten-dollar bill.