Lincoln And The Sleeping Sentinel The Pardon

The petition, signed and September 7th that Chaplain Parmalee authored somehow was delivered to the White House the next day.

In the letters of General McClellan there is one dated September 8th to his wife.

"Mr. Lincoln came this morning to ask me to pardon a man that I had ordered to be shot, suggesting that I could give as a reason in the order that it was by request of the 'Lady President'".

McClellan's office was located at the corner of H Street and Madison Place, a short walk across Lafayette Park from the gates of the White House.

The next day, September 9th, the National Republican, a Washington newspaper carried the story of Private William Scott, to be shot by confirmation of Gen. McClellan would be carried out that very morning.

The National Republican story carried a news update appended to the execution story.

"At a late hour last night, we were informed by Major Ridenour that he had just presented a petition to the President, numerously signed, for the pardon of the young soldier and that the President informed him (Ridenour) the execution would not take place today."

A few days after Scott's sentencing, General Smith had moved his brigade about a mile past Chain Bridge into Virginia which was enemy ground. While the Washington public was reading about William's pardon that morning in the Republican, the brigade, now in enemy territory was being drawn up 3 sides to a hollow square .

Pvt. Scott was led out to the middle of the square and a group of fellow Vermonters who had been picked for the firing squad leveled their loaded muskets in his direction. An officer in charge read the charge, then the verdict. In letters from soldiers present at the execution, Scott was described as ghostly white and trembling. A white patch had been attached to his shirt covering his heart. Some say a blindfold was used although many said he faced the firing squad with his face uncovered. There must have been a sad groan from the Vermont brigade as Scott faced them.

There was a pause after the pronouncement had been read. Then the officer in charge read on.

"The commanding officers of the brigade, the regiment and the company of the command, together with many other officers and privates of his (Scott's) regiment, have appealed to the Major-General to spare the life of the offender and the President of the United States has expressed a wish that as this is the first condemnation to death in this army for this crime, mercy may be extended to the criminal. This fact has determined the Major-General to grant the pardon."

In letters from soldiers present at William Scott's too close encounter with his execution and pardon, the description was chaotic. The camp exploded wildly for the relief of having Scott's life spared and their appreciation of their Commander-in-Chief, Abraham Lincoln.