Here’s a tribute to the bravery, patriotism, sacrifice, and leadership that epitomizes what we as Americans should truly celebrate this Independence Day holiday.
On a dreary misty morning in September 1861, during the first year of the Civil War, a group of Union soldiers came to the White House to plead for the life of one of their comrades. They were granted an audience with President Lincoln, which in those days was not as unheard of as it would be today. Still, in awe of being in the presence of the nation’s leader, in faulting words, they explained to him why they had endeavored to meet with him.
The soldiers were part of the 3rd Vermont Regiment, which was made up mostly of farm boys from the Green Mountains. Since their arrival in Washington, they had been stationed at Chain Bridge, a few miles above the city. The bridge was of vital importance since Confederate forces occupied the hill on the opposite side of the Potomac River. The soldier’s orders were strict: Any sentinel caught sleeping at his post was to be shot within twenty-four hours.
According to the solders’ story, a boy named William Scott had enlisted in Company K. He had been on duty one night, and the following night had taken the place of a comrade too sick to stand guard. The third night he had been called out on guard duty yet again. The young fellow could not keep awake for three nights in a row. When his relief guard came around, her was found asleep. Arrested, tried, and found guilty, he was sentenced to be shot.
“William Scott, sir, is as brave a soldier as there is in your army,” the Green Mountain Boys told Lincoln. “He is no coward. It’s not right to shoot him like a traitor and bury him like a dog.”
Later in the day President Lincoln rode from the White House in the direction of Chain Bridge. Within a day or so the newspapers reported that a soldier sentenced to death for sleeping at his post had been pardoned by the president and had returned to his regiment.
It was a long time before Scott would speak of his interview with President Lincoln. One day he told a friend the whole story.
“I knew the president at once,” he said, “by a Lincoln medal I had long worn. I was scared at first, for I had never talked with a great man before. He asked me all about the folks at home, my brothers and sisters, and where I went to school, and how I liked it. Then he asked me about my mother. I showed him her picture. He said that if he were in my place, he would try to make a fond mother happy, and never cause her a sorrow or a tear.
“My boy,” he said, “you are not going to be shot. You are going back to your regiment. I have been put to a good deal of trouble on your account. Now what I want to know is how you are going to pay me back. My bill is a large one, and there is only one man in all the world who can pay it. His name is William Scott. If from this day you will promise to do your whole duty as a soldier, then the debt will be paid. Will you make that promise and try to keep it?”
Gladly the young Vermont soldier made the promise, and well did he keep it. From that day, William Scott became a model man of his regiment. He was never absent from roll call. He was always on hand if there was any hard work to do. He worked nights in the hospital, nursing the sick and wounded, because it trained him to keep awake. He made a record for himself on picket duty and distinguished himself as a scout.
Sometime after his 3rd Vermont went into one of its many hard battles, they were ordered to attack the Confederate lines and William Scott fell as he charged before the vicious enemy volley. His comrades found and carried him bleeding and dying from the field and laid him on a cot.
“Tell the president I tried to be a good soldier and true to the flag,” he said with faltering breath. Then in his last moments he prayed for Abraham Lincoln,
Company K buried William Scott in a grove of trees just in the rear of the camp, at the foot of a big oak tree. Deep into the tree they carved the initials “W.S.” and under it the words “A Brave Soldier.”
… And I’m proud to be an American
Where at least I know I’m free
And I won’t forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I’d gladly stand up next to you
And defend her still today
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt
I love this land
God bless the U.S.A. –Lee Greenwood
Have an AWE-full 4th of July Holiday!
William “Bill” Bacque