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A PETITION 206 FEET LONG, house of representatives Friday morning appeal of 5,000 people for eompulto*President “Abe” Lincoln Wouldn't Fire at TargetOf Confederate ChieftainCharles N. Race, of Michigan, Now in Atlanta, Tells Interesting Incidents Relating to Life and Character of Martyred Executive.The Berdan Sharpshooters were encamped at Alexandria and President Lincoln used to come over with Secretary Stanton every fejv days to watch us at drill and target practice. It was In ’61,'not long before we were ordered to the front.”Charles N. Race, of Qwottio, Mich.. now In Atlanta, a former membor of the famous volunteer fighting machine, was telling a story of Lincoln, the story of an Incident that came under his own eyes soon ufter his enlistment, when he was the youngest private In the Berdan Sharpshooters.Lincoln Was Excellent Marksman.The president was very fond of watching the target nnictlce. and rarely paid ui n visit without firing a few rounds himself. He was an excellent shot, too. and could hold his own with a Sharp’H rifle against any of us.Our favorite target at that Ume was tha life-size figure of a xouave, his uniform painted In gaudy colors. The distance ranged from 200 to 600 yards.On the occasion of which I speak our range Instructor had prepared what he considered a,clever little «urprlse for tho president when ho should next try his skill on the targets. It was In tho shape of a special turget. painted to represent a man In civilian’s nttlre and labeled In big. plain letters. 'Jeff Davis.’ This target was to bo run tip when the president's time came to fire.I shall never forget what followed.I was on the firing line that afternoon when Mr. Lincoln stepped up. selected his rifle, and. smiling a Uttio ns he examined It, Indicated his readiness to fire.Then, with the rifle half raised, he looked full at the target for the first time.We wapt to see you take a crack at that. Mr. President,” said the Instructor.He Wouldn't Firs.Mr. Lincoln lowered his rifle and turned from the target to the Instruc-mr. I was onlv seventeen years old then—a mere boy—but the look on his face made an Impression on me that the passing of hnlf n century bus left untouched.He didn’t say a word. He simply looked at the Instructor with an expression full of surprise, of disappointment, and. more than all else, of sorrow. Then ho laid the rifle down, slowly and gently, and went a little way oft from the group, walking up and down by himself, with folded arms and bowed head, for maybe twenty minutes.After a time he came back and fired several shots at the regular target— that unlucky new one had vanished In double quick time. I can tell you—but he was unusually silent and soon went away„ I couldn’t'get tho Incident off my mind for several days, and I have never forgotten It.”Mr. Race, with his brothers. 8. J. Race and D. N. Race, enlisted In the Berdan Sharpshooters almost at the beginning of the Civil war. The body was organized by Colonel Berdan, since famous as the Inventor of tho Berdan range finder and many other appliances connected with the science of war and ammunition, such as the Berdan prim-I’hoto by Edward*.CHARLE8 N. RACE.Knew the ••Rall-Splllter” well and relates hitherto unpublished Incidents.era and sheila.At the time of his enlistment Mr. Race was seventeen years of uge. Both his brothers, older than himself, were killed In action, one of them at his side. Mr. Race himself served thru ti e entire war. He Is a native of Michigan, but Is at presents located In Atlanta with his son, James F. Race, who has been In Atlanta seven years.Mr. Race Is now negotiating for Atlanta property on which to settle as his home, believing tho milder Southern climate wtll be beneficial to himself and his wife, whom ho expects to Join him in Atlanta before tho coming winter.His son, James F. Race. Is trafilc manager of the Southern Furniture Company,Strike-Idle Auto Plant Is Blown UpDetroit. July 9.—A dozen persona in the vicinity of the Belts Automobile and Transmission Company. 225 Beech-er-st., early this morning, were hurled from their beds and two sustained Injuries. when a satchel filled with dynamite exploded under a pile of Iron coatings In the rear of the plant, evidently
Newspaper Details
Atlanta Georgian and News
Atlanta, Georgia, US
Fri, Jul 09, 1909
Page 15
Full Page
Clipped by
Frederick C.
MD, USA 22 Nov 2024
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