--- title: "A dramatic presidential pardon saved the ‘Sleeping Sentinel’ at last minute" description: "William Scott, the Sleeping Sentinel, became famous while awaiting his execution for falling asleep while guard duty in 1861." date: "2026-11-13" modified: "2026-11-13" authors: - name: "Logan Nye" job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/logan-nye.md" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/a-dramatic-presidential-pardon-saved-the-sleeping-sentinel-at-last-minute/" categories: - "Civil War" - "History" - "War History" tags: - "Civil War" - "Military History" - "Presidents" --- # A dramatic presidential pardon saved the ‘Sleeping Sentinel’ at last minute ![A collage shows a famous Civil War Soldier, William Scott, the Sleeping Sentinel, next to an image of the Chain Bridge over the Potomac. Scott fell asleep while guarding the Chain Bridge, was sentenced to death, and survived thanks to a presidential pardon.]() *A collage shows a famous Civil War Soldier, William Scott, the Sleeping Sentinel, next to an image of the Chain Bridge over the Potomac. Scott fell asleep while guarding the Chain Bridge, was sentenced to death, and survived thanks to a presidential pardon.* The Civil War is full of weird coincidences and odd occurrences, like the War of 1812 veteran who was rejected for service in the Civil War twice but then got his chance when [the Battle of Gettysburg broke out within view of his porch](). **Also Read: [The Civil War started and ended at the same guy’s house]()** For U.S. Pvt. William Scott, his short Civil War career involved falling asleep on duty, receiving a last-minute pardon from the commanding general after intercession by none other than President Abraham Lincoln, becoming famous for his brush with death, and then being immortalized in the poem "The Sleeping Sentinel" after his actual death. All in less than a year. If this sort of sudden fame happened today, he would've at least had the proceeds of a crypto rug pull to send back to his family. But he probably didn't have that option in 1861. ### Scott's Snooze-Filled Slip-Up Results in a Death Sentence ![william scott the sleeping sentinel]() It was 1861 and the Civil War was just getting started. The U.S. Army dropped from its pre-war strength of 16,000 as disloyal soldiers headed to the rebel army. The Confederate States' government authorized an army of 100,000. Then President Lincoln [asked the loyal states for 75,000]() and, soon after, another 42,000. The Southern leadership authorized another 100,000. Believe it or not, septupling (7x) the size of an army at the start of a rebellion comes with costs. One of those costs is that there simply is not enough experience to go around. New soldiers sometimes have to train each other—and they may not understand the stakes of many of the decisions they'll make. The friction of that growth probably contributed to a big mistake by new Army Pvt. William Scott of the 3rd Vermont Infantry. Scott joined the Army on July 10, 1861. Just 50 days later, on August 31, he stood sentry duty as his unit guarded Chain Bridge over the Potomac River in Washington D.C. But standing duty in this case included a few Zs. He napped. Unfortunately for him, the law dictated a punishment of death. ### Mitigating Circumstances and a Letter-Writing Campaign Death might seem harsh for a first offense. Military officers and court martial juries often found reasons to reduce the punishment, and it's odd that they didn't do so for Scott. He had a pretty strong claim to extenuating circumstances: He'd pulled sentry duty the prior night. A fellow soldier had been too sick to stand duty, Scott volunteered to cover for him, had a normal duty day, and then had to stand sentry duty a second night in a row. It was on that second night that Scott failed to stay alert. His fellow Vermonters saw it as a miscarriage of justice. Unfortunately, leadership set his execution for Sept. 9, giving them about a week to request a pardon. But luckily, the incident happened mere miles from the White House. The enlisted men circulated a letter and 191 one of them signed it, [asking President Lincoln to intercede](). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JzzRIeGFco ### The Extremely Dramatic, Last-Minute Pardon For over a century, many historians thought the pardon campaign was exaggerated and that Lincoln had not participated in the ordeal, until documents recovered in 1997 proved the following story true. Lincoln did receive the entreaty and read it, he did decide to intercede, and he "expressed a wish" to Maj. Gen. George McClellan to show mercy. (Side note: RIP to the general who ignored the president's "wish" in a capital case on his doorstep.) But that wish and pardon almost arrived too late. According to a Vermont History summary of the morning of Sept. 9, the firing squad moved into its position. William Scott moved into his position. And they read out his death sentence. They did the entire ceremony and the squad was just waiting for the order to fire when, thankfully, the pardon arrived. It said: HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC Washington, September 8. Private William Scott, of Company K. of the Third regiment of Vermont volunteers, having been found guilty by court martial of sleeping on his post while a sentinel on picket guard, has been sentenced to be shot, and the sentence has been approved and ordered to be executed. The commanding officers of the brigade, the regiment and the company, of the command, together with many other privates and officers of his regiment, have earnestly appealed to the Major-General commanding, 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, viewed in connection with the inexperience of the condemned as a soldier, his previous good conduct and general good character, and the urgent entreaties made in his behalf, have determined the Major-General commanding to grant the pardon so earnestly prayed for. This act of clemency must not be understood as affording a precedent for any future case. The duty of a sentinel is of such a nature, that its neglect by sleeping upon or deserting his post may endanger the safety of a command, or even of the whole army, and all nations affix to the offence the penalty of death. Private William Scott of Co. K. of the Third regiment of Vermont volunteers, will be released from confinement and returned to duty. By command of Maj. General McClellan, S. WILLIAMS, Asst. Adjt.-General. ### The Sleeping Sentinel After His Dramatic Reprieve First, let's all take a moment to consider how surreal that march back to the bivouac area must have been. And how do you start the letters to alert your family that, "Hey, did you get my letter dated September 8? READ THIS ONE FIRST!"? Scott's survival became a national news story and he returned to duty. Lincoln continued his pardon campaign, interceding in case after case, [often with explanations]() like "I think this boy can do us more good above ground than under ground." Unfortunately for him, as the Vermont Brigade made its way through the war, Scott was mortally wounded at Warwick Creek in Virginia in April 1862. He is [buried in Yorktown National Cemetery](). Two of his brothers also perished in the war. In the eight extra months he lived, though, he reportedly served well and [his letters attest to a man connected to his family and the fellow Vermonters around him](). After his death, poet Frances De Haes Janvier wrote "The Sleeping Sentinel," a highly dramatized poem about the event that includes Lincoln personally showing up to stop the execution and Scott using his last breath to bless the president. There is no evidence for either event, but 1860s audiences lapped it up. The poem became the defining account of the event for years, and [famed elocutionist James E. Murdoch]() [performed it in front of the Lincolns](). ### "The Sleeping Sentinel" 'Twas in the sultry summer-time, as War's red records show, When patriot armies rose to meet a fratricidal foe— When, from the North, and East, and West, like the upheaving sea. Swept forth Columbia's sons, to make our country truly free. Within a prison's dismal walls, where shadows veiled decay— In fetters, on a heap of straw, a youthful soldier lay: Heart-broken, hopeless, and forlorn, with short and feverish breath, He waited but the appointed hour to die a culprit's death. Yet, but a few brief weeks before, untroubled with a care. He roamed at will, and freely drew his native mountain air— Where sparkling streams leap mossy rocks, from many a woodland font. And waving elms, and grassy slopes, give beauty to Vermont! Where, dwelling in an humble cot, a tiller of the soil, Encircled by a mother's love, he shared a father's toil— Till, borne upon the wailing winds, his suffering country's cry Fired his young heart with fervent zeal, for her to live or die. Then left he all:—a few fond tears, by firmness half concealed, A blessing, and a parting prayer, and he was in the field— The field of strife, whose dews are blood, whose breezes War's hot breath, Whose fruits are garnered in the grave, whose husbandman is Death! Without a murmur, he endured a service new and hard; But, wearied with a toilsome march, it chanced one night, on guard. He sank, exhausted, at his post, and the gray morning found His prostrate form—a sentinel, asleep, upon the ground! So, in the silence of the night, aweary, on the sod, Sank the disciples, watching near the suffering Son of God;— Yet, Jesus, with compassion moved, beheld their heavy eyes, And, though betrayed to ruthless foes, forgiving, bade them rise! But God is love,—and finite minds can faintly comprehend How gentle Mercy, in His rule, may with stern Justice blend; And this poor soldier, seized and bound, found none to justify. While War's inexorable law decreed that he must die. Twas night.—In a secluded room, with measured tread, and slow, A statesman of commanding mien, paced gravely to and fro. Oppressed, he pondered on a land by civil discord rent; On brothers armed in deadly strife:—it was the President! The woes of thirty millions filled his burdened heart with grief; Embattled hosts, on land and sea, acknowledged him their chief; And yet, amid the din of war, he heard the plaintive cry Of that poor soldier, as he lay in prison, doomed to die! 'Twas morning.—On a tented field, and through the heated haze. Flashed back, from lines of burnished arms, the sun's effulgent blaze; While; from a sombre prison-house, seen slowly to emerge, A sad procession, o'er the sward, moved to a muffled dirge. And in the midst, with faltering step, and pale and anxious face, In manacles, between two guards, a soldier had his place. A youth—led out to die;—and yet, it was not death, but shame. That smote his gallant heart with dread, and shook his manly frame! Still on, before the marshalled ranks, the train pursued its way Up to the designated spot, whereon a coffin lay— His coffin ! And, with reeling brain, despairing— desolate— He took his station by its side, abandoned to his fate! Then came across his wavering sight strange pictures in the air:— He saw his distant mountain home; he saw his parents there; He saw them bowed with hopeless grief, through fast-declining years; He saw a nameless grave; and then, the vision closed—in tears! Yet, once again. In double file, advancing, then, he saw Twelve comrades, sternly set apart to execute the law— But saw no more:—his senses swam—deep dark- ness settled round— And, shuddering, he awaited now the fatal volley's sound! Then suddenly was heard the noise of steeds and wheels approach,— And, rolling through a cloud of dust, appeared a stately coach. On, past the guards, and through the field, its rapid course was bent. Till, halting, 'mid the lines was seen the nation's President! He came to save that stricken soul, now waking from despair ; And from a thousand voices rose a shout which rent the air! The pardoned soldier understood the tones of jubilee, And, bounding from his fetters, blessed the hand that made him free! 'Twas Spring.—Within a verdant vale, where "Warwick's crystal tide Reflected, o'er its peaceful breast, fair fields on either side— "Where birds and flowers combined to cheer a sylvan solitude— Two threatening armies, face to face, in fierce defiance stood! Two threatening armies ! One invoked by injured Liberty— Which bore above its patriot ranks the Symbol of the Free; And one, a rebel horde, beneath a flaunting flag of bars, A fragment, torn by traitorous hands, from Freedom's Stripes and Stars! A sudden burst of smoke and flame, from many a thundering gun, Proclaimed, along the echoing hills, the conflict had begun; While shot and shell, athwart the stream with fiendish fury sped, To strew among the living lines, the dying and the dead! Then, louder than the roaring storm, pealed forth the stern command, ' Charge! soldiers, charge!" and, at the word, with shouts, a fearless band, Two hundred heroes from Vermont, rushed onward, through the flood. And upward, o'er the rising ground, they marked their way in blood! The smitten foe before them fled, in terror, from his post— While, unsustained, two hundred stood, to battle with a host! Then, turning, as the rallying ranks, with murderous fire, replied, They bore the fallen o'er the field, and through the purple tide! The fallen! And the first who fell in that unequal strife, Was he whom Mercy sped to save when Justice claimed his life— The pardoned soldier! And, while yet the conflict raged around— While yet his life-blood ebbed away through every gaping wound— While yet his voice grew tremulous, and death bedimmed his eye— He called his comrades to attest, he had not feared to die! And, in his last expiring breath, a prayer to heaven was sent— That God, with His unfailing grace, would bless our President! **Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty** **• [The Civil War created the modern American funeral industry]()** **• [Modern dishes anyone can make using Civil War foods]()** **• [President Lincoln personally led a recon mission during the Civil War]()** ## Author Logan was an Army journalist and paratrooper in the 82nd. Now, he's a freelance writer covering military history, culture, and technology. He has two upcoming podcasts and a Twitch channel focused on basic military literacy. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Facebook]() ## More - [These are the top 5 military-related presidential pardons]() - [President Lincoln personally led a recon mission during the Civil War]() - [The Loyal Lee: Robert E. 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