June 8, 1862
As president, Abraham Lincoln spent a great deal of time as president reviewing the verdicts of Army courts martial. He was usually keen for any excuse that might lighten any otherwise severe sentence. Today, President looks the files of courts martial for inmates of the District of Columbia jail.” As he sometimes observed when reviewing such cases: “”I must put this by until I can settle in my mind whether this soldier can better serve the country dead than living.”
Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War 
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