DiscoverOur American StoriesThe Death Sentence That Turned Into One of Lincoln’s Most Famous Pardons
The Death Sentence That Turned Into One of Lincoln’s Most Famous Pardons

The Death Sentence That Turned Into One of Lincoln’s Most Famous Pardons

Update: 2025-09-03
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On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Civil War, falling asleep on guard duty was a crime punishable by death. That was the fate awaiting William Scott, a young Union soldier who drifted off at his post one night. His case captured the attention of Abraham Lincoln, who chose mercy over execution. What followed became one of the most remarkable Civil War stories, where compassion and discipline collided in the heat of war.

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The Death Sentence That Turned Into One of Lincoln’s Most Famous Pardons

The Death Sentence That Turned Into One of Lincoln’s Most Famous Pardons

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