Hi Doc:

Abe Lincoln was elected a company commander in the Illinois militia during the Black Hawk Wars (21 April 1832 to 10 July 1832). His company marched around for three months but never engaged with the enemy. Abe Lincoln did however provide medical assistance to other units in the aftermath of their encounters with the indigenous warriors. Except for a handful of "rasslin" matches with his fellow rugged frontiersmen, I don't think Abraham Lincoln ever personally hurt or killed anybody in his life, nor did he want to.

#3: Well said. He amnestied many Union soldiers from execution and expressly ordered no vengeance against the defeated Confederates after the surrender. Only two Confederates were executed for war crimes after the Civil War and Lincoln may not even have heard of it.

#5: Hi Snoofy: You're right about the Dakota warriors; thanks for that.

"President Lincoln reviewed each case and commuted the death sentences of 265 prisoners and allowed the execution of 38 men."

Those poor devils did not have defense counsel and the trials were shoddily run. Lincoln gave the US Cavalry its "pound of flesh" with those 38 warriors and I imagine the compassionate A. Lincoln was loath to sign the death warrants. During the Civil War, Honest Abe spared many, many Union soldiers from execution for desertion.