It is late afternoon at the old soldiers home, three miles north of Capitol Hill.

It's been a sunny day, and recuperating soldiers linger outside, lounging on porch seats, and leaning on crutches,

enjoying the last warmth of a healing sun as soft evening

freezes blow in.

The wide panorama of Washington City stretches below.

The capital building juts skyward, its enlarged domes still under construction.

A weary traveler arrives on the road.

His dark coat filmed with a layer of light dust, kicked up from his horse's hooves, and the wheels of passing coaches.

It is the President, Abraham Lincoln.

After another Harry Day's work in the humid thrum of the presidential mansion, assaulted by its retinue of visitors

and staff with their endless requests and demands. Lincoln dismounts from his horse, brushes himself

off, and breathed deep, basking a moment in the fresh air and sunshine.

Here, far from the pressures of the mansion, but close enough to still command a war,

Lincoln can relax for the evening with his family.

As his son Tad dashes towards him on the front path,

the President's mind so nodded with worry and grief,

gradually unravels. Good day to you listeners. Thanks for tuning in to American History Hit. I'm Don Wildman.

There is so much to the heroic presidency of Abraham Lincoln, his

unlikely rise to the highest office,

a great civil war victory, his violent assassination and martyrdom.

One almost forgets the man was a living human being

with the character flaws to prove it.

...