During the American Civil War, a young man named Roswell McIntyre
was drafted into the New York Cavalry. The war was not going
well. Soldiers were needed so desperately, that he was sent into
battle with very little training. Roswell became frightened -- he
panicked and ran. He was later court-martialed and condemned to
be shot for desertion.

McIntyre's mother appealed to President Lincoln. She pleaded that
he was young and inexperienced and he needed a second chance. The
generals, however, urged the president to enforce discipline.
Exceptions, they asserted, would undermine the discipline of an
already beleaguered army.

Lincoln thought and prayed. Then he wrote a famous statement. "I
have observed," he said, "that it never does a boy much good to
shoot him."

He wrote this letter in his own handwriting: "This letter will
certify that Roswell McIntyre is to be readmitted into the New
York Cavalry. When he serves out his required enlistment, he will
be freed of any charges of desertion."

That faded letter, signed by the president, is on display in the
Library of Congress. Beside it there is a note which reads, "This
letter was taken from the body of Roswell McIntyre, who died at
the battle of Little Five Forks, Virginia."

Given another chance, McIntyre fought until the end. Most of our
decisions are of a different magnitude than Lincoln's, but he
illustrates that there is always a time to try again. It never
does a boy (or anybody else for that matter) much good to shoot
him. But you might be surprised at the power of forgiveness!

~~Author Unknown By Me~~

I don't know if this is true. But it makes a great story of forgiveness.