Lincoln and the Sleeping Sentinel: The True Story

In the midst of the Civil War, a simple yet striking episode unfolds: a Union soldier, exhausted from endless night watches, succumbs to sleep while guarding a strategic post. The incident draws the attention of President Abraham Lincoln, whose response reveals a side of the leader rarely seen in official histories. Through vivid narration, the listener is taken from the battlefield’s grim reality to the quiet moments in the White House where a decision is weighed.

The account is drawn from the recollections of L. E. Chittenden, a Treasury official who served beside Lincoln and witnessed the episode firsthand. His storytelling blends factual detail with personal observation, allowing listeners to sense Lincoln’s humanity, humor, and deep sense of justice. Accompanied by period illustrations, the narrative offers a compact yet intimate portrait of a president grappling with compassion amid war.