An Abe Lincoln Mystery

The Better Angels of Our Nature

By: Steve Leadley

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

An Abe Lincoln Mystery: The Better Angels of Our Nature

It is late at night as John Hay, Lincoln’s personal secretary retires to his White House quarters after yet another exhausting day helping the President navigate the business of conducting the war. However, in the middle of the night he is awakened by a visit from the President. The appearance is not altogether unusual as Lincoln often made such visits when plagued by bouts of insomnia. Yet Hay quickly learns that this occurrence is vastly different. Lincoln has brought a clemency appeal made to him regarding a double homicide committed in Louisiana. The President asks Hay if he has ever heard of his teenage flatboat trip down the Mississippi to New Orleans. The secretary admits he has- and of the near murderous attack he endured on the voyage, as well as his witnessing of a slave auction while in the city. President Lincoln then asks: “John, would you be much bothered if I told you what really happened when I went to New Orleans? It is an adventure very few know about.” John Hay quickly assents. Suddenly wide awake, he is intrigued beyond words to hear this mysterious account, and from Lincoln’s own lips.
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The Better Angels of Our Nature is a work of historical mystery fiction using the two aforementioned actual events from Lincoln’s flatboat trip to New Orleans as the catalyst for a mystery/adventure. In 1828 Lincoln and his partner were attacked one night while their flatboat was moored along the “Sugar Coast” of Louisiana. It was only through a combination of luck, bravery and guile that they were not killed. The second episode is the future President’s witnessing of the slave auction while in the city, which according to many solidified his desire to help forge an end to slavery. Lincoln is reported to have reacted by saying: “By God let’s get away from this. If ever I get a chance to hit this thing, I’ll hit it hard.” The events portrayed in The Better Angels of Our Nature have ramifications in developing not only Lincoln’s character but even his prosecution of the Civil War— and for the clemency appeal he holds in his hand as he relates the tale to John Hay.
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Steve Leadley taught American History for over 30 years and has authored numerous works of Historical Mystery Fiction including The Fox and Shelby Revolutionary War mystery series. He has also written acclaimed Sherlock Holmes pastiches such as Death by Misadventure. His works of regional Historical Mystery Fiction set at the Jersey shore continue to delight vacationers each summer.