The anecdote is highly dubious for several reasons: there is no indication where this took place and it is highly unlikely that any slaveholder would have been allowed to beat a slave anywhere in Lincoln's proximity when he was president. Furthermore, any disembarkation would have occurred on or near a US army/navy installation/camp which makes the event even more unlikely. The wording is not in 19th century parlance [no one said 'man' in that type of context] and President Lincoln would not have shrugged off the sight leaving 'no one to do anything about it'. If the story had been set in New Orleans during either of AL's two trips down river as a young man it would at least have more viability.

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