正文During the American Civil War, a young man named Roswell McIntyre was drafted into the New York Cavalry（骑兵队）. 美国内战时期，有个名叫罗斯韦尔·麦金泰尔的年轻人被征入纽约骑兵部队。 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（惊慌失措） and ran. 当时战事不顺，部队急需战士，他几乎没怎么训练就被送上了战场。罗斯韦尔惊慌失措——他感到恐惧，当了逃兵。 He was later court-martialed（以军法审判） and condemned（已经被定罪的） to be shot for desertion（逃兵）. 后来，经军事法庭裁定，将其因擅离职守罪判处枪决。 McIntyre's mother appealed （求助）to President Lincoln. She pleaded（辩解） that he was young and inexperienced and he needed a second chance. 麦金泰尔的母亲去向林肯总统求情，请求念在儿子年纪尚轻，无作战经验，能否再给一次机会。 The generals, however, urged the president to enforce discipline. Exceptions, they asserted（声称）, would undermine（破坏） the discipline of an already beleaguered（被围困的） army. 可是，将军们都敦促总统不能坏了纪律。他们声称，如果破了例，已经四面楚歌的部队定会纪律涣散。 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.” 林肯经过考虑和祈祷，写下了很有名的一句话：“我认为，”他说，“枪毙一个小伙子意义不太大。” He wrote this letter in his own handwriting: “This letter will certify（证明 ） that Roswell McIntyre is to be readmitted（重新接纳） into the New York Cavalry. When he serves out his required enlistment, he will be freed of any charges of desertion.” 他亲笔写了下面这封信：“兹证明罗斯韦尔· 麦金泰尔再次被征召进入纽约骑兵部队。待服役期满，他将免受任何关于‘擅离职守罪'的指控。” 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 t aken from the body of Roswell McIntyre, who died at a battle in Virginia.” 这封总统亲笔签署的信如今已经泛黄，就陈列在美国国会图书馆里。旁边有张纸条，上面写着：“此信件是在罗斯韦尔·麦金泰尔的遗体上找到的，该战士在弗吉尼亚州的一场战役中捐躯。”
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来自： 紫微o太微o天市 > 《英语（English)》
