Historical investigators recently uncovered a startling revelation about President Joe Biden’s ancestry, shedding light on a gripping tale from the Civil War era.

It appears that Biden’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Moses Johnson Robinette, found himself entangled in a violent altercation during the tumultuous final years of the conflict, ultimately receiving a pardon from none other than President Abraham Lincoln.

According to sources cited in the Washington Post, Robinette’s involvement in a harrowing incident in March 1864 led to his conviction for attempted murder. The confrontation, sparked by alleged inappropriate remarks towards a female assistant, escalated into a physical altercation resulting in knife wounds inflicted upon another Union officer, John J. Alexander.

Before his involvement in the war, Robinette had been a respected hotelier in Grafton, Virginia. However, the ravages of the conflict claimed personal tragedy, prompting him to seek refuge in Maryland with his family. Despite his civilian status, he later found himself serving as a veterinary surgeon for the Union Army, tending to the vital animals supporting the war effort.

Witness accounts of the incident vary, with some describing Robinette as “full of fun, always lively and joking.” Nevertheless, he faced a military court-martial and was ultimately sentenced to two years of confinement. This led to his incarceration on the remote Dry Tortugas islands off the coast of Florida, where he awaited the uncertain outcome of his fate.

However, Robinette’s fortunes took a surprising turn when friends and supporters petitioned for his release. Citing his contributions to the war and the circumstances of the altercation, they appealed to President Lincoln for clemency. In a remarkable act of forgiveness, Lincoln granted Robinette a pardon in September 1864, sparing him further imprisonment and acknowledging the complexities of loyalty and conflict during that tumultuous period in American history.

This revelation adds a compelling dimension to President Biden’s ancestral legacy, linking him to the dramatic events of the past and highlighting the intricacies of human experience amid the backdrop of war.