Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James McPherson examines Abraham Lincoln's role as Commander in Chief during the Civil War. The book focuses specifically on Lincoln's military leadership and strategic decision-making rather than attempting a complete biography. McPherson analyzes Lincoln's evolution from political leader to wartime president through key battles, military appointments, and strategic planning. The narrative tracks Lincoln's hands-on management of the Union army and his complex relationships with his generals. McPherson draws extensively from primary sources including Lincoln's correspondence, military records, and period accounts to reconstruct the president's military education and command decisions. The book covers the full span of the war from Fort Sumter through Appomattox. The work provides insight into the development of the modern American presidency and the expansion of executive war powers. Through Lincoln's example, it explores the challenges faced by civilian leaders who must learn to direct military operations during times of national crisis.

Readers found the book provides a focused examination of Lincoln's military decisions and growth as a wartime leader. Many noted McPherson's clear writing style and organization of Lincoln's key strategic choices. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of military concepts for non-experts - Details about Lincoln's relationships with generals - Coverage of Lincoln's constitutional interpretations - Documentation and primary sources Common criticisms: - Too brief/surface-level treatment of major battles - Limited new insights for Civil War experts - Repetition of material from McPherson's other works - Lack of maps to illustrate campaigns One reviewer noted: "McPherson excels at showing Lincoln's learning curve but skims over some crucial turning points." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (175+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (250+ ratings) Several military history forums praised the book's accessibility while noting it works better as an introduction than a detailed analysis.

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin This political biography examines Lincoln's relationship with his cabinet members and military commanders during the Civil War.

Grant by Ron Chernow This biography details Ulysses S. Grant's military career, his partnership with Lincoln, and his role in securing Union victory.

Lincoln's Generals by Gabor S. Boritt This collection of essays examines Lincoln's relationships with five Union generals and his evolution as a military strategist.

Lincoln and His Admirals by Craig L. Symonds This study focuses on Lincoln's management of the Union Navy and his development of naval strategy during the Civil War.

Lincoln's War: The Untold Story of America's Greatest President as Commander in Chief by Geoffrey Perret This military history chronicles Lincoln's transformation from a political leader to a wartime commander.

🔹 Despite having no formal military training, Lincoln personally wrote detailed operational plans for several Civil War campaigns, including specific instructions about troop movements and timing that he sent to his generals. 🔹 Author James M. McPherson won the Pulitzer Prize for his previous Civil War book, "Battle Cry of Freedom," and is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on the American Civil War. 🔹 Lincoln devoted more time to his military responsibilities than to all his other presidential duties combined, spending many late nights in the War Department's telegraph office awaiting battlefield updates. 🔹 The book reveals that Lincoln fired or reassigned eight different commanding generals of the Army of the Potomac before finally finding success with Ulysses S. Grant. 🔹 Throughout the war, Lincoln faced constant criticism for his "unconstitutional" expansion of presidential war powers, including his suspension of habeas corpus and establishment of military tribunals for civilians.