Lincoln's War

Lincoln's War examines Abraham Lincoln's role as Commander in Chief during the American Civil War. The book focuses on Lincoln's military decisions, his relationships with generals, and his evolution as a wartime leader. The narrative tracks Lincoln's handling of key strategic choices and command changes throughout the conflict. Perret draws on primary sources to reconstruct Lincoln's decision-making process and interactions with his military commanders. The book places particular emphasis on Lincoln's self-education in military affairs and his growing confidence in exercising command authority. Details of specific battles and campaigns serve to illustrate Lincoln's developing strategic vision. This military biography offers a focused perspective on Lincoln's presidency by examining it primarily through the lens of his wartime leadership. The book contributes to ongoing discussions about civilian control of the military and the balance between political and military considerations in wartime.

Readers found this book focused more on Lincoln's military leadership than a traditional biography. Many valued Perret's analysis of Lincoln's strategic decisions and his growth as commander-in-chief. Likes: - Clear explanations of military tactics and strategy - Fresh perspective on Lincoln's military acumen - Detailed exploration of relationships with generals - Accessible writing style for military history Dislikes: - Several factual errors noted by history buffs - Limited coverage of political/social context - Some readers felt it oversimplified complex issues - Critics say it repeats common knowledge without new insights One reader wrote: "Perret catches details other biographers miss about Lincoln's hands-on approach to military decisions." Another noted: "Too many basic mistakes for a scholarly work - dates and locations are sometimes wrong." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (32 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (12 ratings)

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin Examines Lincoln's presidency through his relationships with cabinet members and political competitors during the Civil War.

Grant by Ron Chernow Chronicles the military and presidential life of Ulysses S. Grant, Lincoln's most trusted general and the commander who helped win the Civil War.

Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson Presents the military, political, and social history of the Civil War era from both Union and Confederate perspectives.

Lincoln and His Generals by T. Harry Williams Details Lincoln's evolution as commander-in-chief and his interactions with Union generals throughout the war.

April 1865 by Jay Winik Focuses on the pivotal final month of the Civil War, including Lincoln's assassination and the war's conclusion.

🔹 Geoffrey Perret was a military historian who wrote nine books about American war and presidency, including acclaimed biographies of Ulysses S. Grant and Douglas MacArthur before tackling Lincoln's presidency. 🔹 The book challenges traditional views of Lincoln as a military amateur, arguing that he was actually a skilled strategist who developed into an effective Commander-in-Chief through intense self-study. 🔹 "Lincoln's War" reveals that the President personally tested new weapons on the White House lawn, including the Spencer repeating rifle, demonstrating his hands-on approach to military innovation. 🔹 The author contends that Lincoln's decision to appoint political generals, rather than rely solely on West Point graduates, was a calculated strategy to maintain public support for the war effort. 🔹 During the period covered in the book (1861-1865), Lincoln went through seven commanding generals before finding Ulysses S. Grant, who finally delivered the victory strategy Lincoln had envisioned years earlier.