Book review

Tried By War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief

Highly Recommended:

Written by James M. McPherson, this is the first history to examine Lincoln as a military commander, and the interaction between the Army (and Navy), policy and politics.

It takes a national (and international) view of Lincoln as war commander. For students of the War in the West, it shows the importance of that region as the Theater where the war was won (and lost). It also follows Lincoln’s long search for a commander who could manage the (Eastern) Army of the Potomac. In the end, McPherson shows that it was in the West that Lincoln found the men to lead the Eastern army, and ensure that the two main Federal forces (the Army of the Potomac and the “Military Division of the Mississippi” finally worked in concert.

Understandable to the newcomer, and enjoyable to the veteran scholar.

Available in most public libraries.