Tried by War

Starred review from July 28, 2008
Given the importance of Lincoln's role as commander-in-chief to the nation's very survival, says McPherson, this role has been underexamined. McPherson (Battle Cry of Freedom
), the doyen of Civil War historians, offers firm evidence of Lincoln's military effectiveness in this typically well-reasoned, well-presented analysis. Lincoln exercised the right to take any necessary measures to preserve the union and majority rule, including violating longstanding civil liberties (though McPherson considers the infringements milder than those adopted by later presidents). As McPherson shows, Lincoln understood the synergy of political and military decision-making; the Emancipation Proclamation, for instance, harmonized the principles of union and freedom with a strategy of attacking the crucial Confederate resource of slave labor. Lincoln's commitment to linking policy and strategy made him the most hands-on American commander-in-chief; he oversaw strategy and offered operational advice, much of it shrewd and perceptive. Lincoln may have been an amateur of war, but McPherson successfully establishes him as America's greatest war leader.

Starred review from September 1, 2008
In a concise and convincing accounting of Lincoln as a hands-on war leader, McPherson (George Henry Davis '86 Professor of History, emeritus, Princeton; "Battle Cry of Freedom") shows how military matters defined Lincoln's presidency and provided the means for redefining America by saving the democratic experiment and ending slavery. McPherson emphasizes Lincoln's ability to think clearly and creatively about military strategy, put aside personal preferences for the public good, enlist popular support by his appointment and management of military and government officers, mobilize public support by his speeches and correspondence, and win the war by understanding that military strategy must not be divorced from political context, with generals who understood that essential truth. Those familiar with McPherson's earlier Civil War books will recognize the thrust of his arguments, but readers in general will appreciate McPherson's graceful style, balanced assessments, and commonsense conclusions based on a complete command of the sources. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 6/15/08.]RMM

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2008
Recalling one of the classic workson Honest Abe, T. Harry Williams Lincoln and His Generals (1952), McPhersons fluid narrative renders balanced judgments of Lincolns performance as a war president. Aswith the law, Lincoln was a self-taught strategist whose political acumen, McPherson illustrates in instance after instance, was vital to his conduct of the Union cause. Lincolns political skills factored into several levels at which a commander in chief functions, specified as the setting of policy, national strategy, military strategy, military operations, and, occasionally, military tactics. Though it has assumed the look of lore in Civil War literature, Lincolns dealings with generals become exceptionally vibrant in McPhersons prose, rewarding even buffs whove seen it all about McClellan or Grant. Suggesting Lincoln stuck too long with McClellan, McPherson shows how unsatisfactory alternatives, as well as the Young Napol'onspolitical strength, compelled Lincoln to go once more to the well with McClellan. Equally effectively, McPherson depicts the Norths shifting political moodstoward the wars cost and length and toward emancipationas crucial to the environment in which Lincoln made his decisions. No surprise coming from the immensely popular McPherson, this is first-rate reading for the Civil War audience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)