Schoolchildren learn how Abraham Lincoln educated himself by reading and rereading the few books that were available to him. In TRIED BY WAR: ABRAHAM LINCOLN AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, historian James M. McPherson notes the deliberate, even slow, but exhaustive quality of Lincoln?s intelligence, which was observed by contemporaries. Lincoln himself said, "I am never easy when I am handling a thought, till I have bounded it North, and bounded it South, and bounded it East, and bounded it West." He approached his role as commander-in-chief the same way. Knowing that his adversary Jefferson Davis had the benefit of a West Point military education, Lincoln read countless books on military strategy and digested the reports coming in from commanders in the field. Although Lincoln had served in the Blackhawk War, he had not been in combat and even belittled his own service. McPherson concludes that through his determined studies and natural ability, Lincoln became a better strategist during the Civil War than his own generals.

Evaluates Lincoln's talents as a commander in chief in spite of limited military experience, tracing the ways in which he worked with, or against, his senior commanders to defeat the Confederacy and reshape the presidential role.

Evaluates Lincoln's talents as a commander in chief in spite of limited military experience, tracing the ways in which he worked with, or against, his senior commanders to defeat the Confederacy and reshape the presidential role. 150,000 first printing.

Evaluates Lincoln's talents as a commander in chief in spite of limited military experience, tracing the ways in which he worked with, or against, his senior commanders to defeat the Confederacy and reshape the presidential role. 150,000 first printing.