A review by srbolton
Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief by James M. McPherson

5.0

A fantastic history of the political, policy, and strategic context of Lincoln's leadership of the Civil War. It is remarkable how quickly he learned strategy and campaigning and how intuitively he applied that knowledge. His seeming grasp of the military instrument was throughout more thorough and nuanced than any military commander's grasp of the political. Lincoln's studious diligence and his relentless pursuit of the right war aims and campaign objectives offer perhaps the best American argument for subjective control of the military. This is a great book for military planners, strategist, and leaders at all levels seeking to understand the national conduct of war.