The history of the North had virtually become, by April, 1861, the history of Lincoln himself, and during the remaining four years of the President's life it is difficult to separate his personality from our view of national history.
Nathaniel W. Stephenson writes with energy and great attention to detail, regarding the way the North operated under Lincoln’s leadership.
This is a must-read for any student of history or those who wish to know our nation’s heritage and legacy.
Excerpts
CHAPTER VI. WAR...
On the day following the inauguration, commissioners of the newly formed Confederacy appeared at Washington and applied to the Secretary of State for recognition as envoys of a foreign power. Seward refused them such recognition. But he entered into private negotiation with them which is nearly, if not quite, the strangest thing in our history. Virtually, Seward intrigued against Lincoln for control of the Administration. The events of the next five weeks have an importance out of all proportion to the brevity of the time. This was Lincoln's period of final probation. The psychological intensity of this episode grew from the consciousness in every mind that now, irretrievably, destiny was to be determined. War or peace, happiness or adversity, one nation or two--all these were in the balance. Lincoln entered the episode a doubtful quantity, not with certainty the master even in his own Cabinet. He emerged dominating the situation, but committed to the terrible course of war.
Synopsis
"The passage of sixty years has proved fully necessary to the placing of Lincoln in historic perspective. No President, in his own time, with the possible exception of Washington, was so bitterly hated and so fiercely reviled. On the other hand, none has been the object of such intemperate hero-worship. However, the greatest of the land were, in the main, quick to see him in perspective and to recognize his historic significance. It is recorded of Davis that in after days he paid a beautiful tribute to Lincoln and said, ""Next to the destruction of the Confederacy, the death of Abraham Lincoln was the darkest day the South has known."""
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I -- THE TWO NATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC 2
CHAPTER II. THE PARTY OF POLITICAL EVASION 9
CHAPTER III. THE POLITICIANS AND THE NEW DAY 16
CHAPTER IV. THE CRISIS 22
CHAPTER V. SECESSION 28
CHAPTER VI. WAR 36
CHAPTER VII. LINCOLN 44
CHAPTER VIII. THE RULE OF LINCOLN 49
CHAPTER IX. THE CRUCIAL MATTER 58
CHAPTER X. THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY 66
CHAPTER XI. NORTHERN LIFE DURING THE WAR 70
CHAPTER XII. THE MEXICAN EPISODE 77
CHAPTER XIII. THE PLEBISCITE OF 1864 80
CHAPTER XIV. LINCOLN'S FINAL INTENTIONS 86
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 89
About the Author
Stephenson, Nathaniel W. (Nathaniel Wright), 1867-1935
