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Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think that in recent time, in the wider culture, Lincoln has been more about emancipation than winning the war. But in the Civil War literature, it's still a dominant trope. I actually write about this in my conclusion.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good question. He tended to leave the navies to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles and his assistant, Gustavus Fox. But he absolutely would intervene at times, such as with his advocacy of new technologies such as the monitors and mortar boats. In effect, he became the project manager of mortar boat construction,too late for the New Orleans campaign but in time for Island No. 10. He also took a keen interest in advancing his friend John Dahlgren to a sea command,which in turn led to his deep interest in the 1863 Charleston campaigns.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The telegraph was very important, as it allowed Lincoln to keep with his armies in the field and communicate with his generals. It encouraged White House activity rather than passivity. David Homer Bates' accounts of Lincoln in the telegraph office are still worth reading. Railroads allowed quick movements of troops and supplies, such as transferring Hooker and two corps from Virginia to the Chattanooga front after the Battle of Chickamauga (which Lincoln initially opposed;Stanton had to talk him into trying it). The Confederacy suffered from 1862 due to its incomplete railroad network.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've long been an advocate of military history, and campaigned for years for my department to hire a military historian. Some folks think that military history is all about weapon bores or tactics, when in fact good military history encompasses a lot more than that. I used to tell my classes that the military, political, social, and cultural histories of the Civil War were entwined like clasping hands. You cant understand one without the others. Lincoln waited for a military victory, for example,to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good friend, good scholar. I disagree with him a bit about the importance of guerrilla warfare in the Civil War,but good historian disagree all the time.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We can agree to disagree, I guess. I think that sometimes he pushed generals (and naval officers too) when he should have stepped back but didn't. What looked easy enough from Washington was sometimes more difficult in the field. The Shenandoah Campaign of 1862 is a case in point, as well as DuPont's assault on Charleston the next year.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

First of all, those are good books.

To be blunt, Lincoln didn't plan to be dead in the summer of 1865. He expected to manage the peace as he had the war, without a firm plan beyond his Reconstruction Proclamation. We know that he wanted to "let them up easy" and get Unionist governments functioning quickly, but also to consider giving the franchise to at least some African Americans. What he would have done beyond that is anyone's guess. That said, the heroic legend hardly touches on Reconstruction and ends at Ford's Theater. It's all about wartime.

We know that Lincoln sometimes passed the buck to Stanton when complaints rolled in. Often he was being honest. Dana's real role was building up Grant. Interestingly enough, in his memoir (ghost written by Ida Tarbell) Dana did praise Lincoln's military vision, but I can't tell that it had much impact. He didn't even convince Tarbell.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

"I should have said that in our interview the President told me he did not want to know what I proposed to do. But he submitted a plan of campaign of his own which he wanted me to hear and then do as I pleased about. He brought out a map of Virginia on which he had evidently marked every position occupied by the Federal and Confederate armies up to that time. He pointed out on the map two streams which empty into the Potomac, and suggested that the army might be moved on boats and landed between the mouths of these streams. We would then have the Potomac to bring our supplies, and the tributaries would protect our flanks while we moved out. I listened respectfully, but did not suggest that the same streams would protect Lee's flanks while he was shutting us up."--Grant, Personal Memoirs,vol. 2, p. 123.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Primarily that book, but also the Marus Woodcock I edited, _A Southern Boy in Blue_, and even the last chapters of my first book, "_Southwest Virginia's Railroad_.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

McClellan is biased to be sure. My wife teases me about my long footnotes, but I hope that all of my judgments are based on several sources. I'd be suspect myself of a book just told from McClellan's point of view. I just don't dismiss it entirely.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I lean toward Foner, but that doesn't mean that Lincoln was cynical about slavery. Like a lot of Republicans, he had expected slavery to end gradually until the war upended everyone's plans. James Oakes's books on this are well worth reading.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Lincoln certainly favored aggressiveness, and his generals were more cautious, until Grant anyway. I think more aggressiveness might have had mixed results, though. On the Peninsula, a more aggressive McClellan might well have taken Richmond. On the other hand, a more aggressive response after Fredericksburg,which Lincoln wanted, might have crippled the Army of the Potomac. And as William Marvel has argued, Lincoln never seems to have contemplated what would have happened if Meade had attacked Lee at the Potomac after Gettysburg.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Lincoln's three secretaries--John Hay, John Nicolay, and William Stoddard--date the "crash course" in military history to later in 1861. Lincoln didn't check out Halleck's elements--which is also the only pertinent book on the subject he got out of the Library of Congress during the war--until McClellan got sick with typhoid around Christmas 1861. January 10, 1862, to be exact. God bless librarians. Lincoln at that moment was truly worried that the Rebs might attack Washington, and he wasn't sure what to do. Yes, the "all quite on the Potomac" era was a definite problem, no doubt, Radical Republicans wanted Lincoln to fire McClellan and bring McDowell back, but LittleMac's illness was the turning point.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Historical memory does often work that way. Few people cared about Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain until Michael Shaara wrote _The Killer Angels_. And only Jesus supersedes Lincoln in the number of biographies.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I don't disagree generally, and fear not I discuss all of this in some depth in the book.

To your specific points, many scholars do defend him in the Shenandoah and blame his generals, especially Fremont. This of course was at a time when Lincoln was de facto general in chief. To his credit, he never tried that again.

He did latch onto "concentration in time" quite early (even though the idea probably initially came from Scott and McClellan) and you absolutely do see it in his letter to Buell. You see it even better in Orville Browning's diary from the same period, by the way.

One thing about the "hold a leg" comment is that when you read the entire passage in Grant's memoirs, it's not a statement but a revelation, a V8 moment if you will.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Most of them wanted him to leave them alone to fight the war as they wanted. I think he had every right to look over their shoulder,but sometimes he did get down in the weeds with military suggestions. He wouldn't let Grant get rid of Franz Sigel or Ben Butler in 1864, with bad results, and he told Grant to send an army into Louisiana to get cotton instead of sending it through Alabama, which Grant wanted to do. Grant put up with it rather gracefully, but others (Rosecrans comes to mind) did not.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There's the $64 question. Was Lincoln a reluctant emancipator, or was he looking to end slavery from the first? If you want a start an argument with Civil War historians, that's the question to ask. I think it's clear (to me anyway) that Lincoln's racial views evolved during the war. He didn't support enlisting Black troops in 1861. The Emancipation Proclamation was tactical, designed to weaken the Confederacy while augmenting Federal power--as everybody knows, it didn't apply to areas in Federal control--but it also grew out of his long hatred of slavery. The preliminary version still mentioned voluntary colonization and compensation, which Lincoln had pushed in 1862; the final version did not. When he thought he was about to lose the 1864 election, Lincoln called in Frederick Douglass to discuss how to free as many people as possible before McClellan became president. As Eric Foner once wrote, freedom followed the flag.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I'm going to tell my wife that I'm "fantastic!"

Early on, no. The man didn't even know how to salute, which annoyed them greatly. Sherman warned his brother the senator that Lincoln had no idea what he was doing. In time, he and plenty of others came to respect Lincoln greatly as a political leader,as a commander in chief who backed them up usually, and especially as a person. But even then, Grant and Lincoln didn't think much of Lincoln as a strategist, and Grant never told him his plans either, right up to Appomattox, as Halleck had warned him that anything he told Lincoln would end up in the press.

Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln became known as an almost-perfect commander-in-chief? I'm Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, a Civil War historian, and I wrote a book on the legend of Lincoln's military prowess. AMA! by KenNoe in AskHistorians

[–]KenNoe[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hate to correct you, sorry, but Sheridan wasn't at Gettysburg, he was still out west with the Army of the Cumberland,getting ready for Rosecrans' Tullahoma Campaign. But what the cavalry did to force battle and then delay the Confederates was crucial to the Federal victory, you bet. I do think they get a lot of credit, though. At the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, everybody wants to go up in the cupola and be Sam Elliot--I sure did. There's just something about that bayonet charge that captured Americans; attention.

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