By David Von Drehle
The Time: January 1, 1862 – January 1,1863, America's most
perilous year. The Place: The United
States, a country torn in half by a war between its Northern and Southern
sections. Since the surrender of the
United States garrison at Fort Sumter on April 14, 1861 and the defeat of the
Northern Army at Bull Run on the following July 21st, the Southern forces have
managed to keep their Northern counterparts at bay. As the sunset fell on the final day of 1861,
the future looked very bleak for the Union cause.
How Abraham Lincoln, President of all of the United States
overcame military, political, social and economic challenges during the first
full year of the war and transformed it from merely a war to restore to the
Union the eleven seceded states to a revolution against slavery is the topic of
David Von Drehle’s book, “Rise to Greatness: Abraham Lincoln and America’s Most
Perilous Year.”
Many people justly claim the twin victories at Gettysburg
and Vicksburg of the Federal Army on July 1-4 is the point at which the war
turned in favor of the Union, but Von Drehle challenges that convention with
his thesis that it was the slow and steady progress of the Federal Armies, in
concert Abraham Lincoln’s issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation is the true
turning point of the war.
Beginning on New Year’s Day 1862 Von Drehle’s linear narrative
chronicles the military victories at Forts Henry and Donelson, and Shiloh; the
lethargic advance of Major-General George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac
during the Peninsular Campaign; the routing of that same army during the Seven
days Battles; and the trouncing of the Union Army of Virginia at Second Bull
Run and the tactical draw, but strategic Victory at Antietam, after which
Lincoln issued his Preliminary Emancipation.
Lincoln’s evolving views on emancipation are thoroughly covered;
from his plan for gradual and compensated emancipation; the colonization of the
blacks, and finally to his singing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January
1, 1863.
Another thread running throughout the book is Lincoln’s
often antagonistic relationship with Major-General George B. McClellan. Lincoln’s constant pushing and prodding for
McClellan to advance the Army of the Potomac and fight; Lincoln trying his own
hand as commander of the military and failing drastically; the firing,
rehiring, and firing again of McClellan amply demonstrate how Lincoln grew into
the job of Commander-in-Chief, and the slow and steady rise in his confidence
and abilities while guiding the Northern population through their social,
political and economic fears of emancipation.
“Rise to Greatness” is thoroughly researched and well
written in an easily read, conversational style. It is a great joy to read and is a book for
academics or Civil War novices alike; everyone can learn something from the
pages between its covers.
ISBN 978-0805079708, Henry Holt and Co., © 2012, Hardcover,
480 pages, End Notes, Bibliography & Index. $30.00. To purchase the book, click HERE.
