Hamilton is keenly attuned to the way hindsight can both enlighten and obscure, and he peppers the narrative with questions and retrospective speculations, sometimes excessively so ... There have been scores of books on Lincoln and Davis, but few that examine them jointly.
This volume offers a unique perspective on the two men who uniquely shaped how their respective governments organized and conducted their war plans and why Lincoln was ultimately more successful ... This is a fascinating comparison between these two men and their development under the pressures of war.
A daunting read. Nevertheless, those willing to accept the challenge will find it informative and authoritative. This immense examination of the Civil War presidents provides a crucial perspective on how wars are fought, won, and lost.
