Customer Reviews

Lincoln and the First Shot

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A great breakdown of events leading up to Ft. Sumter, and a great analysis of the early relationship between Lincoln and his cabinet, esp. Secretary of state Seward (who at this early date mistakenly thought Lincoln was a puppet he could manipulate). All in all a fascinating read and a must for good civil war libraries.

This book, originally published in the 1960s I believe, is a great introduction to the events from Lincoln's election to the firing on Ft. Sumter and the immediate aftermath. It does an excellent job of breaking down the differing options in front of Lincoln and the path he chose and why. As the previous reviewer noted, it also gives a nice look at some of the early relationships between Lincoln and his cabinet. There is also a good chapter from the Confederacy's point of view and a closing chapter on how historians had viewed Lincoln and his decision regarding Ft. Sumter from just after the war up until Current's writing. All in all, a well-written, engaging look at the beginning of the Civil War.