JF Ptak Science Books   Post  1391

Abe Lincoln, 1860.  I don’t know how he held everything together.  He was a master tactician, held conflicting and opposing thoughts in his mind and in his cabinet, was incredibly shrewd, and had a deep insight into the future.  He was still, even into 1862, a mocked character, even by his closest associates.  And generals–G.B. McClellan, for example, the general who never should have been actually in charge of an army outside of training it, never should’ve been in the field, never should have been given the opportunity to work more for the opposition than for the Union, saw Lincoln as a buffoon, a nuisance in his own supra-egotistical path to national office.  Lincoln not only survives all of this, but conquers .  I would love to see a two-person play of Lincoln at chess, from the point of view of the chess pieces. 

I’m posting this as I am getting ready for a Civil War-in-the-newspapers, day-by-day, as we approach the 150th anniversary of what was the great defining moment in the history of the United States. (This image is offered for sale at our blog bookstore.)

THis 8.5×6.5 inch image was made in 1881 by George .B Ayres from the original glass negative made by Alexander Hesler’s photograph of Lincoln at Springfield, Illinois, 3 June 1860.  (Ayres had come into possession of Hesler’s studio and negatives after Hesler’s death.)

And the detail:

And deeper: