1."Team of Rivals" by Doris K. Goodwin. It's mainly a political book and thusly it's a tad bit boring to read, esp. since it's over 800 pages, but it does give a faily good idea of Lincoln and his poltical genius and how he dealt with one of the most chaotic period in out nation's history so far. It goes a long way to showing that Lincoln was without a doubt the closest thing to a genuis that has ever, or most likely will ever, inhabit the White House.
2."Nothing but Victory" by Steven E. Woodworth. This is about the Union Army of Tenn. and is very good as well. It has lots and lots of first person accounts taken from diaries and letters sent home of those men who fought the actual battles and is very interesting and descriptive in what it's like being on the 'sharp end" of combat during this period. A little 600 pages, but time well spent.
Take care, Larry
