Abraham Lincoln – Civil War Commander-in-Chief

Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET

Abraham Lincoln’s interpretation of his role as commander-in-chief during the American Civil War would change the presidency forever. Even though he had no military training, Lincoln quickly rose to become one of America's most talented commanders. Throughout the war, he was aware that his adversary, Jefferson Davis, was a West Point graduate who had fought as a colonel of a Mississippi regiment in Mexico and served as the U.S. Secretary of War from 1853 to 1857.  Lincoln stretched the powers of the nation's chief executive further than any previous president. He invoked the commander-in-chief clause of the Constitution to mobilize the Union army, wage war, establish a draft, and limit civil liberties such as free speech and public protest. Please join Park Ranger Paul O’Brian for an examination of Lincoln's ultimately successful but at the time somewhat controversial role as commander-in-chief of Union forces during the Civil War.

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