Lincoln's frustration

[Tom Bogar]

I've been reading along in real time, 150 years later, the Longs' Civil War Day by Day, and have become incredibly frustrated with the lack of action. Day after day after tedious day with three or four skirmishes here and there, and letters and edicts flowing out of Washington and Richmond, and quarrels and excuses and responses coming back from the field, and not much else happening. Makes you want to say, as Lincoln certainly must have frequently, "When are you generals going to DO something!??" It's easy to empathize with the absolutely draining, sustained stress created by the war's dragging out for four years (and we're now barely past halfway). History texts and lessons always hit the highlights, the big battles, but looking at it on a day-by-day basis makes you realize how much of the time was spent just skirmishing or recovering or getting ready or moving troops and materiel.