Lincoln Discussion Symposium

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.

As those of you who are members of the Surratt Society know, I have been excerpting daily "actions" from the Longs' book for two years now for an on-going synopsis in the Surratt Courier. I agree completely with Tom. It has been very time consuming - and often quite boring - trying to find interesting tidbits about what was occurring each month. I remember thinking when I hit April 1863, "Oh lord, I'm only half way done." I'm sure that both Lincoln and Davis both wished for it to soon be over - or at least to have some significant gains made on either side.

Tom. That's a cool idea, by the way. I used to follow on on-line Lincoln Log of his activities- it got pretty boring at times