Additional information
by David Alan Johnson (Author)
Follow Lincoln's day-by-day path from peacemaker to war leader as the Union edges toward Civil War.
The months after the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, between March 4 and May 3, 1861, mark one of the most significant periods in American history. Antagonism between the North and South, which had been intensifying since Lincoln's election as president in November 1860, only worsened when the president-elect was sworn into office. Lincoln's Road to War is a day-by-day account unpacking each day's events, both personal and political, from Lincoln's inauguration through the attack on Fort Sumter and towards the march to the Battle of Bull Run/Manassas.- March 4, 1861: In his inauguration address, President Lincoln did his best to be reconciliatory, advising Southern secessionists that there would be no war unless they were the aggressors. But he also made it clear that the Union was indivisible, and that secession meant anarchy.
- April 12, 1861: During the early morning hours, rebel artillery opened fire on Fort Sumter, situated on a man-made island in the entrance to Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. This was immediately followed by President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers from state militias, along with his order to blockade all Southern ports.
Author Biography
David Alan Johnson is the author of fifteen books, including The Last Weeks of Abraham Lincoln and Decided on the Battlefield: Grant, Sherman, Lincoln, and the Election of 1864. He lives in Union, New Jersey.
Number of Pages: 278
Dimensions: 0.75 x 9 x 6 IN
Illustrated: Yes
Publication Date: November 11, 2025
