An account of Abraham Lincoln's specific contributions to the Civil War discusses his creation of the role of the nation's commander in chief and his relationships with his military leaders, spies, and weapons pioneers.

Follow me -- Let it come -- Three years or the war -- First martyr, first hero -- Short road to a long war -- The battle for public opinion -- Little Mac -- Manifestly astray -- Great Scott -- Bog of war -- Groping and hoping -- Western horizons -- Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds -- Two irons in the fire -- The meteor man -- Bloody and muddy -- Desperate measures -- Déjà vu carousel -- A chapter closes -- How low can you go? -- Sifting out the hearts of men -- Counsels of war -- The art of command -- North and South -- Man power -- Jailer visionary -- Westward, look! -- Fuglemen lost -- Man, thinking -- Boys in blue - The first general -- Soldier, soldier -- Endgame -- The last tattoo.