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Last Weeks of Abraham Lincoln: A Day-by-Day Account of His Personal, Political, and Military Challenges
This day-by-day account of Abraham Lincoln's last six weeks of life covers a period of extraordinary events, not only for the president himself but for the fate of the nation.From March 4 to April 15, 1865--a momentous time for the nation--Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address, supervised climatic battles leading up to the end of the Civil War, learned that Robert E. Lee had surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, and finally was killed by assassin John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre. Weaving an arresting narrative around the historical facts, historian David Alan Johnson brings to life the president's daily routine, as he guided the country through one of the most tumultuous periods of American history.The reader follows the president as he greets visitors at the inaugural ball, asks abolitionist Frederick Douglass's opinion of the inaugural address, confers with Generals Grant and Sherman on the final stages of the war, visits a field hospital for wounded outside City Point, Virginia, and attempts to calm his high-strung wife Mary, who appears on the verge of nervous collapse. We read excerpts from press reviews of Lincoln's second inaugural address, learn that Mrs. Lincoln's ball gown created a sensation, and are given eye-witness accounts of the celebrations and drunken revelry that broke out in Washington when the end of the war was announced.This engagingly written narrative history of a short but extremely important span of days vividly depicts the actions and thoughts of one of our greatest presidents during a time of national emergency.
384 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 1, 2022
Not to sound like a complete history or Lincoln snob, but after reading a number of weighty tomes by Lincoln scholars, I was a little hesitant when the author bio on this book described Johnson as "a freelance writer and the author of many popular histories." I am not much for the Brad Meltzer or Bill O’Reilly-type approach to history, so I braced myself for something similar here before diving in.
And, mea culpa and much credit to Johnson, he actually wrote a very compelling, interesting, readable book here. It’s not perfect, but it’s far better than I expected, so that certainly counts for something.
The book is structured as a day-by-day account of the six weeks between Lincoln’s second inaugural and his assassination. Each day, for the most part, gets its own chapter. Things get off to a somewhat slow start as, after the inauguration, a lot that happens is not of great interest. "Not every day during the last days of Lincoln's life was eventful,” Johnson acknowledges in his introduction. “Some were filled with nothing more than the business of politics and of running his office." And he’s not kidding, as some of the more mundane days are, well, mundane. Chapters start with sentences like "among the president's activities on this Wednesday was a meeting with Secretary of State William Seward," "the president spent much of the day in his office," "this turned out to be a much-needed day of rest for the president."
Things pick up about a third of the way in, as Lincoln heads to the front lines of the war in Virginia, to strategize with his generals and bring the war to a close (perhaps, then, the book could have started here and covered Lincoln’s last three weeks, instead of starting with the inauguration and covering his last six). This is where the day-by-day structure of the book really shines, as you get a detailed tick-tock of how events unfolded, as strategies were discussed and battles progressed, incorporating the momentous and the mundane in a way that bigger-picture accounts of this time often don't. And Johnson often broadens out his story, telling of Lincoln’s daily activities while also following concurrent developments on the battlefield, which can often be more interesting than Lincoln's activities themselves.
In the final chapters, once Lincoln returns to Washington, the more mundane day-to-day activities of governance are not so much uninteresting this time as they are poignant, knowing as we do that they are among Lincoln’s last acts as president, and in life. Among the routine events and meetings that are described, are discussions about plans for the future that Lincoln would not live to be able to carry out.
It’s difficult to write about the assassination in a way that feels fresh, when we all already know the details. But Johnson manages to provide a creative and readable take, capturing the confusion and chaos of the moment, describing it as witnesses saw and experienced it and not from the more well-known perspective of Booth.
Johnson does sometimes smooth out nuances in an apparent effort to tell a more compelling and less complicated story. "Lincoln was well aware that his Emancipation Proclamation had not freed any slaves,” he writes at one point (ugh). He suggests that Lincoln "broke the law" by suspending habeas corpus, treats Sherman’s capture of Atlanta as the sole reason Lincoln won reelection, and elides some details of how Seward learned of Lincoln's assassination. Forgivable, I suppose, in what is a work of storytelling and not an in-depth, serious history. Less forgivable are the numerous distracting typos that were hopefully corrected in later editions, such as references to "Jefferson David" at least twice.
And the book ends curiously, not with a soaring conclusion pondering Lincoln's legacy, but with an observation that it was just as well that Lincoln wasn't around for Reconstruction, because it probably would have turned out badly for him, too. Womp, womp.
So the beginning of the book is a little slow, the ending a little unusual, and the attention to detail could have been a little better throughout. But the bulk of the book succeeds at what it sets out to do, providing a unique and compelling look at a specific moment in time that, even when you know how it all turns out, managed to keep my attention to the end nonetheless.
And, mea culpa and much credit to Johnson, he actually wrote a very compelling, interesting, readable book here. It’s not perfect, but it’s far better than I expected, so that certainly counts for something.
The book is structured as a day-by-day account of the six weeks between Lincoln’s second inaugural and his assassination. Each day, for the most part, gets its own chapter. Things get off to a somewhat slow start as, after the inauguration, a lot that happens is not of great interest. "Not every day during the last days of Lincoln's life was eventful,” Johnson acknowledges in his introduction. “Some were filled with nothing more than the business of politics and of running his office." And he’s not kidding, as some of the more mundane days are, well, mundane. Chapters start with sentences like "among the president's activities on this Wednesday was a meeting with Secretary of State William Seward," "the president spent much of the day in his office," "this turned out to be a much-needed day of rest for the president."
Things pick up about a third of the way in, as Lincoln heads to the front lines of the war in Virginia, to strategize with his generals and bring the war to a close (perhaps, then, the book could have started here and covered Lincoln’s last three weeks, instead of starting with the inauguration and covering his last six). This is where the day-by-day structure of the book really shines, as you get a detailed tick-tock of how events unfolded, as strategies were discussed and battles progressed, incorporating the momentous and the mundane in a way that bigger-picture accounts of this time often don't. And Johnson often broadens out his story, telling of Lincoln’s daily activities while also following concurrent developments on the battlefield, which can often be more interesting than Lincoln's activities themselves.
In the final chapters, once Lincoln returns to Washington, the more mundane day-to-day activities of governance are not so much uninteresting this time as they are poignant, knowing as we do that they are among Lincoln’s last acts as president, and in life. Among the routine events and meetings that are described, are discussions about plans for the future that Lincoln would not live to be able to carry out.
It’s difficult to write about the assassination in a way that feels fresh, when we all already know the details. But Johnson manages to provide a creative and readable take, capturing the confusion and chaos of the moment, describing it as witnesses saw and experienced it and not from the more well-known perspective of Booth.
Johnson does sometimes smooth out nuances in an apparent effort to tell a more compelling and less complicated story. "Lincoln was well aware that his Emancipation Proclamation had not freed any slaves,” he writes at one point (ugh). He suggests that Lincoln "broke the law" by suspending habeas corpus, treats Sherman’s capture of Atlanta as the sole reason Lincoln won reelection, and elides some details of how Seward learned of Lincoln's assassination. Forgivable, I suppose, in what is a work of storytelling and not an in-depth, serious history. Less forgivable are the numerous distracting typos that were hopefully corrected in later editions, such as references to "Jefferson David" at least twice.
And the book ends curiously, not with a soaring conclusion pondering Lincoln's legacy, but with an observation that it was just as well that Lincoln wasn't around for Reconstruction, because it probably would have turned out badly for him, too. Womp, womp.
So the beginning of the book is a little slow, the ending a little unusual, and the attention to detail could have been a little better throughout. But the bulk of the book succeeds at what it sets out to do, providing a unique and compelling look at a specific moment in time that, even when you know how it all turns out, managed to keep my attention to the end nonetheless.
August 8, 2023
A book for anyone to enjoy regardless of whether you’re a civil war buff or not.
The right blend of civil war history and Lincoln’s personal habits and relationships to satisfy anyone in text mixed well with history and anecdotes.
Enjoyed reading about the relationship between Lincoln and his wife, as well as his wife’s often irrational behavior in front of others.
I also didn’t know Grant asked Lee in a letter to surrender to avoid further bloodshed, which after two attempts Lee accepted. Grant also avoided firing on retreating confederate troops to minimize casualties in the last weeks of the war.
4.5/5.
The right blend of civil war history and Lincoln’s personal habits and relationships to satisfy anyone in text mixed well with history and anecdotes.
Enjoyed reading about the relationship between Lincoln and his wife, as well as his wife’s often irrational behavior in front of others.
I also didn’t know Grant asked Lee in a letter to surrender to avoid further bloodshed, which after two attempts Lee accepted. Grant also avoided firing on retreating confederate troops to minimize casualties in the last weeks of the war.
4.5/5.
April 9, 2019
A fantastic look into the final days of one of the greatest US presidents that ever lived.
February 2, 2022
This book cover the period from March 4 to April 15, 1865--a momentous time for the nation--Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address, supervised climatic battles leading up to the end of the Civil War, learned that Robert E. Lee had surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, and finally was killed by assassin John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre.
Weaving an arresting narrative around the historical facts, historian David Alan Johnson brings to life the president's daily routine, as he guided the country through one of the most tumultuous periods of American history.
Given what the Civil War was fought over – it has always struck me as ironic that Lincoln died on April 15, 1865 a man who fought for equality and the end to slavery and yet Jefferson Davis – an avowed white supremacist to the day he died – lived for nearly 30 years. How this country could have been better healed and quicker had it been Lincoln who lived for another 30 years.
The author covers a day by day reporting of Lincoln’s activities from his 2nd inaugural through April the 15th when he died at 7:22 A.M. of a bullet fired from behind by a true coward (john wilkes booth all in lower case on purpose)
It was a very significant time for our country – having been preceded by a 4 year civil war that took over 750,000 lives. What was left was the surrender of Lee to Grant and eventually Johnston to Sherman.
In that time, Lincoln made it clear that were to be no recriminations, no arrests of confederate cabinet members nor their generals or other officers. Lincoln’s focus was on ending the war as quickly as possible and restoring the south to the union. Lincoln set the tone he had in mind for this in his second inaugural when he said . . . “with malice toward none, with charity for all . . .”
The author does a very good job writing in a way that is easy to follow inter-dispersing known facts, and reminding the reader of others we may have forgotten. He brings to life the daily routine of the President. Years ago I read a similar book on JFK and it makes you feel as though you are literally walking through those days with the President.
Such activities as Lincoln greeting guests at the inaugural ball, seeking Frederick Douglass's opinion of the inaugural address, meetings with both Grant and Sherman on how t o wrap up the war.
He visits a field hospital for wounded outside City Point, Virginia, while attempting to calm his wife – an insecure and jealous woman. Based on observations in both this book and others with multiple sources, she appears on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
He visits Richmond and sat in Jefferson Davis’ chair which had been vacated only a few days earlier His entry into the city found a large number of former slaves weeping and praising him and even bowing down. He told them more than once, to get off their knees. That, they were to kneel to only God, no man.
If you like American history and especially the Civil War, I think this is a must read. It has many facts long forgotten or in some cases newly related. It is easy to read, broken down into chapters by individual days. As you near Good Friday, one wants to stop history to avoid what happens.
The way it is written provides a more understandable and personal story of both the President and his wife. Why even his wife’s inaugural ball dress is covered. Cleavage is the byword.
For you animal lovers out there Lincoln had a pattern of rescuing animals, with a preference for cats.
A few quotes that provide some of the personal observations of the President . . .
A description of Lincoln’s reviewing of troops;
“The president was dressed in long-tailed black frock coat, not buttoned, black vest, low cut, with a considerable expanse of a rumpled shirt front, a black carelessly tied necktie, black trousers without straps, which, as he ambled along, gradually worked up uncomfortably and displayed some inches of white socks.”
Once after receiving a group of men at the Executive Mansion who presented a portrait of himself, he smiled and responded as follows . . . “Gentlemen, I thank you for this token of your esteem. You did your best. It wasn’t your fault that the frame is so much more rare than the picture.”
On April 14, 1865 (Good Friday) he said to William Crook (a body guard) “I believe there are men who want to take my life, and I have no doubt that they will do it.”
As if to confirm this, as Lincoln left the Executive Mansion for Ford’s Theater, he said to Crook, “Good bye, Crook.” Crook thought it odd as Lincoln always said when he was leaving "Good night, Crook." It haunted Crook for the rest of his life.
The book makes you revisit the question “What if?” with a fresh perspective
Weaving an arresting narrative around the historical facts, historian David Alan Johnson brings to life the president's daily routine, as he guided the country through one of the most tumultuous periods of American history.
Given what the Civil War was fought over – it has always struck me as ironic that Lincoln died on April 15, 1865 a man who fought for equality and the end to slavery and yet Jefferson Davis – an avowed white supremacist to the day he died – lived for nearly 30 years. How this country could have been better healed and quicker had it been Lincoln who lived for another 30 years.
The author covers a day by day reporting of Lincoln’s activities from his 2nd inaugural through April the 15th when he died at 7:22 A.M. of a bullet fired from behind by a true coward (john wilkes booth all in lower case on purpose)
It was a very significant time for our country – having been preceded by a 4 year civil war that took over 750,000 lives. What was left was the surrender of Lee to Grant and eventually Johnston to Sherman.
In that time, Lincoln made it clear that were to be no recriminations, no arrests of confederate cabinet members nor their generals or other officers. Lincoln’s focus was on ending the war as quickly as possible and restoring the south to the union. Lincoln set the tone he had in mind for this in his second inaugural when he said . . . “with malice toward none, with charity for all . . .”
The author does a very good job writing in a way that is easy to follow inter-dispersing known facts, and reminding the reader of others we may have forgotten. He brings to life the daily routine of the President. Years ago I read a similar book on JFK and it makes you feel as though you are literally walking through those days with the President.
Such activities as Lincoln greeting guests at the inaugural ball, seeking Frederick Douglass's opinion of the inaugural address, meetings with both Grant and Sherman on how t o wrap up the war.
He visits a field hospital for wounded outside City Point, Virginia, while attempting to calm his wife – an insecure and jealous woman. Based on observations in both this book and others with multiple sources, she appears on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
He visits Richmond and sat in Jefferson Davis’ chair which had been vacated only a few days earlier His entry into the city found a large number of former slaves weeping and praising him and even bowing down. He told them more than once, to get off their knees. That, they were to kneel to only God, no man.
If you like American history and especially the Civil War, I think this is a must read. It has many facts long forgotten or in some cases newly related. It is easy to read, broken down into chapters by individual days. As you near Good Friday, one wants to stop history to avoid what happens.
The way it is written provides a more understandable and personal story of both the President and his wife. Why even his wife’s inaugural ball dress is covered. Cleavage is the byword.
For you animal lovers out there Lincoln had a pattern of rescuing animals, with a preference for cats.
A few quotes that provide some of the personal observations of the President . . .
A description of Lincoln’s reviewing of troops;
“The president was dressed in long-tailed black frock coat, not buttoned, black vest, low cut, with a considerable expanse of a rumpled shirt front, a black carelessly tied necktie, black trousers without straps, which, as he ambled along, gradually worked up uncomfortably and displayed some inches of white socks.”
Once after receiving a group of men at the Executive Mansion who presented a portrait of himself, he smiled and responded as follows . . . “Gentlemen, I thank you for this token of your esteem. You did your best. It wasn’t your fault that the frame is so much more rare than the picture.”
On April 14, 1865 (Good Friday) he said to William Crook (a body guard) “I believe there are men who want to take my life, and I have no doubt that they will do it.”
As if to confirm this, as Lincoln left the Executive Mansion for Ford’s Theater, he said to Crook, “Good bye, Crook.” Crook thought it odd as Lincoln always said when he was leaving "Good night, Crook." It haunted Crook for the rest of his life.
The book makes you revisit the question “What if?” with a fresh perspective
September 13, 2021
This is a very good day-by-day account of President Lincoln's life from his second inauguration to his assassination. From March 4 to April 16, 1865. Much, perhaps most, of the information presented I already knew, but it was interesting to see it presented in this format. It had no real bearing on the way the story was told, but I was disappointed that the author seems to imply issues other than slavery were central to secession and the creation the Confederate States. I do not believe this to be the case. He also mentions the idea of the Agrarian South vs. the Industrial North, which I think is a broad generalization when trying to understand the conflict. The North was plenty agrarian, for example. It just generally did not employ slave labor. The book is also repetitive. For example, we are told time after time how tall Abraham Lincoln was, and well-known individuals (such as Lee, Grant, Sherman, Stanton, etc.) are mentioned repeated by their full names and titles.
August 26, 2018
Donald Alan Johnson's new history, "The Last Weeks of Abraham Lincoln" can be defined by the subtitle, "A Day by Day Account of his Personal, Political, and Military Challenges". Johnson's book, beginning on March 4 at Lincoln's Second Inaugural and ends five weeks later with his assassination. Those weeks were filled with the end of the Civil War and preparations for the post-war, by Lincoln, his generals, and his civilian advisors.
Johnson does a very good job at showing the different problems Lincoln faced in his last days. His wife, Mary, was an ongoing embarrassment as her difficult personality showed in her insulting women she thought were flirting with her husband. His relationships with his aides was also at the forefront. David Johnson is a very smooth writer and has produced a relatively short book about a very important time in history.
Johnson does a very good job at showing the different problems Lincoln faced in his last days. His wife, Mary, was an ongoing embarrassment as her difficult personality showed in her insulting women she thought were flirting with her husband. His relationships with his aides was also at the forefront. David Johnson is a very smooth writer and has produced a relatively short book about a very important time in history.
April 30, 2019
This book would have been better without all the typos I found in the text. The author gives an alternate view of Lincoln's final weeks, even if that view is a bit revisionist for my liking. The average reader will delight in the day by day details divulged in this book. I would say that with a better proofreader, this book would have been outstanding. Oh well. Not every book can achieve five star status.
November 9, 2018
This book, while generally good, was a little dry in sections. Book did not have a strong ending.
May 19, 2020
Very interesting to get a better glimpse of what Mr. Lincoln was going through in the weeks before he perished.
August 11, 2020
Very informative. Each chapter is a day. Good read.
April 10, 2022
This book focuses on the last few weeks of Abraham Lincoln's life. It starts from his Second Inauguration and goes until his ill fated night out at Ford's Theater.
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