Mr. Lincoln's T-Mails: How Abraham Lincoln Used the Telegraph to Win the Civil War

The Civil War was the first "modern war." Because of the rapid changes in American society, Abraham Lincoln became president of a divided United States during a period of technological and social revolution. Among the many modern marvels that gave the North an advantage was the telegraph, which Lincoln used to stay connected to the forces in the field in almost real time.



No leader in history had ever possessed such a powerful tool to gain control over a fractious situation. An eager student...