The early years of the Civil War were defined by Lincoln’s desperate search for leadership. The Union military was plagued by indecision, vanity, and caution. General after general—McClellan, Burnside, Hooker—failed to grasp the necessity of aggressive, coordinated action. Lincoln spent his nights in the telegraph office, reading reports of disaster, agonizing over casualty lists, and personally drafting orders for generals who were often more interested in politics than victory. This chapter explores his growth as a wartime leader. He had to learn the craft of military strategy through trial and error, reading textbooks on warfare at night while managing a cabinet filled with rivals who often thought they were more capable than the President himself. He became the master of the "war cabinet," balancing strong egos and navigating the treacherous waters of wartime diplomacy to keep the borders of the North secure and the international community at bay.