roblems facing the leaders of the North and South we quickly see that their perception of why the war was fought was different. An old axiom of war is "know your enemy." An axiom for successful businesses is "know the problem." The South believed whole heartily that Lincoln wanted to free the slaves and that their state rights were being subjugated to national interests. Lincoln set out to preserve the Union...that was all. He knew what the problem was and he knew his enemy...they didn't know him. And really who does know Mr. Lincoln? Some have said, that Lincoln was a man in a class by himself and was unequaled in his ability to maneuver and manipulate. At the time, no man in America could compare with him in political maneuvering. He took on the best both the Democrats and the Republicans had to offer as well as the problems of the Rebels from the South...and foreign diplomats. He handled each carefully and with great distinction. To the Democrats and Republicans his nature produced a policy which essentially stated that if you couldn't be a part of the team...you went to jail...thus you were no longer a problem. He used slavery to win public appeal in England and France...and to win a war. It has been said by many well-known historians and military experts that by the second week of July of 1863 the South had only one real chance of winning the war. That chance was the assassination of President Lincoln. This may be true and it may not, but what if? ...
