Ahem.

Lincoln won a 4-way race for President, where election day was November 6, 1860. On November 14, the Georgia legislature was addressed on secession. On November 30, Mississippi passed resolutions supporting secession. South Carolina followed suit in December of 1860. January 9, 1861, Mississippi seceded from the Union, followed in short order by Florida, Georgia, Louisiana. Texas seceded on February 1, 1861.

On February 18, 1861, Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as President of the Confederate States of America.

On March 4, 1861, Lincoln was inagurated as 16th President of the United States.

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued following the Battle of Sharpsburg/Antietam, 17 September, 1862. Tactically it was a draw - bloody mess in reality, where Lee's forces survived because he faced an inept opponent. It was close enough to a Federal victory, however, to allow him to issue the Proclamation without looking like a desperate gamble - instead it looked like a piece of political gamesmanship. It was.

However, it took effect on January 1, 1863, freeing all persons held in slavery in those areas in rebellion and not controlled by federal forces. As for the Confederacy being on the ropes in early 1863, hogwash.

The relatively newly appointed Federal commander along the Mississippi took a gamble and won - tremendously. IN doing so, by the way, the strategy he used was the same recommended by Winfield Scott in early 1861 and rejected by the political types. Scott (and Grant) both reasoned that by controlling the Mississippi, the war would be decided in the East, and any activity West of the Mississippi would do little to change the outcome. They were right.

On the other hand, Lee gambled strongly in the East, and lost. He failed in his objective and lost most of his offensive strength doing so. The same day his Army of Northern Virginia began its withdrawl from Pennsylvania, Grant's victory at Vicksburg was secured, July 4, 1863. From that point, no significant Confederate units moved East to reinforce the armies in Virginia and other locations. If he had beaten Meade, however, he would have been in position to move on nearly any Northern city he chose, including Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia or New York, with no real forces able to oppose him.

The fact was, the Army of the Potomac was demoralized and dispirited following several defeats in succession, thanks mainly due to the inept commanders it was burdened with. What fighting spirit remained was the result of belief in its own strength. Regiments believed in their own officers and in the strength of the units in their brigades as they were proven under fire - not in the politicians and "west pointers".