Conflict of Command: George McClellan, Abraham Lincoln, and the Politics of War.

The article focuses on George C. Rable's book *Conflict of Command: George McClellan, Abraham Lincoln, and the Politics of War*, which offers a balanced analysis of the complex civil-military relationship between President Abraham Lincoln and Major General George B. McClellan during the American Civil War. Rable emphasizes the political dynamics shaping their interactions, highlighting Lincoln's evolving leadership and McClellan's conservative military approach, including his resistance to emancipation. The book explores how public opinion, politicians, and military figures influenced this relationship, culminating in McClellan's removal from command in 1862 and his continued symbolic presence in Union politics and military morale. Rable's study challenges simplified narratives and provides a nuanced reassessment of both men's roles in the war.