What Are Lincolns Jefferson's Qualities
Lincoln is willing to accept the risk of Hooker trying to set himself up as dictator because Lincoln recognized Hooker's skill as a general. Up to this point, Lincoln had dealt with so many other contentious or outright incompetent military commanders that Hooker's ambition was an acceptable flaw. From McClellan's tendency to freeze and avoid the offensive, as well as his belief in a "limited war" to Burnsides' massive failure at Antietam to Bragg's indecisiveness, Lincoln was in desperate need of a reliable general to lead the army and change the course of the war. The Confederacy had the leadership of the legendary Robert E. Lee, who I don't believe even Grant could compare to. Lincoln saw that Hooker had all the qualities of an exceptional